1 June 2007
Energy supplier Scottish & Southern Energy announced yesterday that it is to introduce a green-incentives tariff which will help consumers reduce their carbon footprint and save them up to 100 per year.
Current customers could save an estimated 10% on the cost of running their homes by adopting the system of 'energy efficiency credits', which rewards homeowners for cutting their energy use.
Buying low-energy appliances and installing loft insulation are two of the suggestions offered by the energy supplier, which will reward eco-customers with credits which can be used to pay off their bills.
In a statement, Scottish and Southern Energy's Chief Executive Ian Marchant said: "We need to change the way we consume electricity and gas in the UK. Our homes account for a quarter of the UK's carbon emissions.
"It may seem odd for a company to actively work to reduce demand for its core products, but we believe that it's the only way forward that is sustainable for our business and for society as a whole."
Scottish and Southern Energy was recently voted Best Overall Provider for the third year in a row in the latest Customer Satisfaction Report issued by uSwitch.com. A whopping 70% of customers said they were satisfied with its service.
Geoff Slaughter, Energy Product Manager at uSwitch.com, commented: "Energy suppliers have been making noises about more environmentally-driven products for some time and it is now becoming clearer that this means more than simply providing a few energy efficient light bulbs.
"Consumers will need to understand that there may be a cost attached. But this is likely to be the first of many schemes designed to boost greener behaviour and apart from any initial concerns over cost, the only potential difficulty facing consumers will be choosing between them."