Archive for the ‘energy’ Topic
News: Consumer Focus Scotland welcomes Ofgem’s decision to levy a significant fine on SSE for systemic failure in its direct selling operations
Published: 3 April 2013
Trisha McAuley, Senior Director at Consumer Focus Scotland said: “This is not a case of one bad apple or one rogue sales team. The problems at SSE affected the whole direct selling operation and represent a fundamental failure at one of our biggest energy companies. Other companies have also broken direct selling. This has been [...]
Consultation Response: Consumer Focus Scotland response to call for views on Scottish Government’s second report on Low Carbon Scotland RPP
Published: 20 February 2013
Consumer Focus Scotland welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Scottish Government’s second report on Low Carbon Scotland. Our response recognises the importance for consumers of minimising the impacts of climate change, while at the same time, highlighting the importance of concentrating action to reduce emissions on areas which bring benefits to consumers.
Report: Keeping the heat in Scotland’s homes
Published: 20 February 2013
Keeping the heat in Scotland’s homes explores consumers’ experience of Scottish Government energy efficiency schemes, based on focus group research. The report shows that consumers were strongly positive about the service they received. However, participants experience also provides lessons to help encourage take up of future schemes so that more consumers benefit from warmer homes [...]
News: ‘Face-lift’ needed to boost take-up of greener home schemes
Published: 11 February 2013
Watchdog says more to be done to boost take-up of schemes that cut fuel bills. Energy efficiency schemes have a key role to play in tackling fuel poverty and reducing climate change emissions, watchdog Consumer Focus Scotland has told a Scottish Parliament Committee reviewing progress towards climate change targets. Nearly 1 in 3 Scottish households [...]
News: Households slash food budgets to keep warm this winter
Published: 17 December 2012
Households in Scotland reveal the real cost of high fuel bills Over 1 in 10 (12%) households in Scotland say they are cutting back on food shopping due to high fuel bills. In a major survey of over 1000 households across Scotland, watchdog Consumer Focus Scotland has found over 1 in 3 (35%) also worry [...]
Report: Changed Lives: The real cost of fuel bills
Published: 14 December 2012
Changed Lives explores consumers’ attitudes and responses to rising energy costs. It includes consumers’ views on the affordability of bills as well as actions in relation to switching to better deals and taking up energy efficiency measures.
News: Consumer Focus Scotland response to E.ON price rise
Published: 10 December 2012
Consumer Focus Scotland response to E.ON price rise Responding to E.ON’s price rise of 7.7% for electricity, 9.4% for gas and 8.7% for dual fuel announced today: Trisha McAuley, Deputy Director at watchdog Consumer Focus Scotland, said: “E.ON is the last major energy supplier to announce winter price rises. While this announcement may not be [...]
News: Watchdog response to energy tariff reforms
Published: 20 November 2012
Responding to the Government’s proposed energy tariff reforms, Trisha McAuley, Deputy Director at watchdog Consumer Focus Scotland, said: “A decade of competition in energy supply has struggled to deliver a market that serves the interests of most energy consumers. “What really matters is that consumers in Scotland have access to energy at an affordable price [...]
News: Lack of confidence on energy costs, pricing and profits is deepening customer distrust
Published: 14 November 2012
Responding to SSE’s half-year profits announced today, Trisha McAuley, Deputy Director of Consumer Focus Scotland, said: ‘The furore over wholesale costs, energy pricing and company profits has deepened consumer distrust in the energy industry. ‘Energy companies need to make profit so they can invest in our energy infrastructure. But if confidence is to be rebuilt [...]