Public

Prices changes during the next regulatory period 2021 – 2027 may have a bearing on paying customers, particularly those on low income. CAS recently conducted research using Fraser of Allander Institute to understand how potential price change scenarios may affect aspects of affordability. Research sought to identify what proportion of Scottish households would be likely to spend more than 3% of income on water and sewerage under four charge scenarios between 2021/22 and 2027/28 (2%, 2.5%, 3% and 3.5%).

Our 7th edition in the 'Who Are You?' series describes those coming to citizens advice bureaux in Scotland for advice during November 2018.  

CAS welcomes the FCA's commitment to vulnerable consumers and the guidance they have published to help firms understand their obligations. 

Citizens Advice Scotland has responded to the Insolvency Service's call for evidence on Insolvency Practitioner regulation.

Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) welcomes the opportunity to respond to the consultation. In 2017-18, Scotland’s CAB network advised clients on a total of 47,254 issues related to employment. Of those, the largest proportion related to Pay and Entitlements (13,697), with Scottish CAB advising clients on 454 issues specifically related to the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage.

Issue of 1 of the Citizens Advice network in Scotland magazine

CAS welcomes Ofgem’s proposals to improve outcomes for consumers who experience self-disconnection and self-rationing. We have identified a number of priorities:

• The standardisation of friendly credit dates and hours, where technically feasible
• Improvements to emergency credit provision, which maintains flexibility, but allows for the maintenance of supply in a reasonable worst case scenario
• The removal of barriers to discretionary credit, which maintains protection from excessive debt, but enhances consumer choice
• Improvements in how suppliers communicate with their prepayment customers, for e.g. as regards the seasonal accrual of standing charges
• The formalisation of Ofgem’s Ability to Pay principles in the licence code
• Utilisation of the full suite of smart functionality, for e.g. suppliers switching meters to credit mode to maintain supply
• Viable alternatives to prepayment, for e.g. clarification on the future of Third Party Deductions for energy (Fuel Direct)
• The extension of fuel voucher schemes (fuel credits)

This is CAS’s response to the Call for Evidence on the Annual Energy Statement. We believe that while Scotland is likely to miss its target of achieving 11% of heat demand coming from renewables by 2020, there are actions the Scottish Government can take to ensure that it remains on course for achieving net zero by 2045, including;

›     Boosting public buy-in by stepping up practical and financial support for consumers

›     Driving technological innovation

›     Reducing the cost of renewables 

These measures will help to address what CAS believes are the key risks and threats to achieving the 2045 target:

›     the initial cost of moving to renewable heat sources

›     the lack of public awareness and buy-in to the scale of the change needed

›     the quality of installations and access to redress when things go wrong

›     the lack of advice and guidance on how to properly use low carbon heating systems to best effect

Briefing on paid staff and volunteers; types of services provided to compliment the generalist service; client gains; how clients contacted CAB and the work undertaken by CAB in addition to giving advice.