ScottishPower is conducting a limited trial of a new community based energy advice service, which has been endorsed by the Energy Savings Trust, in Motherwell and North Shields in February.

The trial will focus on a new team of Community Energy Advisors who will help reduce customers’ bills through an energy check of their home.

ScottishPower has been researching and developing the new system since ending the selling of energy products on the doorstep last year.

Neil Clitheroe, ScottishPower’s CEO Retail and Generation, said:

“Last year we recognised that the time had come to rethink the way we engaged with our customers in their homes and that is why we called a halt to selling on the doorstep in the UK.

“We have developed and are now trialling a new system that is more relevant to today’s energy market and helps customers save money on their bills and reduce their energy use.

“It is important to remember that many customers, especially those not using the internet, value face-to-face energy advice and this new community based approach will provide them with sound guidance on all household energy issues including the best tariff for their needs, energy efficiency, energy monitoring and insulation”.

Energy Advisors have been trained and endorsed by the Energy Savings Trust to provide both existing and prospective customers with useful advice through an energy check that will carefully set out the information they really need in order to take their energy decisions.

The advisors, who will be paid a salary, will not sell householders energy products in their homes. They will however provide up-to-date options on products that could help reduce their bills. Households will be contacted in writing in advance of the visit, providing them with appropriate information and giving them the opportunity to opt out.

Under the new process that is being robustly checked in the trial, if a customer is interested in installing energy efficiency measures or switching to a ScottishPower product following a check from an energy advisor they will be separately contacted by a ScottishPower agent at a later date. This will only be done with the customer’s permission.

Media information: Simon McMillan 0141 614 4582 / 07753 622 257