Paul Spence has been appointed as the new independent Chair of Energy UK’s Vulnerability Commitment.
Paul, who recently stepped down as Director of Strategy and Corporate Affairs at EDF after 40 years working in the energy industry, will take over from Steve Crabb, who has held the role since its inception in 2021, on 1st February 2025.
Energy UK’s Vulnerability Commitment was developed in consultation with energy suppliers, consumer and charity groups, the energy regulator and customers themselves and is a voluntary initiative where 13 supplier signatories – together covering more than 95% of the domestic retail market – pledge to go further than existing obligations in identifying and supporting vulnerable customers.
Paul will chair the expert independent panel that scrutinises suppliers on their performance each year through evidence-based assessments. He will also be supported by an Advisory Board who will help the Chair in ensuring the Vulnerability Commitment is kept up to date and evolves to reflect the latest trends in support for customers in vulnerable circumstances.
The Vulnerability Commitment is open to all energy suppliers and aims to drive continuous improvement based on three key principles: Accessibility, Collaboration and Innovation. As part of the assessment process, annual good practice reports highlight the different ways that suppliers innovate and invest to support customers in need.
The 2024 Good Practice Report illustrates how signatories meet the requirements of the Commitment – including how they use data to help identify customers in need of support, the impact of significant increases in training and the deployment of specialist teams; and examples of how partnerships with charities and advice bodies can help to give people specialist advice and support that often goes beyond just financial.
Paul Spence said:
“I’m delighted to be taking on this role. It’s a great opportunity to identify the extra steps and improve the support energy suppliers give to customers in vulnerable situations. With an ageing population, rising mental health concerns, low growth, high energy prices and debt levels – as well as the need to invest in energy-saving and low-carbon technologies – this support is more vital than ever. Companies, charities, regulators and policymakers need to work closely together to innovate and improve the support to customers facing these challenges. I’m excited to be a part of this important work”
Dhara Vyas, Energy UK’s chief executive said:
“We’re delighted to welcome Paul to this role. He’s hugely respected across the industry and has the combination of knowledge, experience and compassion that, together with a desire to drive improvement, make him an ideal person to take up the reins.
“Steve Crabb has done an exceptional job over the last four years and we are very grateful for his leadership. During a time when the challenges for millions of energy customers – both financial and otherwise – have only increased, I’ve been proud that energy suppliers have committed to doing more to help and support customers in vulnerable situations.
“It’s also been impressive to see how the Commitment has encouraged suppliers to find new ways of improving service, whilst also encouraging energy suppliers to go further in sharing good practice, innovation and increasing the industry-wide knowledge and understanding of these vital issues.”
ENDS
A photo of Paul Spence is available here.

Notes to editors
- Paul Spence served as the Director of Strategy and Corporate Affairs for EDF in the UK for 15 years. He oversaw teams responsible for strategy, systems modelling, energy policy and regulation, communications, UK and European government affairs, research and development, and sustainability. In addition to his work at EDF, Paul has served on the boards of Energy UK, the Nuclear Industry Association, and the Energy Technologies Institute. He’s also a Fellow of the Energy Institute. Before joining EDF in 2009, Paul was the Head of Strategy and Business Development for British Energy. He joined the company when it was rescued by the government in 2003. Before returning to the industry, Paul spent 17 years with Accenture, where he was promoted to senior partner responsible for the UK Energy Strategy practice and providing service to global energy clients. Paul’s early engineering career included time with Davy McKee (London) Limited and Ford Motor Company. He holds an MBA from London Business School and a BSc in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Bristol. Paul is married with two sons and lives in South London.
- Energy UK is the trade association for the energy industry with over 100 members – from established FTSE 100 companies right through to new, growing suppliers, generators and service providers across energy, transport, heat and technology. Our members deliver to nearly 80% of the UK’s power generation and over 95% of the energy supply for 28 million UK homes as well as businesses. The sector invests £13bn annually and delivers nearly £30bn in gross value – on top of the nearly £100bn in economic activity through its supply chain and interaction with other sectors. The energy industry is key to delivering growth and plans to invest £100bn over the course of this decade in new energy sources. The energy sector supports 700,000 jobs in every corner of the country. Energy UK plays a key role in ensuring we attract and retain a diverse workforce. In addition to our Young Energy Professionals Forum, which has over 2,000 members representing over 350 organisations, we are a founding member of TIDE, an industry-wide taskforce to tackle Inclusion and Diversity across energy.