Tuesday 20th May 2008 

Rural Consumers Need Same Protection as Other Energy Users.

Angus MP Mike Weir has called upon the UK government to ensure that rural consumers who rely on home fuel oil or bottled gas are given the same rights as gas and energy consumers. Mr Weir has been pursuing a campaign on the issue since being approached by Angus constituents who have suffered massive rises in fuel prices for heating.

Mr Weir has already raised the matter in Parliament and with Ministers and lodged an Early Day Motion which has received cross party support.

Commenting after a meeting of the Business and Enterprise Committee which heard from Allan Asher the director of consumer body Energywatch Mr Weir said

“Both Ofgem and Energywatch have confirmed that there is no regulator with the task of looking at the market or interests of consumers who use home fuel oil or bottled gas. They do not even have the limited protection available to gas and electricity consumers. This is completely unacceptable.”

“Prices of these energy supplies have risen dramatically causing real pain in rural Scotland. It is essential that action is taken to end this anomaly and look clearly at this market.”

Energywatch is shortly to subsumed into the new National Consumer Council and Mr Weir pressed Mr Asher as to whether the energy section would include this area. He was told that Energywatch would press for that to be included.

“I am pleased that finally some notice is being taken of this important issue and will be pressing for it to be formally included in the energy remit of the new body.”

Ends

 Note to Editors Mr Weir’s EDM reads

HOME FUEL OIL PRICES

07.05.2008

Weir, Mike

That this House notes the very substantial rises in the price of home fuel oil which many people, particularly in rural areas, rely on for heating; believes that urgent action is needed to tackle fuel poverty amongst those relying on such oil as well as those who use gas and electricity; calls on the Government to investigate the soaring price of fuel oil; and believes this industry should be subject to the same regulation as gas and electricity suppliers