‘Ofgem right to penalise firms’: Citizens Advice responds to energy company fines

‘Ofgem right to penalise firms’: Citizens Advice responds to energy company fines

Today Ofgem has secured a total of £4.6 million from Scottish Power, SSE and generator GDF SUEZ/IPM for failing to meet environmental targets under the government’s Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP). The money will go to charities and funds that will benefit vulnerable consumers.

Responding to the news, Gillian Guy, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice, said:

‘Ofgem is right to penalise firms for failing to meet energy saving obligations. Thousands of households have been denied measures that would have reduced bills for households in low income areas. Loft and cavity wall insulation could have helped vulnerable consumers prevent cold homes.

‘With prices up a third since 2010 households are struggling with higher bills to heat and light their homes. Ofgem must make sure energy companies are meeting their obligations to make homes energy efficient. This once again questions whether suppliers are best placed to deliver national energy efficiency programmes and whether a local model would be more effective.’

Notes to editors:

  1. The Citizens Advice service comprises a network of local bureaux, all of which are independent charities, the Citizens Advice consumer service and national charity Citizens Advice. Together we help people resolve their money, legal and other problems by providing information and advice and by influencing policymakers. For more see the Citizens Advice website .

  2. The advice provided by the Citizens Advice service is free, independent, confidential, and impartial, and available to everyone regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, age or nationality.

  3. To find your local bureau in England and Wales, visit citizensadvice.org.uk . You can also get advice online at adviceguide.org.uk

  4. You can get consumer advice from the Citizens Advice consumer service on 03454 04 05 06 or 03454 04 05 05 for Welsh language speakers

  5. Citizens Advice Bureaux in England and Wales advised 2.3 million clients on 5.4 million problems from October 2013 to September 2014. For full 2013/2014  service statistics see our quarterly publication Advice trends

  6. Citizens Advice service staff are supported by more than 21,000 trained volunteers, working at over 3,000 service outlets across England and Wales.