Blind and partially sighted people struggling to reduce energy bills
There are fears that the cost-of-living crisis is affecting the visually impaired a lot more.
Last updated 9th Nov 2022
Worrying new research has revealed that blind and partially sighted people are struggling in the cost-of-living crisis, particularly with rising energy bills.
93% say they are struggling to keep energy costs down or fear they soon will, with almost half feeling left behind. There are also concerns for those who have illnesses which require extra energy use
But, there is some good news. A new smart meter has been created which has an accessable in-home display. It has a high contrast display, text-to-speech, and buttons with tactile feedback. This will mean smart meters can be used by those who are visually impaired.
Zac Shaw from Grimsby is a visually impaired paralympic sprinter. He says: "In the past, smart meters haven't been accessible to people. You would have to zoom in, take a picture on your phone, maybe it hadn't focused properly so you'd have to take a picture again".
"Now it's good, because they are more accessible. They can speak to you, they can read everything out, the buttons are bigger and the buttons are tactile"
If you want to find out more about getting a smart meter that is suitable for the visually impaired then contact your energy provider.