Citizens Advice response to British Gas and SSE price cuts

Citizens Advice Chief Executive Gillian Guy said;

“British Gas' price cut is a step in the right direction and  it is good their  customers won't have to wait to see the difference in their bills.  We're also pleased to see SSE drop it's prices too but it would be better for their customers if it started sooner, rather than the end of March. Suppliers can do more and the rest of the energy companies need to follow suit - wholesale prices have dropped and customers must feel these benefits as soon as possible.  

“Anyone who is looking to save money on their energy bills; needs advice on fuel debt or wants to check that they’re getting all their help available can go along to any Citizens Advice Bureaux next week as part of Big Energy Week.”

BIG ENERGY WEEK 16 – 21 JANUARY 2012

To help consumers spend less on heating and powering  their home Citizens Advice is coordinating an advice campaign called Big Energy Week (16-21 January 2012) which will see thousands of people across the country get practical help and advice to cut their fuel bills and get all the financial support they are entitled to.

Throughout Big Energy Week there will be events up and down the country where people can get practical advice on how they could spend less on heating their home.  There will also be advice leaflets available from every Citizens Advice Bureaux, and a website – www.bigenergyweek.org.uk full of tips to cut  your energy bills.   There are three main events on Monday 16 January in Cardiff, Edinburgh and London.

London

Westfield Shopping Centre, Shepherds Bush, London.

Monday 16 January 2012

9am-7pm

Ground floor, North Atrium, Westfield Shopping Centre, Ariel Way, London, W12 7GF (near Boots and next to Starbucks).

Chris Huhne, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change and Gillian Guy Chief Executive of Citizens Advice, will arrive at the Westfield event between 11 and 11.30am.

Cardiff

The St David’s Centre, Cardiff

Monday 16 - Wednesday 18 January.

9.30am-6.30pm

By the entrance to M&S and Debenhams

John Griffiths AM, Minister for Environment and Sustainable Development will be attending the event at 10.30am on Monday 16 January.

Edinburgh

The St James Centre

Monday 16 January

9am-6pm.

Big Energy Week is supported by consumer organisations such as Consumer Focus and Which?, charities, the Government, Ofgem, energy suppliers and accredited switching websites.

Big Energy Week was an outcome of the Energy Summit on 17 October 2011. Full details on the summit and its outcomes can be found here: http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/consumer_summi/consumer_summi.aspx

Notes to editors

  1. The Energy Summit took place on 17 October 2011.  It brought together consumer groups, energy suppliers, the Government and Ofgem to discuss how consumers could save money on their fuel bills.  Full details on the summit and its outcomes can be found here. http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/consumer_summi/consumer_summi.aspx

  2. The Citizens Advice service comprises a network of local bureaux, all of which are independent charities, 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 information in England and Wales see www.citizensadvice.org.uk

  3. 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. For online advice and information see www.adviceguide.org.uk

  4. Citizens Advice Bureaux in England and Wales advised 2.1 million clients on 7.1 million problems from April 2010 to March 2011. For full 2010/2011 service statistics see: www.citizensadvice.org.uk/press_statistics

  5. Out of 22 national charities, the Citizens Advice service is ranked by the general public as being the most helpful, approachable, professional, informative, effective / cost effective, reputable and accountable. (nfpSynergy’s Brand Attributes survey, May 2010).

  6. Most Citizens Advice service staff are trained volunteers, working at around 3,300 service outlets across England and Wales.