Publications
If you require any of our publications in Braille, large print or on audio CD please contact us.
Smart Prepayment in Great Britain – Making prepay energy work in a smart world
8 May 2013
The regulatory framework for smart meter rollout in Great Britain has been under development for a number of years. Consumer Focus, as the statutory watchdog for energy consumers, has been representing customers’ interests as part of this process. Accenture, the global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company, has been involved in supporting a large [...]
Regulated Industries Work Plan 2013/14
8 April 2013
Over the last year we have been undergoing a metamorphosis. We no longer work across the economy and we are now focused exclusively on representing consumers’ interests in complex regulated markets. Many of the issues we will tackle have profound implications for the future welfare of consumers. For more information see our work planning page [...]
Smart Metering Prepayment in Great Britain (Executive summary) – Making prepaid energy work in a smart world
27 March 2013
The regulatory framework for smart meter roll-out in Great Britain has been under development for a number of years. Consumer Focus, as the statutory watchdog for energy consumers, has been representing customers’ interests as part of this process. Accenture, the global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company, has been involved in supporting a large [...]
Comparing comparison sites – Price comparison website mystery shopping report
14 February 2013
Although price comparison websites have potential to empower consumers, they are faced with navigating through an overwhelming choice of price comparison websites.
That is why the issues of impartiality, reliability and accuracy of information all play such an important role in the context of price comparison websites and are increasingly the subject of close scrutiny by consumer bodies.
Switched on? Consumer experiences of energy switching
28 January 2013
Switching should be one of the key ingredients keeping our energy market competitive. In theory, consumers voting with their feet over which energy company they use should help keep energy firms on their toes – competing on pricing to attract new customers and retain their existing ones. But the problem is that energy switching rates [...]
Regulated Industries Unit draft work programme for consultation
11 January 2013
Consumer Focus is creating a new voice for UK consumers in the markets that matter most to them and we need your help to do this in the most effective way.
In April 2012, the Government decided that a new Regulated Industries Unit (RIU) should be established to represent consumers in essential markets subject to economic regulation.
Under the influence? Consumer attitudes to buying appliances
21 December 2012
The Government anticipates that increased energy efficiency of products will reduce average household bills by a net £141 by 2020 and play a key role in meeting our national carbon reduction targets. However, increases in the number of appliances in homes and in the size of certain products have the potential to undermine this reduction.
Tackling consumer vulnerability – An action plan for empowerment
19 December 2012
Tackling consumer vulnerability – an action plan for empowerment is a report from Consumer Focus in conjunction with Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland. It outlines a number of ideas which would help to empower consumers in vulnerable positions who often face barriers and unfair treatment in markets. This report is intended to inform the [...]
Who pays? – Consumer attitudes to the growth of levies to fund environmental and social energy policy objectives
18 December 2012
This report synthesises findings from four research projects that comprise Consumer Focus’s Who Pays? programme. These four projects collectively detail energy customers’ historic and future financial contributions to energy policy goals and their views about having to make these contributions. The research made use of actual and proposed UK schemes on energy efficiency, low carbon generation and social [...]
What’s in it for us? – Learning from our Marketing Energy Efficiency and Behaviour Change Workshops
14 December 2012
What’s in it for us? reflects on the learning from the workshop and how they build on the lessons and recommendations from What’s in it for me? Key insights relate to the challenge of segmentation, the importance of learning on the job and need to consider the method of communication, as well as the message itself.