ScottishPower has announced that it is on-course to complete almost half (46%) of its Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) programme by the end of December, which means the company will have installed energy efficiency measures equivalent to insulating over 380,000 homes across the UK. CERT - which came into effect on 1 April 2008 and is due to run until 2011 - is an obligation on energy suppliers to achieve targets for promoting reductions in carbon emissions in homes across the UK.

In September ScottishPower, together with the other five UK major energy suppliers, agreed to the Government’s plans to increase the initial investment in the CERT programme by 20% between 2008 and 2011. This amounted to an extra investment of £560 million across the industry, leading to a total energy efficiency spend of almost £4 billion over three years.

The work carried out by ScottishPower includes loft and cavity wall insulations as well as the distribution of low energy light bulbs. It is estimated that a household can save £220 per year in energy consumption by having loft and cavity wall insulation.

The early delivery has been made possible through developing strategic partnerships with local authorities via regional-based schemes such as Warm Zones, and by a concerted programme with key contractors and partners to secure resources and materials.

ScottishPower also confirmed that it is on course to meet the additional CERT target (an increase of 20%), having carried out energy saving measures equivalent to insulating an extra 40,000 homes – the vast majority of which has been targeted to priority group customers.

All of this builds on ScottishPower’s strong track record of delivering the Government's Energy Efficiency Programmes. It was the first company to complete the previous energy efficiency scheme EEC2 - which was achieved 1 full year ahead of the Government target. 

Willie MacDiarmid, ScottishPower’s Director of Energy Retail, said: “It is vitally important for homes to be as energy efficient as possible in order to reduce fuel costs in the long term. We have worked exceptionally hard to establish partnerships and secure resources to reach as many households as we possibly could this winter. We are also doing all that we can to make sure that those who need help the most are receiving it first.

“On top of our CERT commitment, we are also spending an additional £40 million on further measures to help our customers over the next three years. As part of this we will be helping our most vulnerable customers ensure that they are receiving all the benefits they are entitled to. In the UK, as much as £9bn¹ in benefits remain unclaimed each year. For every £1 we have invested in this area so far we have managed to release £20 in previously unclaimed benefits payments for customers. We believe this is important in helping to empower people to stay out of fuel poverty in the long term.”

Notes to Editors:

Case Study:

ScottishPower recently funded cavity wall insulation at 20 properties in the Lorne Gardens sheltered housing complex in Salsburgh, near Airdrie. North Lanarkshire Council made the initial approach and the work was carried out between the 13th and 20th September.

Maureen Wotherspoon, warden at the Lorne Gardens, a North Lanarkshire Council sheltered housing complex, said: "The houses here are about 30 years old and there was little or no insulation. I spoke to my manager to see if we could get any help and he responded very quickly and spoke to the relevant people on our behalf. It was all arranged very quickly and workers were here for a week in September. We were delighted that it all happened before winter and I think it will make a real difference. Even if it means that we can turn down our heating by one or two notches, it will be well worth it."

• Customers who are interested in finding out more about the energy efficiency measures that ScottishPower offer can either visit www.scottishpower.co.uk or call 0845 601 7836
• Energy Efficiency Commitment (EEC) targets were agreed 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 achieve the target ScottishPower insulated over 150,000 lofts, carried out 270,000 cavity wall insulations 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.
• ¹ Source: Income-related benefits: estimates of take-up 2006-07 http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/income_analysis/jun_2008/0607_NSPR.pdf

Overall take-up

Taking all five income-related benefits together, there was between £6,180 million and £9,990 million left unclaimed in 2006- 07; this compared to £34,630 million that was claimed and represents take-up by expenditure of between about 78 per cent and 85 per cent.

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