Under a three-year fleet partnership deal the pickups, supplied by Toyota World in Birmingham, have gone into service nationwide. E.ON’s fleet commercial vehicle manager Lorna McAtear said the Hiluxes had been chosen because of their winter weather and rough terrain capabilities, plus offering the lowest possible CO2 emissions.

Colleague John Neilson, technician manager, said: “Being left without heating if your boiler fails this winter can be distressing and potentially life threatening for our vulnerable customers. Being equipped with the right vehicles to reach these customers no matter what the winter throws at us is vitally important.”