We want to make a difference this winter
ScottishPower has set out a package of commitments for its customers in order to help support people through the winter months. The company has also pledged to do even more to protect its most vulnerable customers during the winter period.
ScottishPower’s Winter Commitments include:
Free insulation
The company will offer any qualifying household free loft and cavity wall insulation†, which could help to save up to £310 on an average energy bill.* There is no requirement to be a ScottishPower customer in order to qualify for this offer. To find out more call 0845 601 7836 (Lines open Monday to Friday, 9am – 5.30pm).
A targeted tariff check campaign
ScottishPower will write to all its customers who pay for their energy on a quarterly basis, with a personalised quote to estimate how much they can save by making changes to their energy account. This builds on the success of our three-month tariff check campaign last winter, which resulted in just under 37,000 ScottishPower customers changing tariff and saving them more than £6.3 million.
Warm Home Discount Guarantee**
The Warm Home Discount scheme is a programme of support aimed at households who are living in, or are at risk of, fuel poverty. Certain customers will qualify automatically for a rebate and will receive a letter from the Department of Work and Pensions telling them this. Others can apply to ScottishPower for the rebate if they meet certain eligibility criteria**. In the second year of the scheme commencing on 1st April 2012, the rebate is £130. ScottishPower will not place any upper limit on the number of customers who can receive this rebate, should they meet the criteria. All customers who are eligible, and apply within the specified timeframe, will receive the discount. To find out more go to www.scottishpower.co.uk/warmhomediscount
A debt recovery break for prepayment customers
The ScottishPower has identified a group of its most vulnerable customers who are currently repaying a debt through their prepayment meter. The company will write to these customers and advise them that it will not be collecting any debt repayments for a 3 month period over the winter from December 2012 to February 2013. This should ensure that any payment made by these customers will be purely for energy that is used during the 3 month winter period.
No Winter Disconnections.
ScottishPower will not disconnect any customers for debt between November 2012 and February 2013. Disconnections are very rare, and would only ever follow a lengthy and detailed process. ScottishPower will never knowingly disconnect a vulnerable customer for debt under any circumstances
Neil Clitheroe, ScottishPower Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Retail and Generation said:
“As winter approaches, we want to protect our customers by offering initiatives which can really make a difference. We want to help them make savings on their energy bills, whether by improving energy efficiency in the home, highlighting our cheapest tariff for them, or helping claim benefits that they are entitled to.
“It is also important that our most vulnerable customers have a service that they can rely on, and beyond our Winter commitments, we will be increasing the activity of our community liaison teams and customer service teams to offer further help and support.
“We would urge any customers worried about their energy bills to contact us to find out what assistance we can offer.”