Publications

The Markets and Systems policy team at Citizens Advice Scotland puts consumers at the heart of policy and regulation in the energy, post and water sectors in Scotland. We work with governments, regulators and business to put consumers first, designing policy and practice around their needs.

Our advocacy work is evidence led and we use a combination of independent research and evidence from the Citizens Advice Network in Scotland to speak up for consumers.  

CAS has responded to the Accountant in Bankruptcy's consultation on returning funds to the free sector.

CAS has responded to the Financial Ombudsman Service's consultation on its future funding. 

CAS recognises that Universal Credit (UC) may be working well for some people. However, evidence from across the Scottish Citizens Advice network suggests that a significant number of people -who are often already vulnerable and/or marginalised- are experiencing hardship and detriment as a result of having to claim UC.

Citizens Advice Scotland received 232 responses to the Patient Advice and Support Service (PASS) client feedback survey between 1st April 2018 and 31st March 2019.  Client satisfaction is high with 96% of respondents stating that they were either very satisfied (86%) or satisfied (10%) with the service.

This is CAS's response to the Scottish Government's consultation on the Energy Efficient Scotland programme.

Energy Efficient Scotland (EES) is an ambitious Scottish Government programme which aims to improve the energy efficiency of Scotland’s housing stock over the next 20 years in a bid to reduce carbon emissions and fuel poverty. One of the proposed strands of the programme is the regulation of minimum standards of energy efficiency in both rented and owner occupied domestic properties. This would take the form of mandatory Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) standards to be achieved by respective sectors by a target date. This consultation seeks views on whether the Scottish Government should bring forward the date for all owner occupied homes to be EPC Band C or above by 2030, where technically feasible and cost effective. It also seeks views on the implementation of regulations for the private rented sector.

The accompanying research report summarises the results of an omnibus survey that we commissioned in March 2019. The aim was to: better understand levels of awareness about EPCs; what homeowners are currently doing, if anything, to upgrade the energy efficiency of their homes; what would motivate homeowners to install more energy efficiency measures; and how Scottish homeowners and renters feel about potential regulation of energy efficiency.

This report details the energy issues advised on by the Citizens Advice network in Scotland in 2017-18.
The data shows that of the three main strands of the network, the majority of energy-related advice
in Scotland continues to be provided by Scottish Citizens Advice Bureaux, accounting for 92% of the advice provided
in 2017-18.

This reflects the complementary nature of the Citizens Advice network which in 2017-18 included:

• Citizens Advice Bureaux which primarily provide advice on complex interrelated issues;
• the Extra Help Unit undertakes specialist case work on behalf of vulnerable consumers, often in urgent need of assistance; and
• the Citizens Advice Consumer Service has a statutory remit to deliver first tier advice.

In 2017-18, a total of 41,233 energy issues were advised on across the whole Citizens Advice network in Scotland.