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Spotlight on: Energy
A third of people in Scotland struggle to afford their electricity and gas bills. We’re working hard to give them the advice they need to cut their costs and get a good deal. We’re also pushing politicians and energy companies to ensure the energy system works for people.
Get energy advice
If you have an energy problem, you can check our online energy advice.
If you need to speak to an adviser, you can get advice from:
- your local Citizens Advice Bureau - enter your postcode to find contact details for your local bureau
- Advice Direct Scotland’s energy advice service. Find out how to contact Advice Direct Scotland.
This page has all the latest news about our work on energy.
News
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11 Oct 2021
Thank you to all bureaux who signed up to support Big Energy Saving Winter this year. We reached out to all participating CABs last week to explain that the campaign will be moved back slightly and will now launch Monday 6 December, running until Monday 31 January.
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7 Oct 2021
Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) has welcomed statements from the Chief Executive of Ofgem confirming more access to crisis funds for prepayment consumers during challenging times in the energy market.
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22 Sep 2021
by Kate Morrison, CAS Fair Markets team.
This column was published in the Herald on 22 September 2021.
Publications
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Publication date: October 2021
In May 2019, The Scottish Government committed to establishing an independent Energy Consumers Commission (ECC) to enhance the voice of consumers who reside in Scotland within the energy market. The commission was formed in July 2020 consisting of representatives with a wealth of experience in national consumer advocacy and advice bodies, academia and local groups serving energy consumers in their communities. Eradicating fuel poverty has been a policy priority for the Scottish Government since 2016, and has been a statutory obligation since the passage of the Fuel Poverty (Targets, Definition and Strategy) (Scotland) Act in 2019. While fuel poverty has been formally defined since 2019, and a fuel poverty strategy is expected in 2021, fuel debt has not been given the same attention by researchers and policy makers. Fuel debt is likely to become more prevalent and more unmanageable this winter as energy prices rise, and financial support such as the £20/week Universal Credit uplift and furlough end. This briefing, based on research commissioned from Changeworks, examines how fuel debt differs from fuel poverty, what key issues exist in Scotland, and the Commission’s recommendations on how to address rising levels of fuel debt.
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Publication date: August 2021
The Warm Home Discount scheme provides important funding for the short-term relief of fuel poverty. However, a combination of research and evidence from the Citizens Advice network in Scotland has previously found that while the Warm Home Discount is seen as vital by those who receive it, it is not adequately reaching those who need it most. This consultation proposes a number of potentially positive changes to the operation of the Warm Home Discount scheme, alongside a 4-year extension to March 2026.
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Publication date: July 2021
The Energy Consumer Commission formed in July 2020. The Commission consists of representatives with a wealth of experience in national consumer advocacy, advice bodies, academia and local groups serving energy consumers in their communities. This consultation response to the Scottish Government’s draft Heat in Building Strategy was written by the Citizens Advice Scotland energy policy team, on behalf of the Energy Consumer Commission.
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Publication date: May 2021
Scotland’s Citizens Advice network empowers people in every corner of Scotland through our local bureaux and national services by providing free, confidential, and independent advice. We use peoples’ real-life experiences to influence policy and drive positive change. We are on the side of people in Scotland who need help, and we change lives for the better.
Our 2021/22 Impact work plan outlines the areas where we will be working to secure changes on behalf of our network’s clients. It has been drawn together following extensive analysis of advice data and consultative workshops with representatives from the network to identify significant trends and areas of concern.
