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'Big 6
officials should taken out and shot over rising costs, missed
efficiencies'
OFFICIALS of the UK's "Big
6" energy companies should be taken out and shot for
profiteering and exploitation of consumers, said Will Davies, MD of
aspect.co.uk.
Davies said in a press release that:- "The 'Big 6' have
made absolutely no effort to pursue savings through efficiency and
pass those savings onto consumers in their bills. They continue
overcharging customers to subsidise cheap offers."
The "Big 6" energy firms (EDF, E.on, British Gas, nPower,
Scottish Power and SSE) collectively supply 99% of British homes
with heating and lighting.
As MD of
aspect.co.uk, a leading
property maintenance and refurbishment company, Davies is in an
excellent position to see the results of the energy companies'
predatory pricing. "When we do a refurbishment, it's often a homeowner trying to
make their home more energy efficient and bring down their monthly
bills. The energy companies could learn from that."
Davies cited a recent Institute for Public Policy Research's recent
analysis showing energy consumers will pay £2 billion than the
actual cost of the energy by 2020, barring stricter market
regulation by Ofgem. "Improved competition and fair pricing is needed."
In its report:- "True Cost of Energy" the London-based think
tank estimated the true costs for energy companies to supply
households with gas and electricity for the financial year 2011 to
2012.
It included several scenarios involving different levels of
competition and examining how they could affect household energy
bills in 2020.
The analysis showed that annual efficiency savings of just 2.5%
could deliver £1.9 billion in savings in 2020, an average of £70 for
the average household annually.
However, Ofgem's own evidence gave no indication the 'Big 6'
energy companies have made efficiency savings and passed them onto
consumers through lower bills.
The report also found some households pay £330 more than their
neighbours next door for the same energy from the same company. Davies
said:- "That is absolutely asinine. That it's even allowed to
continue is borderline criminal. All this occurs while the Big Six's
profits have increased from £15 per customer to £125. The UK energy
market needs real competition. Ofgem needs to step up and create competition in the energy
market by doing its job and enforcing the appropriate regulations."
Davies noted the Labour Party has declared that it will attack the
Big 6's market stranglehold that shuts out new companies and keeps
energy bills rising. However, it shouldn't take a new government to
bring this outrageous situation under control, he said:- "Consumers need to let Ofgem and the rest of the Government
know that these high energy costs and closed markets are
unacceptable in a free society and are severely impacting the
average UK resident."
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NORTHWEST LINK
TO SHROPSHIRE CASH POINT ROBBERY
WEST Mercia Police
investigating a robbery at a Shropshire service station cash point
are carrying out inquiries in the North West of England. They are
liaising closely with officers from Merseyside, Greater Manchester
and Lancashire forces after 3 cash cassettes stolen in last month's
robbery on 20 November 2012, were discovered on the hard shoulder of
the North bound M6. 2 masked men escaped with a "substantial sum" of
money from a cash point machine after confronting security staff at
Jay Services, Cosford Garage on the A41 in Albrighton, Shropshire at
around 10.30pm on 20 November 2012. 2 security staff were threatened
with "blades" and made to lie on the ground. They were
shaken up but not injured. The exact amount of money stolen has not
been disclosed. A £5,000 reward has been offered by a security firm
for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the robbers.
Detective Sergeant John Weaver, the investigating officer with West
Mercia Police, said:- "It is now three weeks since the robbery
and our investigations are continuing. We have recovered 3 of the 4
bank note cassettes stolen in the incident from alongside the M6
heading North and there is a strong possibility that the robbers
travelled to Shropshire from the North West. Officers from West
Mercia are being assisted by colleagues from Merseyside, Greater
Manchester and Lancashire police forces."
DS Weaver said he hoped the £5,000 reward would encourage people to
come forward with information to help identify the offenders.
"We are appealing for public assistance from anyone who knows those
responsible or is suspicious of men who have suddenly come into
money. Callers can speak in confidence to me or other officers at
Shrewsbury CID on:- 0300 333 3000. They can also leave a message
with the anonymous Crimestoppers charity on:- 0800 555 111. If you
can help in any way, call now. One cassette was found
discarded in Cheshire between junctions 18 and 19 of the M6, near
Middlewich and Knutsford. 2 others were found a short time later
near junction 26 close to Wigan, where major routes split for
Merseyside and the Manchester area. The investigation is still
very much on going and I am hopeful someone will come forward from
the North West to claim the reward with information which provides a
break through."
LOST MEDICATION
- MAGHULL
MERSEYSIDE Police are
warning members of the public to be on their guard after a quantity
of prescription medication was lost in Maghull on Thursday, 13
December 2012. The medication was lost at around 9am between the
areas of Tensing Road and Dodds Lane. The medication consists of a
strip of 9 tablets of 5mg of Methylphenidate. Merseyside Police
would like to remind members of the public that taking medication
that is not prescribed to you could cause serious harm. If found
please call Merseyside Police on 101, or take the medication to your
nearest pharmacy or Police Station. |
