ScottishPower is the first company to have achieved the government’s challenging Energy Efficiency Commitment (EEC) targets.

The Energy Efficiency Commitment is a UK Government obligation on energy suppliers to reduce energy use in UK households with an overall UK energy reduction target of 130TWh between 2005 and 2008.

Willie MacDiarmid, ScottishPower’s Energy Retail Director, said: “To hit the target a year ahead of schedule is  tremendous effort by our people and signifies a real commitment to improving energy efficiency in social housing across the UK.”

Starting in 2005 individual supplier targets were set for each of the six UK energy companies based on their share of the overall domestic customer market. With over 5 million UK customers ScottishPower’s target was a reduction of over 14 terra watt hours over three years.

To deliver the reduction in demand a £150 million programme was designed to improve the energy efficiency of homes across Great Britain.  Over the three year period half of the energy savings were targeted at people in receipt of state benefits ensuring that those most in need could also benefit.

To achieve their target ScottishPower insulated over 150,000 lofts, insulated 270,000 cavity walls and distributed over 5 million energy efficient light bulbs.

Other measures included insulating hot water tanks, replacing inefficient boilers and working with retailers to discount the cost of energy efficient appliances.

ScottishPower also developed partnerships with local authorities across the country to help direct support to the areas where it is most needed – improving insulation and replacing boilers throughout social housing stock.

Media Information: Simon McMillan 0141 566 4875/ 07753 622 257