It is now possible to donate energy to those who need it as part of an aid initiative
For the first time, EDF is getting its customers involved in its aid initiatives: via the EDF & Me app, they can donate energy to the most vulnerable households. These donations, which are then topped up by EDF, go to the Abbé Pierre Foundation, which then distributes them to the households that it supports – regardless of their energy supplier.
The idea of donating energy came from the R&D department and was explored within the framework of the “Energy poverty” project, with expertise contributed from the R&D department and from the marketing and inclusivity teams of EDF's business department:
• business model to define all the aspects of the service
• design to identify donor pathways
• sociology to gauge the acceptability of the service
• technology to adapt the EDF & ME app
A social and digital innovation that goes hand-in-hand with the Group's inclusivity values
In just a few clicks, EDF customers with Linky meters can donate energy to households experiencing difficulties. And they will get a 75% tax deduction along the way.
In concrete terms, donors can use the app to view the number of lighting or heating hours, or the number of hot showers that their donation will cover for the beneficiaries.
All of the donations are used by the Abbé Pierre Foundation – which tackles substandard housing – to pay the electricity bills of the households that it supports, regardless of their supplier.
For each euro paid by the customers, EDF will pay an additional euro to the Abbé Pierre Foundation to fund its energy poverty prevention initiatives.
To date, nearly 500 donations have been made totalling more than €12,500 (that's an average of €25 per donation). This money has been used to pay the energy bills of around 30 vulnerable households.
To find out more and make a donation