Spotlight on: Energy

Fuel poverty is prevalent in Scotland - which makes it an area of priority for the Scottish CAB Service. At a time of rising fuel costs and economic uncertainty, it's especially important that vulnerable consumers are supported.

News

Energy companies must do more to help cash-strapped consumers

14 Jan 2013

A new report from Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) calls on suppliers and regulators to better target help for people who have difficulty meeting the ever rising costs of heating their homes. With household energy bills now double what they were in 2004; CAS says that energy companies and the Scottish and UK Governments must do more to support struggling consumers.
Energy Best Deal evaluation 2011/12 now available

14 Nov 2012

Citizens Advice Scotland has been working on the Energy Best Deal public awareness campaign with support from the energy regulator Ofgem and major energy companies since 2008. Energy Best Deal has now improved the confidence of over 200,000 domestic energy customers across Scotland, England and Wales to shop around, reduce their bills and get help if they are falling behind.
Promotional video: dealing with energy debt

5 Nov 2012

CAS has developed a series of short videos that highlight aspects of the work of the Scottish CAB Service. The first to be launched is on energy: watch it and please do share with your friends.

More videos will be coming soon...

Publications

Advice in Detail: Energy

Energy issues brought to citizens advice bureaux in 2011/12

Sarah Beattie-Smith

Publication date: January 2013

This report examines the types of issues on which clients sought advice with regards to their household energy in 2011/12. It also examines the client profile of people seeking help on such issues, thus allowing support to be targeted at the groups where it is most needed.

Download publication
Evaluative report of Energy Best Deal Plus

Lyndsay Russell

Publication date: December 2012

This report presents the evaluation findings from the Energy Best Deal+ pilot project. The project was a result of the Fuel Poverty Summit in Scotland in October 2011 and coordinated by Citizens Advice Scotland and funded by Eon, EDF Energy, Npower Scottish Gas, Scottish Power and Scottish and Southern Energy. The pilot ran for eight weeks from July to September 2012 from nine Scottish citizens advice bureaux.

Download publication
Consumer Snapshot

Case evidence and statistics from the Scottish CAB Service

Citizens Advice Scotland

Publication date: October 2012

This report provides a snapshot of the issues that are affecting consumers in Scotland, examining both national and local trends in consumer issues. This is based on data provided by the majority of citizens advice bureaux in Scotland and data from the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline. We will aim to publish Consumer Snapshot on a regular basis to provide an up-to-date overview of the issues facing consumers in Scotland.

This report covers the first two quarters of the financial year 2012/13 from April-September 2012.

Download publication
Big Energy Week summary report

Lyndsay Russell

Publication date: February 2012

In January 2012 CAS coordinated a national campaign event called Big Energy Week. The aim was to encourage Scottish consumers to check their energy tariffs and their entitlement to free insulation and assistance with their energy bills.

Download publication