Citizens Advice response to EDF price cut

Citizens Advice Chief Executive Gillian Guy said:

“The huge hikes in fuel bills have really stretched people’s budgets so we are pleased to see that EDF has cut its prices .  Energy companies were keen to put up customers' prices when the wholesale price went up - so they should be just as eager to drop the price when it goes down.  Hopefully  EDF's move will kick-start a price cutting trend among energy companies.

“To help people who are struggling with their energy bills and those who are in fuel debt, Citizens Advice is launching an advice week on Monday called Big Energy Week (16-21 January). We will have events across the country and information available from our Bureaux.”

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 2009 to March 2010, an 18% increase on the previous year. For full 2009/2010 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.