Energy bills

I’ve just found a Blog called The People's Democratic Republic of South Lanarkshire and I came across this post.

It gives an insight into how much more we’re paying for our energy due to the Government’s Green Iniatives.
The paragraphs below are from my energy supplier, Scottish Power.

Social Initiatives

In 2009, the Government introduced a new Community Energy Savings Programme (CESP).
This scheme obliges energy suppliers and electricity generators to pay for energy efficiency measures to be installed in low income areas to permanently reduce vulnerable customers’ fuel bills and reduce carbon emissions. It is estimated that this 3 year programme will cost the energy industry £350m. In addition, between 1st April 2011 and 31st March 2015 energy suppliers in Great Britain are obligated to spend a total of £1.14 billion assisting vulnerable and fuel poor customers through the Warm Home Discount Scheme. The cost of meeting both of these obligations is included in your energy prices.

Why am I obliged to pay to assist “vulnerable and fuel poor customers”?  That certainly was not stated in the Contract I signed.

Renewable Energy

Under the Renewables Obligation all major energy suppliers in Great Britain are required to obtain a certain percentage of the electricity that they sell to customers from renewable sources. Like other energy companies, we include the cost of meeting this obligation in your electricity price.

That’s your obligation, not mine. I don’t see why I should pay for it.

Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT)

CERT is the main government policy aimed at reducing carbon emissions by improving the energy efficiency of households in Great Britain.
It obliges all of the big energy suppliers to deliver energy efficiency measures like loft and cavity wall insulation to homes across Great Britain. Many of these measures are discounted and in some cases are provided free of charge and it is estimated that delivering this policy will cost the energy industry £5.5 billion in the period between 2008 and 2012. Like other energy companies we include an allowance for the cost of meeting this objective in your energy prices.

My house already has loft insulation and I have no cavities in my walls. So why do I have to take on this extra cost? Again this was never stated in my contract.
So the little missive below is about to be sent

Scottish Power

name and address 
Date 

Dear Sir/Madam: 
Reference:  account number 

I contact you in relation to the ‘Government obligations’ charge applied to my electricity bill. 

It is my understanding that your company use this money to fund the renewable energy conditions placed on you
by the UK Government. This legally binding contract between the UK Government and the energy companies
should not infringe my legal rights in any way, without my express written permission being sought. 

I have checked my records and I’m unable to find any correspondence from your company requesting my
express permission, either written or orally, to apply this charge to my electricity bill. Taking this into
consideration, I advise you of the following: 

i. I am of the opinion that the 6% charge placed on my electricity bill by Scottish Power is in violation of
Regulation 5(1) of the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999 (as amended). It is my
intention to recover all monies paid to your company for the ‘government obligations’ charge from and including
January 1st 2002.
ii. I advise you that I exercise my legal rights under the provisions of Regulation 8 of the Unfair Terms in
Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999 (as amended). I am sure you are aware that the provisions of this
regulation provide that an unfair term shall not be binding upon the consumer. 

 I therefore expect a complete refund in respect of these charges that you have levied without my permission.

I look forward to your earliest response. 

Yours sincerely 

The Filthy Engineer

Now I’m off to U-switch

Sorry abot the Formatting.