Energy Advice a Con!

5th January 2007

Dear Editor,

The media are promoting the idea that switching your energy supplier is the best way to cut your fuel bills. It's a con! The consumer body Energywatch investigated switching sites, prompted by increasing concern that some were distorting results to favour the power companies paying the most commission. There is evidence from the independent organisation Energywatch that we are being mislead.

Lets be clear. These switching sites are not charities giving out impartial information, they are businesses that earn commission when they persuade the consumer to change to another energy supplier. It is irresponsible to promote switching energy suppliers as the main way for customers to cut their fuel bills.

The best way to cut your fuel bills is to reduce the amount of energy use by:

• Turning down the thermostat on your wall to 18C unless it gets really cold and ensuring radiators are at their lowest setting in unused rooms.
• Putting on warmer clothes.
• Drawing your curtains (hopefully thermal lined) as it gets dark.
• Ensuring water and dampness does not enter the building to cause cold spots.
• Draught proofing your doors and windows.
• Insulating walls and floor to reduce cold draughts and adding another layer of loft insulation to a depth of at least 300 mm.
• Turning off your lights and electrical appliances at the wall as soon as you have finished using them and don't be tempted to buy a large plasma TV that consumes five times as much electricity as an ordinary model.
• Switching if you can to a responsible energy company like Good Energy or Ecotricity that uses renewable sources like wind and wave. (Visit the South Yorkshire Energy Centre (25, Alexadra Rd. Sheffield S2 3EE) to show what can be done with an older house.

The German government are investing ?1bn a year for the next 20 years to make all existing homes well insulated. Why aren't we doing the same? In Sheffield we should be demanding that the Government funded Decent Homes programme does this as a first step when upgrading housing.

The Met Office forecasts a colder than average January and February. Rocketing fuel bills will cause real hardship for those on a low income. Organisations like Age Concern are very worried. Globally we are consuming more oil and gas than we are able to discover. Why is it that our planners are not demanding action? What we need is a proper reduction strategy across the whole city that will cut fuel bills, ensure people stay warm and dry, cut carbon emissions and prevent energy companies profiteering.

Yours Sincerely.

Cllr Bernard Little
Sheffield Green Party