Utility supplier 'will reward green customers'
Published On 1 June 2007
A utility supplier has revealed that it will offer its customers discounts if they use less energy and help reduce the UK's carbon emissions.While Scottish and Southern Energy are yet to release full details of the scheme, the utility supplier did say that customers could be eligible for a £100 credit on their first year's bill if they reduce their usage and meet other criteria.
Consumer groups welcomed the utility supplier's move, saying that providing financial incentives was a good way of encouraging people to be greener.
Geoff Slaughter, the energy product manager at uSwitch.com, explained: "This is the carrot rather than the stick approach to boosting customers' energy efficiency and is firmly in keeping with what we'd expect from Scottish and Southern Energy.
"But, changing behaviour is the most difficult thing to do as old habits die hard. If it is to be a success then the scheme will need to be strongly and clearly communicated and customers must be given every opportunity to achieve the full credits available.
"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."
While making the announcement, the utility supplier also set itself a target of reducing its own carbon emissions by 20 per cent by 2015/16.
