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28 | 7Th - 13Th FEbrUarY 2014 | UTILITY WEEK Customers Work together for consumers As 49 per cent of consumers say they are worried about their ability to make ends meet, consumer representation in Northern Ireland should be strengthened, not diminished or dismantled, says Rick Hill Four of big six fail to pass on £50 cut to all Climate change minister Greg Barker has described the deci- sion of four of the big six energy companies not to pass on £50 bill reductions to all of their customers as "unacceptable". In December, energy com- panies promised householders they would receive the discount off this year's energy bills after the government announced cuts to green levies. However, EDF Energy, Eon, Npower and Scottish Power have all refused to pass on the full savings to customers on fixed-rate tariffs. British Gas and SSE cus- tomers will all receive the full discount. We asked the industry for its reaction to Barker's comment: Will Morris, group managing director of retail at SSE, said: "Unlike some of our com- petitors, we think it is totally unacceptable to penalise customers on fixed and capped price tariffs for their loyalty by excluding them from these cost savings." However, both Eon and Scottish Power argued that the majority of customers on fixed deals already had lower bills than customers on stand- ard tariffs. Scottish Power said just 3 per cent of its customers on its fixed price tariffs had higher bills. It said it would reduce bills for those customers on 31 January. Eon said customers could choose to switch tariffs with no exit fee. Npower claimed all its customers who saw their bills increase in December would "receive the full benefit of the reduction". A spokesman said: "One of the key drivers of the retail price increase last year was the cost of delivering the government obligation Eco. Customers on fixed-price, fixed-term tariffs did not see a price increase." Home truths Market view T he Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI) consultation on the future of consumer representation in Northern Ireland has now closed and as readers will expect, the Consumer Council has submitted an in-depth response. However, what has been really encourag- ing is that so many others took time to set out their reasons why consumer representa- tion in Northern Ireland should be strength- ened – not diminished or dismantled. Of the 300-plus responses received by DETI, we have been very grateful to receive copies of some lengthy and detailed submissions from a wide range of organisations and indi- viduals – from Manufacturing Northern Ireland to David Stubbs, an expert in policy and econom- ics, the Law Society, Age Sector Platform and Lord Whitty, a for- mer minister at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with responsibility for sus- tainable energy. They have made for heartening reading – many express the view that the current model of consumer representation in Northern Ireland is the right one. Currently, our integrated organi- sation has policy, consumer com- plaints and education functions all working together to support and inform each other. Following up on one consumer's complaint can lead us to lobby and campaign for improvements for all. Delivering consumer education campaigns empowers consumers and ensures they understand their rights. Some consultation responses that have been shared with us have pointed out the envy with which this integrated model of consumer representation is held in Great Britain; others have advised caution and that a full impact assessment must be carried out before any major changes are introduced. I'm not saying we shouldn't continuously look for ways to improve and develop the way we represent consumers, and we do. We've also had some good feedback in that regard during this process for us to consider. Some responses to the consultation have advocated strengthening the Consumer Council's information-gathering powers, in line with those held by Consumer Futures in GB. This would mean companies could be compelled to share more information with us than they currently have to. Our own submis- sion also highlighted this recommendation, together with other proposals, such as ensur- ing we proactively identify future issues and concerns for consumers. Policy decisions – especially on energy, finance, transport and water – are taken with a long-term view, so it is essential the consumer impact is considered over the long term. The Consumer Council's lat- est Cost of Living research from December 2013 has revealed that almost half (49 per cent) of con- sumers are currently worried about their ability to make ends meet, with 56 per cent worried about their ability to make ends meet in the future. While recent surveys have indicated an improvement in consumer confidence, there is a definite lag before consumers see this translated to their household budget or pocket. As people continue to struggle, particularly with energy and food costs, Northern Ireland needs the Consumer Council, a steadfast and independent organisation with highly experienced staff dedicated to representing the needs of all NI consumers and businesses at local, regional, national and European levels. For almost 30 years, the Consumer Coun- cil has continuously adapted to respond to consumers' changing needs. We now look forward to working with the DETI to ensure that NI consumers continue to be protected and have the best possible representation. Rick Hill, chair, Consumer Council for Northern Ireland "As people continue to struggle, particularly with energy and food costs, Northern Ireland needs the Consumer Council"