What Community Energy Plus does

Community Energy Plus (CEP) is a registered charity headquartered in Truro, Cornwall, providing free, impartial energy advice and support to householders, landlords, communities and businesses across Cornwall. Its core products are the Energy Advice for Householders service (covering insulation, heating, bill management and grant signposting), a dedicated Landlord Advice Service for private landlords seeking compliance and energy-efficient property advice, and the Cornwall Low Carbon Energy Advice Network (CLEAN) which delivers in-person retrofit assessments and guidance on low-carbon technologies including heat pumps, solar PV and insulation. CEP also runs the Winter Wellbeing programme (since 2012), a partnership of over 30 organisations through which it hosts the freephone advice line, and is currently developing a Cornwall Retrofit Hub feasibility study funded by the Great British Energy Community Fund. Supporting assets include downloadable Energy Advice Guides (heat pumps, solar PV, wood-fuelled heating, electric vehicles) and Retrofit Case Studies aimed at homeowners considering retrofit measures.

The underlying technology is essentially service-delivery infrastructure rather than software: a freephone advice line (0800 954 1956), email and online contact channels, face-to-face home visits, outreach events, downloadable content and a partner referral network. There is no proprietary platform or AI component described in the source data; the product is the specialist adviser workforce and the curated knowledge resources.

The business model is grant-funded rather than commercial. CEP is a registered charity that does not charge householders; revenue is drawn from central and local government sources (DESNZ, Cornwall Council, Plymouth City Council, Devon County Council), national schemes (Energy Industry Voluntary Redress Scheme, Warm Homes Discount, Home Upgrade Grant, Affordable Warmth via National Grid), and grant-makers (National Lottery Community Fund, Great British Energy Community Fund). Distribution is via direct-to-householder channels (freephone, email, home visits, outreach events), referral channels (frontline workers, foodbanks, Citizens Advice, Age UK Cornwall, disAbility Cornwall), consortium channels (Far South West Retrofit Consortium covering Devon and Cornwall), and content marketing (newsletters, downloadable guides, Facebook). Customer segments are householders (renters and homeowners, including vulnerable and fuel-poor households), private landlords, community organisations and businesses in Cornwall and Devon.

Name

Community Energy Plus

Legal name

Community Energy Plus

Website

https://cep.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cornwall's energy advice charity providing free, independent advice and retrofit guidance to householders, landlords and communities in Cornwall and Devon, funded principally by central and local government grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Energy Advisory Services

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (541620), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Permitting, Siting & Environmental Impact (EIA/NEPA) Advisory (EUAMANAB)

Keywords

• Energy advice services
• Home retrofit support
• Fuel poverty assistance
• Low carbon transition
• Energy efficiency guidance

Headquarters

HQ city

Truro

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding and Grants: As a registered charity, Community Energy Plus receives most of its funding from local and central government sources including DESNZ, Cornwall Council, and national programs such as the Energy Redress Scheme and National Lottery Community Fund.
2. Consortium and Partnership Projects: Participation in multi-organization consortiums delivering retrofit advice services, such as the £1.4m Local Energy Advice Demonstrator project through the Far South West Retrofit Consortium.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Community Energy Plus (CEP) is Cornwall's energy advice charity delivering free, independent energy advice, retrofit assessments, and low carbon transition support to householders, landlords, communities, and businesses. Services are delivered via a freephone advice line, face-to-face home visits, outreach events, downloadable guides, and referrals through a network of 30+ partner organisations. The charity operates flagship programmes including the Cornwall Low Carbon Energy Advice Network (CLEAN) and the Winter Wellbeing project.

Product overview

Community Energy Plus (CEP) is Cornwall's energy advice charity providing free, independent advice and support to householders, landlords, businesses, and communities across Cornwall. The core offering is the Cornwall Low Carbon Energy Advice Network (CLEAN), which provides in-person and telephone energy advice, home retrofit assessments, and guidance on insulation, heating, and renewable technologies. CEP complements this with dedicated services for landlords and communities, downloadable Energy Advice Guides covering heat pumps, solar PV, and other low carbon technologies, and the Winter Wellbeing programme supporting vulnerable households. The organisation is currently developing a Cornwall Retrofit Hub feasibility study to create a central resource supporting retrofit delivery across the region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cornwall Low Carbon Energy Advice Network (CLEAN): A dedicated team providing free, impartial advice and support for homeowners, landlords, businesses and communities looking to use energy better and enjoy energy efficient homes as part of a more sustainable, low carbon future.

Products and services

• Cornwall Low Carbon Energy Advice Network (CLEAN) Free, impartial energy advice and support service for homeowners, landlords, businesses and communities in Cornwall looking to improve energy efficiency and transition to low carbon energy. Provides home visits, retrofit assessments, and guidance on insulation, heating, and renewable technologies.
• Energy Advice for Householders Free advice and support for householders who rent or own their own home, including help with insulation, heating, managing energy bills, and referrals to government schemes for insulation and heating upgrades.
• Landlord Advice Service Independent advice supporting landlords in Cornwall to provide energy efficient properties for their tenants, including guidance on grants, damp and mould prevention, and compliance with regulations.
• Communities and Businesses Advice Advice and support for communities in Cornwall, including frontline workers and local organisations, helping them with energy efficiency projects and climate action initiatives.
• Winter Wellbeing A project ensuring vulnerable householders in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly have access to advice and practical support to stay warm and well during winter, delivered in partnership with over 30 organisations. CEP hosts the project's Freephone advice line.
• Energy Advice Guides Downloadable guides covering topics including heat pumps (ground source, air source, air-to-air), solar PV, solar thermal, wood fuelled heating, electric vehicles, and understanding carbon/net zero terminology, made available to householders free of charge.
• Stoke Climsland Retrofit Guide A free retrofit guide developed with 13 organisations to help residents make home improvements for a healthier and more energy efficient living environment, covering maintenance, insulation, ventilation, heating, cooling, and renewable technologies.

Quantifiable outcome

• Target to provide in-person advice to approximately 13,000 people from Devon and Cornwall over two years
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Cornwall CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking closely with Cornwall Council supporting multiple departments including Public Health, Private Sector Housing, and Climate Neutral team. Partners on Warm Homes Discount Industry Initiative, Home Upgrade Grant, and Cornwall Green Home Improvement Scheme.
• Winter Wellbeing PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership of 30+ organizations from public, private and voluntary sectors coordinating support for vulnerable householders. CEP hosts the project's Freephone advice line.
• OVO EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelivery partner for Warm Homes Discount Industry Initiative with Cornwall Council, providing energy advice and efficiency measures to vulnerable households.
• Age UK CornwallmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSupporting older people in Cornwall with services including Veteran, Carer, and Cancer Support; makes referrals to CEP for energy advice.
• Citizens Advice CornwallmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorActive Winter Wellbeing partnership member with mutual referral relationship for clients needing specialist energy support.
• Plymouth Energy CommunitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium lead for Far South West Retrofit Consortium. Collaborating on Affordable Warmth programme funded by National Grid.
• Far South West Retrofit ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSix community energy organizations (361 Energy, Exeter Community Energy, South Dartmoor Community Energy, Tamar Energy Community, Community Energy Plus) plus Plymouth City Council and Devon County Council delivering £1.4m retrofit advice project.
• South West Zero HubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing funding through Great British Energy Community Fund for retrofit innovation feasibility study.
• Retrofit West CICminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnabling homeowners and communities across Bristol and Bath to retrofit their homes for a greener, low-carbon future.
• ECEHH (European Centre for Environment and Human Health), University of ExeterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner on The Smart Heat Project analyzing heat pump consumption data and developing training materials for residents and staff.
• Coastline HousingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in The Smart Heat Project to improve heat pump performance in social housing.
• National Energy Action (NEA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational charity campaigning to end fuel poverty. Provides training courses and organizes South West Fuel Poverty Forum.
• Cornwall Climate Action NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEP staff serve as directors of this CIC supporting and growing the network of climate action groups across Cornwall.
• Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Climate CommissionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent organization bringing together public, private and voluntary sectors to drive, guide, support and track climate action.
• Volunteer CornwallmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSupporting active citizenship and voluntary action across Cornwall through outreach teams and range of projects.
• Wadebridge Renewable Energy Network (WREN)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner and winner of Cornwall Sustainability Awards 'carbon neutral' category. WREN helps households, businesses and communities transition to net zero.
• Sustainable Construction Advisory Panel (SCAP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPanel at Truro and Penwith College co-hosting Retrofit Reimagined event to explore collaborative approaches to retrofit delivery.
• IrebuildminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPeople-first SME known for innovative eco-building practices and low-impact materials. Headline speaker at Retrofit Reimagined event.
• Carbon Co-op / People Powered RetrofitminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founder shared insights on community-led, scalable retrofit and low-carbon initiatives at Retrofit Reimagined event.
• disAbility CornwallminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUser-led charity representing and supporting people with disabilities in Cornwall & Isles of Scilly.
• Cornwall MindminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to deliver Positive Action for Wellbeing & Support advice service, supporting clients with mental health challenges affecting energy issues.
• Public Leaders Appointments LtdminorOthersSpecialist trustee recruitment partner supporting the appointment of five new trustees to CEP's Board.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• National Energy Action (NEA): UK's national fuel poverty charity, providing energy advice and training to vulnerable households. Directly comparable to CEP as a UK-based energy advice charity; CEP explicitly partners with NEA, which organises the South West Fuel Poverty Forum and delivers training that supports CEP's advisers.
• 361 Energy: South West community energy organisation and named Far South West Retrofit Consortium partner. Closely comparable to CEP in mission and delivery — providing energy advice and retrofit support to local households as part of the same DESNZ-funded consortium.
• Severn Wye Energy Agency: Regional UK energy charity delivering Warm & Well advice service, retrofit coordination and fuel poverty programmes across the West of England. Closely comparable business model — grant-funded energy advice charity serving householders in a defined UK region.
• Plymouth Energy Community: Plymouth-based community energy organisation and lead partner of the Far South West Retrofit Consortium alongside CEP. Directly comparable as a community energy charity delivering retrofit advice and warm homes programmes in the South West.
• Exeter Community Energy: Devon-based community energy charity and named Far South West Retrofit Consortium partner. Directly comparable to CEP as a community-led energy charity delivering advice, retrofit support and warm homes programmes to local householders.
• Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE): Bristol-based charity providing independent energy advice, retrofit support, and community energy programmes. Closely comparable to CEP in mission, free-advice model, and focus on householders and communities transitioning to low carbon energy.

Broad incumbents

• Citizens Advice: National advice network offering energy, debt, and consumer advice to UK householders. Directly comparable in delivery model (free, independent advice, often via referral partnerships) and overlapping on energy and benefits support, but operating across all advice categories rather than specialising in energy.
• Energy Saving Trust: Larger national organisation providing energy advice, retrofit guidance, and consumer-facing programmes across the UK. Comparable in mission and free-advice delivery but operates at significantly greater scale and broader geographic scope than CEP.

Others

• Regen: Mission-led organisation working to transform the UK's energy system through analysis, convening and project direction. Comparable as an ecosystem enabler for community energy and local-authority retrofit work — and directly connected to CEP through trustee Hazel Williams.

Emerging players

• Carbon Co-op: Manchester-based community benefit society co-founding People Powered Retrofit, focused on community-led, scalable retrofit advice and low-carbon initiatives. Directly comparable to CEP in community-led retrofit advisory mission and was a featured speaker at CEP's Retrofit Reimagined event.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CommunityEnergyPlus
• Xx.com/CEPCornwall
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/community-energy-plus

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Community Energy Plus