Energy supplier npower has been fined £2million by regulator Ofgem for mishandling customer complaints.
It is the second heavy fine levied on one of the 'big six' energy firms over complaints handling in the space of four months, following a record £2.5million fine for British Gas in July.
Ofgem said npower failed to record all details of the complaints it received, did not give customers enough details of the redress service offered by the energy ombudsman, and failed to put in place adequate processes to deal with complaints.
The regulator said it is also currently investigating the way EDF Energy, another of the big six suppliers, handles its complaints.Sarah Harrison, Ofgem’s senior partner for sustainable development, said:
'Consumers have a right to expect that energy companies will comply with the standards.
'Npower failed to do so and, although it took remedial action, it has incurred a penalty for failing consumers.'
Ofgem added that the fine would have been higher had the company not admitted the breaches of regulations and taken action to improve its complaints procedures.
The fine handed to npower, although large, does not match the penalty which British Gas was forced to pay earlier this year.
British Gas, the nation's largest energy supplier, was criticised by Ofgem for failing to re-open complaints from unsatisfied customers.
Npower, which is owned by German group RWE, is the UK’s fourth largest provider and supplies about 3.3million households.
This month it put up its average tariffs for gas by 15.7 per cent, with a rise of 7.2 per cent for electricity, because of rising wholesale power prices.
The firm was fined £1.8million in 2009 by Ofgem for mis-selling after complaints from customers about its doorstep sales team.
31/10/2011 - Dailymail
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Monday, 31 October 2011
Friday, 28 October 2011
One-third of Britons are 'disappointed' with iPhone 4S - and just 29 per cent plan to buy
Apple's iPhone 4S smashed sales records on its launch weekend, selling four million handsets around the world.
But now that the dust has settled, it appears that Britons aren't overly impressed with what the new handset has under the bonnet.
More than a third of Britons described themselves as 'disappointed' with the new iPhone in a survey polling people on the features of the new phone.
And a paltry 29 per cent of the clued-up phone fans surveyed said that they planned to upgrade to the new iPhone 4S
The most common reason for their disappointment was that they had 'expected more differences' from the new phone.
In the run-up to launch, many analysts had predicted a complete redesign for the best-selling handset, and other hi-tech features.
The poll, of 1,687 people familiar with the handset, found that 64 per cent of disappointed fans wanted more features.
Another 27 per cent had been hoping for a total redesign - the promised 'iPhone 5' that now seems likely to launch next year.
Fans seemed to like the new Siri voice-control best out of iPhone 4S's new functions. Others were impressed with the new camera.
The survey, carried out by website MyVoucherCodes, found that of the 71 per cent who said they did not plan to upgrade to an iPhone 4S, 48 per cent said they were planning to switch to Blackberry whilst 37 per cent were thinking of changing to an Android phone.
26/10/2011 - Dailymail
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But now that the dust has settled, it appears that Britons aren't overly impressed with what the new handset has under the bonnet.
More than a third of Britons described themselves as 'disappointed' with the new iPhone in a survey polling people on the features of the new phone.
And a paltry 29 per cent of the clued-up phone fans surveyed said that they planned to upgrade to the new iPhone 4S
The most common reason for their disappointment was that they had 'expected more differences' from the new phone.
In the run-up to launch, many analysts had predicted a complete redesign for the best-selling handset, and other hi-tech features.
The poll, of 1,687 people familiar with the handset, found that 64 per cent of disappointed fans wanted more features.
Another 27 per cent had been hoping for a total redesign - the promised 'iPhone 5' that now seems likely to launch next year.
Fans seemed to like the new Siri voice-control best out of iPhone 4S's new functions. Others were impressed with the new camera.
The survey, carried out by website MyVoucherCodes, found that of the 71 per cent who said they did not plan to upgrade to an iPhone 4S, 48 per cent said they were planning to switch to Blackberry whilst 37 per cent were thinking of changing to an Android phone.
26/10/2011 - Dailymail
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Thursday, 27 October 2011
Android outgunning iPhone for app downloads, but revenues remain another story
The intense competition between iOS and Android means any statistics that seem to shed light on the two platforms' respective performances are quickly seized on by journalists and bloggers, especially if they lend themselves to claims about who's "winning" in the smartphone and tablet wars.
The truth is that both Apple and Google are winning if judged on momentum, with BlackBerry sliding – admittedly from a high market-share starting point – and Microsoft still awaiting a sales surge from its new Mango software and the first Windows Phone handsets from Nokia.
Even so, analyst firm ABI Research's latest report fuels the debate around iOS versus Android, claiming that Google's platform overtook Apple's for mobile app downloads in the third quarter of this year. The company estimates that
Android accounted for 44% of overall downloads, while iOS took a 31% share.
The company has hailed Google's strategy of making Android free for manufacturers to use (well, free as long as you don't count the patent-related payments a number of manufacturers are making to Microsoft).
"Being a free platform has expanded the Android device install base, which in turn has driven growth in the number of third party multi-platform and mobile operator app stores," says ABI's research associate Lim Shiyang. "These conditions alone explain why Android is the new leader in the mobile application market."
The leader for reach, certainly. ABI estimates that there are now 2.4 Android smartphones in people's hands for every one iPhone, and sees the ratio expanding to 3:1 by 2016. It should be noted that we're only talking smartphones here, rather than tablets or non-cellular devices. Google said earlier in October that 190m Android devices have been activated so far, while Apple's last figure for iOS was 250m thanks to sales of iPad and iPod touch.
Activation and sales figures are good for corporate willy-waving, but app developers are digging deeper into the respective performances of iOS and Android. Reach is one important metric, but revenue potential is another.
Apple's recent announcement that it has paid out $2.5bn to iOS app developers was calculated to highlight the fact that for paid apps, its platform is still more lucrative for paid apps.
ABI says that when it comes to mobile app downloads per user, iPhone still outguns Android two to one. "Apple's superior monetisation policies attracted good developers within its ranks, thus creating a better catalog of apps and customer experience," says the company's practice director of mobile services Dan Shey.
That's as maybe, but Google is clearly alive to the need to continue improving its Android Market store. Its Android boss Andy Rubin admitted at the recent AsiaD conference that Google has work to do. "We're a search company, we know how to find things, and while we haven't applied all of that logic to the Android Market just yet, we're actively doing it," he said.
Android is already a hugely appealing platform for app developers focusing on reach over revenues (or at least reach in order to drive revenues from advertising). An ever-increasing number of freemium social games are also making the leap from iOS, now that Google has its own in-app payments system.
Paid app developers and publishers continue to complain about handset fragmentation, poor discovery and piracy issues on Android, but many of them are knuckling down to support the platform anyway, recognising its potential.
With this in mind, ABI Research's figures shed less light on whether Apple or
Google is winning in the smartphone market than they do on the fact that iOS and Android have fast become the two key platforms for many app developers. The focus now is as much on the battle between Microsoft and RIM to break out beyond their core existing developer communities to become a strong third horse in that race.
26/10/2011 - Guardian
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The truth is that both Apple and Google are winning if judged on momentum, with BlackBerry sliding – admittedly from a high market-share starting point – and Microsoft still awaiting a sales surge from its new Mango software and the first Windows Phone handsets from Nokia.
Even so, analyst firm ABI Research's latest report fuels the debate around iOS versus Android, claiming that Google's platform overtook Apple's for mobile app downloads in the third quarter of this year. The company estimates that
Android accounted for 44% of overall downloads, while iOS took a 31% share.
The company has hailed Google's strategy of making Android free for manufacturers to use (well, free as long as you don't count the patent-related payments a number of manufacturers are making to Microsoft).
"Being a free platform has expanded the Android device install base, which in turn has driven growth in the number of third party multi-platform and mobile operator app stores," says ABI's research associate Lim Shiyang. "These conditions alone explain why Android is the new leader in the mobile application market."
The leader for reach, certainly. ABI estimates that there are now 2.4 Android smartphones in people's hands for every one iPhone, and sees the ratio expanding to 3:1 by 2016. It should be noted that we're only talking smartphones here, rather than tablets or non-cellular devices. Google said earlier in October that 190m Android devices have been activated so far, while Apple's last figure for iOS was 250m thanks to sales of iPad and iPod touch.
Activation and sales figures are good for corporate willy-waving, but app developers are digging deeper into the respective performances of iOS and Android. Reach is one important metric, but revenue potential is another.
Apple's recent announcement that it has paid out $2.5bn to iOS app developers was calculated to highlight the fact that for paid apps, its platform is still more lucrative for paid apps.
ABI says that when it comes to mobile app downloads per user, iPhone still outguns Android two to one. "Apple's superior monetisation policies attracted good developers within its ranks, thus creating a better catalog of apps and customer experience," says the company's practice director of mobile services Dan Shey.
That's as maybe, but Google is clearly alive to the need to continue improving its Android Market store. Its Android boss Andy Rubin admitted at the recent AsiaD conference that Google has work to do. "We're a search company, we know how to find things, and while we haven't applied all of that logic to the Android Market just yet, we're actively doing it," he said.
Android is already a hugely appealing platform for app developers focusing on reach over revenues (or at least reach in order to drive revenues from advertising). An ever-increasing number of freemium social games are also making the leap from iOS, now that Google has its own in-app payments system.
Paid app developers and publishers continue to complain about handset fragmentation, poor discovery and piracy issues on Android, but many of them are knuckling down to support the platform anyway, recognising its potential.
With this in mind, ABI Research's figures shed less light on whether Apple or
Google is winning in the smartphone market than they do on the fact that iOS and Android have fast become the two key platforms for many app developers. The focus now is as much on the battle between Microsoft and RIM to break out beyond their core existing developer communities to become a strong third horse in that race.
26/10/2011 - Guardian
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Wednesday, 26 October 2011
Tuesday, 25 October 2011
Scottish Power ends doorstep sales
Scottish Power has become the latest energy firm to announce the end of unsolicited doorstep sales of gas and electricity contracts.
The company said the time had come to rethink the way it engaged with its customers.
It will now use "traditional channels" such as telephone, online and direct mail to sell its products.
Scottish Power said its field agents would cease their activities at the end of November.
Earlier this month, British Gas and Scottish and Southern Energy became the first of the major suppliers to stop doorstep sales entirely.
Neil Clitheroe, chief executive of energy retail at Scottish Power, said: "The time has come to rethink the way the company engages with its customers, recognising that there is a need to provide them with the information they really need in order to take their energy decisions.
"We are therefore calling a halt to selling on the doorstep in the UK.
"The traditional doorstep sales process is no longer relevant to the needs of today's energy market and we recognise that we have to engage with our customers in a different way."
Scottish Power said it was now developing a new network of advisors that would work with customers to minimise bills and provide them with "sound guidance" on all household energy issues.
The company added it would begin a "comprehensive" energy advisory retraining programme for existing employees, including the introduction of new technology.
Watchdog Consumer Focus Scotland, which has been campaigning for a ban on cold-calling by energy salesmen, said it was "great news" that Scottish Power had shown they had listened to consumer concerns.
Deputy director Trisha McAuley said: "Sales on the doorstep don't offer the best rates and hundreds of thousands of people have been switched to a worse deal by salespeople at their homes.
"Energy customers need to know they can rely on their suppliers to do the right thing."
21/10/2011 - BBC
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Monday, 24 October 2011
Microsoft claims Android licence patent milestone
Microsoft now has has licence deals with companies "accounting for over half of all Android devices".
The company announced on its blog that Compal was the latest manufacturer to pay it a fee for each device sold using Google's system software.
Compal is a Taiwanese mobile smartphone and tablet maker that builds devices sold under other companies' brands.
Microsoft said it now has patent deals with ten companies covering their use of Android.
Nine of those agreements were struck over the past four months.
Payments
Google does not charge manufacturers to use its operating system, but profits instead from the search advertising generated by use of their devices.
Microsoft claims Android's code makes use of some of its innovations, including memory management and the way contacts are stored.
Earlier in the year Google accused Microsoft, and others of organising a hostile campaign against its software, "waged through bogus patents".
However, Microsoft's lawyers, Brad Smith and Horacio Gutierrez, defend their action.
"Our agreements ensure respect and reasonable compensation for Microsoft's inventions and patent portfolio," they said.
"Equally important, they enable licensees to make use of our patented innovations on a long-term and stable basis."
Citigroup analyst, Walter Pritchard, said he believed that two of the biggest licensees - HTC and Samsung - are paying the Redmond-based firm between $1-5 (£0.62 - £3.14) - for each Android handset sold.
Lawsuits
Until now Microsoft has focused its patent lawsuit efforts against handset makers, rather than Google itself.
However, that is set to change when Google completes its takeover of Motorola Mobility.
Microsoft claims Motorola has infringed several of its patents and is chasing it for payment. Motorola has filed a countersuit.
Microsoft's other active lawsuits involve infringement claims against the Nook ebook maker, Barnes & Noble, and the Taiwanese manufacturers Foxconn and Inventec.
24/10/2011 - BBC
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Friday, 21 October 2011
Samsung's army of Androids pull ahead of iPhone for first time
The news that Apple had shipped three million iPhones fewer than expected this quarter came as a surprise to anyone who witnessed the Applemania around the launch of iPhone 4S last week.
But the slip allowed arch-rival Samsung to push ahead of Apple for the first time ever with its hi-tech Android handsets, according to reports.
The South Korean company overtook Nokia earlier this year – and shipped 20million smartphones in the third quarter, against Apple’s 17.1million.
Nokia - who are awaiting the arrival of their first Windows-powered handsets - slumped to 16.8million.
The figures were reported by an anonymous source in the Wall Street Journal. Samsung has yet to disclose official results for the third quarter. Apple blamed its disappointing figures on the leaks surrounding the launch of iPhone 4S, which meant iPhone users held off updating their handsets.
The iPhone 4S went on to become the fastest-selling phone of all time, selling four million on its opening weekend.
Google's rival to the iPhone 4S is to be sold in Britain within a month after its launch was delayed out of respect for Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.
The Galaxy Nexus will be made by Samsung and include technology allowing owners to unlock it by just looking at the phone's camera.
Out in time for Christmas, it will also showcase the latest Android software - Ice Cream Sandwich, a new, spruced-up operating system with upgraded speech recognition built to take on iPhone's Siri software.
21.10.2011 - Daily Mail
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Thursday, 20 October 2011
Gas prices will continue to rise, industry bosses warn
Phil Bentley, the managing director of British Gas, said that household energy bills are likely to keep going up because the price of gas on the international market is rising. This is despite the average UK dual fuel bill already increasing by £224 to £1,293 this year.
David Cameron, the Prime Minister, and Chris Huhne, the Energy Secretary, today called together the UK’s largest energy suppliers and consumer groups for a summit to discuss how to make it easier for households to switch suppliers and save money. The Prime Minister wanted to "crack some heads together," said one Government source.
However Mr Bentley said that the “inconvenient truth” is that energy prices will continue to rise.
“In my opinion unit prices will only go one way unless someone discovers huge amounts of gas and imports it into the UK. The international price for gas, I am afraid, is going up,” he told the BBC this morning.
Mr Huhne also predicted that prices will rise.
“If you are asking me to predict what is going to happen to world fossil fuel prices then the
Government’s prediction – and the prediction of virtually everybody else – is that in the medium run those prices are going to go up,” said Mr Huhne before the summit.
However he also appeared to defend large energy companies’ profits.
“The companies are not the Salvation Army. We expect them to earn respectable returns for their shareholders,” he said.
Last week Ofgem, the energy regulator, said that Britain’s big energy companies are making profit margins of £125 a year from every household in the UK, up from just £15 in June.
Speaking after the summit, Mr Huhne said that the energy companies had agreed to make it easier for people to check their tariffs, to switch to cheaper tariffs and take to advantage of free offers to insulate their homes to make them more energy efficient.
The Prime Minister said that the UK’s so-called big six energy companies are “permanently being watched” by Ofgem, the industry regulator, to make sure that they are competitive. So far Ofgem has declined to refer the big six - British Gas, Scottish Power, Scottish & Southern Energy, EDF,
Eon and Npower – to the Competition Commission for a market inquiry, which could result in their enforced break-up. However Ofgem has not ruled out an inquiry should the companies not co-operate with its reforms, and Mr Cameron’s comments suggest that it is still firmly on the agenda.
Some people who were present at the meeting said that it was underwhelming.
Stephen Fitzpatrick, the managing director of Ovo, a small energy company that is not one of the big six, said that the meeting was a “big disappointment” because the issue of simply cutting prices was not raised.
“You had everyone round the table; the big energy companies, the smaller ones, the consumer groups, the Prime Minister. If I was one of the big six I’d have come out and said: ‘I can’t believe we’ve been let off so lightly,” said Mr Fitzpatrick.
A second person said a lot of what was discussed should have been done years ago.
Richard Lloyd, executive director at Which?, the consumer group, said: “It took years to get into this mess and it will take more than an afternoon to fix it.”
Ed Miliband, the Labour leader, was critical of the energy summit.
He accused the Government of "engaging in window dressing and not real change" and called on
Mr Cameron to tell the power firms that they should not go ahead with "crippling price rises" that will hit individuals and businesses.
The Leader of the Opposition said that increased transparency was needed to stop the "fast buck culture" of energy companies and allow consumers to receive a "fair deal".
"This is a rigged market," he said. "This is a market that isn't working to the benefit of consumers. We need big reform."
Christine McGourty, a director at Energy UK, which represents the UK's gas and electricity companies, said that often the tariff that consumers want does not just boil down to price. She said that fixed-price tariffs - which protect consumers from price increases over a certain period - are preferable to many people because they offer certainty, even if they are more expensive.
Research released yesterday estimated that nearly a third of UK households face fuel poverty if the weather this winter is as harsh as predicted. According to Energyhelpline.com, households will have to pay an average of £564 to heat their houses from December to February if the period is as cold as expected. Fuel poverty is defined as when people have to spend more than 10 per cent of their income on their domestic fuel bills.
17/10/2011 - The Telegraph
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Government’s prediction – and the prediction of virtually everybody else – is that in the medium run those prices are going to go up,” said Mr Huhne before the summit.
However he also appeared to defend large energy companies’ profits.
“The companies are not the Salvation Army. We expect them to earn respectable returns for their shareholders,” he said.
Last week Ofgem, the energy regulator, said that Britain’s big energy companies are making profit margins of £125 a year from every household in the UK, up from just £15 in June.
Speaking after the summit, Mr Huhne said that the energy companies had agreed to make it easier for people to check their tariffs, to switch to cheaper tariffs and take to advantage of free offers to insulate their homes to make them more energy efficient.
The Prime Minister said that the UK’s so-called big six energy companies are “permanently being watched” by Ofgem, the industry regulator, to make sure that they are competitive. So far Ofgem has declined to refer the big six - British Gas, Scottish Power, Scottish & Southern Energy, EDF,
Eon and Npower – to the Competition Commission for a market inquiry, which could result in their enforced break-up. However Ofgem has not ruled out an inquiry should the companies not co-operate with its reforms, and Mr Cameron’s comments suggest that it is still firmly on the agenda.
Some people who were present at the meeting said that it was underwhelming.
Stephen Fitzpatrick, the managing director of Ovo, a small energy company that is not one of the big six, said that the meeting was a “big disappointment” because the issue of simply cutting prices was not raised.
“You had everyone round the table; the big energy companies, the smaller ones, the consumer groups, the Prime Minister. If I was one of the big six I’d have come out and said: ‘I can’t believe we’ve been let off so lightly,” said Mr Fitzpatrick.
A second person said a lot of what was discussed should have been done years ago.
Richard Lloyd, executive director at Which?, the consumer group, said: “It took years to get into this mess and it will take more than an afternoon to fix it.”
Ed Miliband, the Labour leader, was critical of the energy summit.
He accused the Government of "engaging in window dressing and not real change" and called on
Mr Cameron to tell the power firms that they should not go ahead with "crippling price rises" that will hit individuals and businesses.
The Leader of the Opposition said that increased transparency was needed to stop the "fast buck culture" of energy companies and allow consumers to receive a "fair deal".
"This is a rigged market," he said. "This is a market that isn't working to the benefit of consumers. We need big reform."
Christine McGourty, a director at Energy UK, which represents the UK's gas and electricity companies, said that often the tariff that consumers want does not just boil down to price. She said that fixed-price tariffs - which protect consumers from price increases over a certain period - are preferable to many people because they offer certainty, even if they are more expensive.
Research released yesterday estimated that nearly a third of UK households face fuel poverty if the weather this winter is as harsh as predicted. According to Energyhelpline.com, households will have to pay an average of £564 to heat their houses from December to February if the period is as cold as expected. Fuel poverty is defined as when people have to spend more than 10 per cent of their income on their domestic fuel bills.
17/10/2011 - The Telegraph
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Wednesday, 19 October 2011
Samsung unveils its response to Apple's iPhone 4S
Samsung and Google have unveiled their response to Apple's iPhone 4S and its latest operating system in the shape of the Galaxy Nexus smartphone, using the new 4.0 version of Google's Android software.
The handset, unveiled on Wednesday in Hong Kong, features 4G speeds, an improved camera and the biggest screen to be offered by Samsung on a phone, at 4.65 inches. It will be on sale in November.
Apple and Samsung, the leading maker of Android-based devices, have become bitter rivals in a battle for smartphone supremacy. Both have brought patent cases against one another around the world and each has tried to block sales of its rival's smartphones in certain countries
Apple said it sold a record 4m units of the iPhone 4S in its first three days on sale at the weekend. However, it disappointed Wall Street on Tuesday when it reported sales of 17m iPhones in its September quarter, 2m short of forecasts.
In contrast, Samsung told investors this month that the robust performance of its smartphone business has put its third-quarter profits on track to beat analysts' expectations. The South Korean company is widely expected to have surpassed Apple in the third quarter as the biggest smartphone seller.
The Galaxy Nexus and its operating system, codenamed Ice Cream Sandwich, match some of the features of the 4S and its iOS 5 operating system.
The camera allows pictures to be taken quickly without the usual lag and has full high-definition video recording - the same as the 4S. Android 4.0 has a new typeface for the highly detailed screen, similar to the Retina display features of the 4S and Apple's obsession with typography.
The Galaxy Nexus has a more curved design though and an almost edge-to-edge screen that does away with any physical buttons on its face.
An NFC chip inside that can be used for mobile payments will also allow files to be transferred between devices. Google executives showed how an Android Beam app could exchange web pages, maps, YouTube videos and contact details when two such devices touched one another.
Other features resemble those of smartphones from Microsoft and HP's Palm.
Bigger pictures, tiling and magazine-style layouts for photos and contacts are reminiscent of the Windows Phone 7 interface, while the ability to toss aside unwanted apps with a swipe is similar to HP's webOS.
One new feature for a smartphone is Android 4.0's ability to unlock the screen when the user stares at it, using facial recognition technology.
Samsung, the world's second-biggest maker of mobile phones by volume, had planned to unveil its new device last week but delayed the launch in the wake of the death of Steve Jobs.
Android handsets had a 43.4% share of the smartphone market in the second quarter, compared to 18.2% for the iPhone, according to Gartner, the research firm.
19/10/2011 - moneycontrol.com
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The handset, unveiled on Wednesday in Hong Kong, features 4G speeds, an improved camera and the biggest screen to be offered by Samsung on a phone, at 4.65 inches. It will be on sale in November.
Apple and Samsung, the leading maker of Android-based devices, have become bitter rivals in a battle for smartphone supremacy. Both have brought patent cases against one another around the world and each has tried to block sales of its rival's smartphones in certain countries
Apple said it sold a record 4m units of the iPhone 4S in its first three days on sale at the weekend. However, it disappointed Wall Street on Tuesday when it reported sales of 17m iPhones in its September quarter, 2m short of forecasts.
In contrast, Samsung told investors this month that the robust performance of its smartphone business has put its third-quarter profits on track to beat analysts' expectations. The South Korean company is widely expected to have surpassed Apple in the third quarter as the biggest smartphone seller.
The Galaxy Nexus and its operating system, codenamed Ice Cream Sandwich, match some of the features of the 4S and its iOS 5 operating system.
The camera allows pictures to be taken quickly without the usual lag and has full high-definition video recording - the same as the 4S. Android 4.0 has a new typeface for the highly detailed screen, similar to the Retina display features of the 4S and Apple's obsession with typography.
The Galaxy Nexus has a more curved design though and an almost edge-to-edge screen that does away with any physical buttons on its face.
An NFC chip inside that can be used for mobile payments will also allow files to be transferred between devices. Google executives showed how an Android Beam app could exchange web pages, maps, YouTube videos and contact details when two such devices touched one another.
Other features resemble those of smartphones from Microsoft and HP's Palm.
Bigger pictures, tiling and magazine-style layouts for photos and contacts are reminiscent of the Windows Phone 7 interface, while the ability to toss aside unwanted apps with a swipe is similar to HP's webOS.
One new feature for a smartphone is Android 4.0's ability to unlock the screen when the user stares at it, using facial recognition technology.
Samsung, the world's second-biggest maker of mobile phones by volume, had planned to unveil its new device last week but delayed the launch in the wake of the death of Steve Jobs.
Android handsets had a 43.4% share of the smartphone market in the second quarter, compared to 18.2% for the iPhone, according to Gartner, the research firm.
19/10/2011 - moneycontrol.com
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Tuesday, 18 October 2011
Households told to ditch loyalty as profits-per-customer rocket from £15 a year to £125
Letters are to be sent to millions of British customers offering them advice on how to reduce their energy bills.
They will be told how to lower costs by switching to different payment methods and taking advantage of free or subsidised insulation.
They will also be encouraged to check whether their supplier's rivals offer better deals - and will be given information on how to switch.
Energy firm bosses agreed the measures, aimed at reducing household energy bills, after a summit meeting at which David Cameron told them action was 'absolutely vital'.
Chief executives of the 'big six' suppliers were brought together with consumer groups and watchdog Ofgem to discuss concerns over price rises with ministers.
The Prime Minister told them it was 'absolutely vital' that consumers struggling already with rising food and petrol prices were not also hit by higher fuel bills.
Ministers were determined to be seen taking action on the issue after Labour leader Ed Miliband made tackling the 'rigged' energy market one of his key policies.
Mr Miliband said at the weekend that firms should use soaring profits to cut 'crippling' bills after figures suggested annual profits per customer had risen to £125 - from just £15 in June.
Those figures, produced by Ofgem, were disputed by suppliers. Among the measures agreed at the summit, held at the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills with Energy Secretary Chris Huhne, were:
'They're permanently being watched by Ofgem to make sure it is a competitive market, and we are making them make their energy available so that others can come in and provide customers with a good service.
'We're also writing to millions of customers today to encourage them to shop around to get the cheapest possible deal they can for their energy.
'So this is about the Government, about the Citizens Advice Bureau, about other organisations, all working together to help people to keep their energy bills down.'
The summit came as environmentalists said an over-reliance on fossil fuels could push up household bills by around £300 a year by 2020.
It also came on the day that Energy Secretary Chris Huhne said householders in Britain were enjoying 'relatively good electricity and gas prices' compared to other countries.
Mr Huhne also reminded consumers, before the meeting, that energy companies 'are not the Salvation Army, they are trying to make profits for their share-holders'.
In remarks sure to anger cash-strapped householders who are paying higher energy bills than ever before, he said he wanted a clearer, fairer and much more competitive retail market to enable customers to switch tariffs easily and benefit from better deals.
His comments come a few weeks after he pointed the finger at lazy consumers who he said 'do not bother' to hunt for bargains on gas and electricity.
Before the meeting, Prime Minister David Cameron said he would 'read the riot act' to Britain’s energy giants which he summoned to Downing Street to drive down prices over the winter.
He said he would unveil the four-point plan to help cash-strapped consumers.
He stepped in after regulator Ofgem found widespread overcharging and a lack of transparency about which of the dozens of different tariffs each household should be on.
However, Labour leader Ed Miliband accused the Government of 'engaging in window dressing and not real change'.
Figures last week showed annual bills have now risen to £1,345 a year for the average household – double the £740 of five years ago.
A report published today by green group Friends of the Earth says if gas and coal costs rise in the coming decade by the same amount as they did between 2000 and 2010, the nation would face an additional bill of £8billion a year by 2020 to generate electricity, costing the average householder an extra £300.
Electricity bills rose by 30 per cent in real terms between 2000 and 2010, while gas bills jumped 78 per cent. The rises were largely due to increased costs of coal, which rose by 71 per cent, and natural gas, which rose 90 per cent, in the decade, Friends of the Earth said.
Mr Huhne told the BBC earlier today: 'At the moment we've had some very big increases in electricity and gas prices, principally because of the very sharp increases in prices on the world markets.
'But consumers are not powerless. They can save up to £200 by switching, and that's absolutely key to try and help them make the market more competitive, because the best guarantee that you're getting value for money is to have more people bidding for your business.'
He said the Government is working with Ofgem to simplify 'dramatically' the number of tariffs.
'I'm determined that we have a much clearer, fairer and much more competitive retail market so that consumers can switch more easily with simpler tariffs and get better deals, and so we get new entrants into the market and that's what we're doing with the electricity market reform to bring new competition into the market,' he said.
'These companies are not the Salvation Army, they are trying to make profits for their share-holders, and that's important that we in the Government work with Ofgem to make sure that these are genuinely fair and competitive markets.'
The Prime Minister said he would pile pressure on the Big Six – British Gas, EDF, Eon, Npower, Scottish Power and Scottish & Southern – to ensure consumers know about the potential savings they could make from checking they are on the cheapest energy deal and switching supplier.
He said he would demand that they sign up to an agreement to provide prompts on how to find the cheapest tariffs, to appear on all bills within weeks.
Mr Cameron also said he would insist that free or heavily subsidised insulation, delivered by the energy companies, is available to the most vulnerable households this winter.
Under government plans, a £120 energy bill rebate will be paid this year to more than 600,000 of our most vulnerable pensioners, on top of the winter fuel payment and cold weather payments.
The Prime Minister and Mr Huhne said they would also spell out how they will
give regulator Ofgem power to quickly implement reforms that will vastly simplify tariffs, so customers know which deal works best for them. Ofgem will also attend the summit.
However, Mr Miliband called on Mr Cameron to tell the power firms that they should not go ahead with 'crippling price rises' that will hit individuals and businesses.
18/10/2011 - dailymail
Are you looking to switch energy supplier? Check out the Reduce Comparison Gas & Electricity Comparison Service now!
They will be told how to lower costs by switching to different payment methods and taking advantage of free or subsidised insulation.
They will also be encouraged to check whether their supplier's rivals offer better deals - and will be given information on how to switch.
Energy firm bosses agreed the measures, aimed at reducing household energy bills, after a summit meeting at which David Cameron told them action was 'absolutely vital'.
Chief executives of the 'big six' suppliers were brought together with consumer groups and watchdog Ofgem to discuss concerns over price rises with ministers.
The Prime Minister told them it was 'absolutely vital' that consumers struggling already with rising food and petrol prices were not also hit by higher fuel bills.
Ministers were determined to be seen taking action on the issue after Labour leader Ed Miliband made tackling the 'rigged' energy market one of his key policies.
Mr Miliband said at the weekend that firms should use soaring profits to cut 'crippling' bills after figures suggested annual profits per customer had risen to £125 - from just £15 in June.
Those figures, produced by Ofgem, were disputed by suppliers. Among the measures agreed at the summit, held at the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills with Energy Secretary Chris Huhne, were:
- Letters to be sent to eight million consumers who could save £100 by switching from the quarterly credit billing system
- Government letters to four million vulnerable households - paid for by energy firms - informing them they were eligible for free insulation
- A campaign to encourage people to consider switching supplier and a commitment to provide energy use data in electronic form to aid making comparisons
- A report by Ofgem before the end of the year recommending ways to improve conduct and transparency in the industry
'They're permanently being watched by Ofgem to make sure it is a competitive market, and we are making them make their energy available so that others can come in and provide customers with a good service.
'We're also writing to millions of customers today to encourage them to shop around to get the cheapest possible deal they can for their energy.
'So this is about the Government, about the Citizens Advice Bureau, about other organisations, all working together to help people to keep their energy bills down.'
The summit came as environmentalists said an over-reliance on fossil fuels could push up household bills by around £300 a year by 2020.
It also came on the day that Energy Secretary Chris Huhne said householders in Britain were enjoying 'relatively good electricity and gas prices' compared to other countries.
Mr Huhne also reminded consumers, before the meeting, that energy companies 'are not the Salvation Army, they are trying to make profits for their share-holders'.
In remarks sure to anger cash-strapped householders who are paying higher energy bills than ever before, he said he wanted a clearer, fairer and much more competitive retail market to enable customers to switch tariffs easily and benefit from better deals.
His comments come a few weeks after he pointed the finger at lazy consumers who he said 'do not bother' to hunt for bargains on gas and electricity.
Before the meeting, Prime Minister David Cameron said he would 'read the riot act' to Britain’s energy giants which he summoned to Downing Street to drive down prices over the winter.
He said he would unveil the four-point plan to help cash-strapped consumers.
He stepped in after regulator Ofgem found widespread overcharging and a lack of transparency about which of the dozens of different tariffs each household should be on.
However, Labour leader Ed Miliband accused the Government of 'engaging in window dressing and not real change'.
Figures last week showed annual bills have now risen to £1,345 a year for the average household – double the £740 of five years ago.
A report published today by green group Friends of the Earth says if gas and coal costs rise in the coming decade by the same amount as they did between 2000 and 2010, the nation would face an additional bill of £8billion a year by 2020 to generate electricity, costing the average householder an extra £300.
Electricity bills rose by 30 per cent in real terms between 2000 and 2010, while gas bills jumped 78 per cent. The rises were largely due to increased costs of coal, which rose by 71 per cent, and natural gas, which rose 90 per cent, in the decade, Friends of the Earth said.
Mr Huhne told the BBC earlier today: 'At the moment we've had some very big increases in electricity and gas prices, principally because of the very sharp increases in prices on the world markets.
'But consumers are not powerless. They can save up to £200 by switching, and that's absolutely key to try and help them make the market more competitive, because the best guarantee that you're getting value for money is to have more people bidding for your business.'
He said the Government is working with Ofgem to simplify 'dramatically' the number of tariffs.
'I'm determined that we have a much clearer, fairer and much more competitive retail market so that consumers can switch more easily with simpler tariffs and get better deals, and so we get new entrants into the market and that's what we're doing with the electricity market reform to bring new competition into the market,' he said.
'These companies are not the Salvation Army, they are trying to make profits for their share-holders, and that's important that we in the Government work with Ofgem to make sure that these are genuinely fair and competitive markets.'
The Prime Minister said he would pile pressure on the Big Six – British Gas, EDF, Eon, Npower, Scottish Power and Scottish & Southern – to ensure consumers know about the potential savings they could make from checking they are on the cheapest energy deal and switching supplier.
He said he would demand that they sign up to an agreement to provide prompts on how to find the cheapest tariffs, to appear on all bills within weeks.
Mr Cameron also said he would insist that free or heavily subsidised insulation, delivered by the energy companies, is available to the most vulnerable households this winter.
Under government plans, a £120 energy bill rebate will be paid this year to more than 600,000 of our most vulnerable pensioners, on top of the winter fuel payment and cold weather payments.
The Prime Minister and Mr Huhne said they would also spell out how they will
give regulator Ofgem power to quickly implement reforms that will vastly simplify tariffs, so customers know which deal works best for them. Ofgem will also attend the summit.
However, Mr Miliband called on Mr Cameron to tell the power firms that they should not go ahead with 'crippling price rises' that will hit individuals and businesses.
18/10/2011 - dailymail
Are you looking to switch energy supplier? Check out the Reduce Comparison Gas & Electricity Comparison Service now!
Monday, 17 October 2011
The power bills rip-off: Profits at top energy firms rocket from £15 to £125 per customer
Profit margins at the ‘big six’ energy firms have leapt more than 700 per cent as millions worry about keeping warm this winter.
The average amount of profit per customer has risen from £15 a year to £125 in just a few months, according to the industry regulator Ofgem.
The increase is a result of inflation- busting price rises that have pushed up the average annual dual fuel bill by 15 per cent, or £175, to a record high of £1,345.
Most of this rise, £110, has gone straight into the profits of British Gas, Scottish & Southern Energy (SSE), E.ON, npower, EDF and Scottish Power. The increase – challenged by the power firms – will infuriate families and pensioners struggling to cope with the biggest cost of living squeeze for at least 60 years.
Charities and consumer groups fear an increasing number will have to make a nightmare choice this winter between heating and eating. Some 4.5million households are in fuel poverty, which means they may have to ration their heating this winter.
However, bills are predicted to rise another 25 per cent over the next four years, taking one in four households – 7.25million – into fuel poverty.
Customers will be hit by a ‘double whammy’ of having to pay for expensive imported gas and a £200billion programme to switch to wind, wave, solar and nuclear power to meet EU green targets.
Families can protect themselves and make savings of as much as £300 a year by switching energy suppliers. However, many have been deterred because they do not understand tariffs or trust the energy firms.
Yesterday Ofgem announced a radical shake-up designed to simplify the complex array of 400 tariffs that make it virtually impossible to find the cheapest deal.
14/10/2011 - Dailymail
Are you looking to switch energy supplier? Check out the Reduce Comparison Gas & Electricity Comparison Service now!
The average amount of profit per customer has risen from £15 a year to £125 in just a few months, according to the industry regulator Ofgem.
The increase is a result of inflation- busting price rises that have pushed up the average annual dual fuel bill by 15 per cent, or £175, to a record high of £1,345.
Most of this rise, £110, has gone straight into the profits of British Gas, Scottish & Southern Energy (SSE), E.ON, npower, EDF and Scottish Power. The increase – challenged by the power firms – will infuriate families and pensioners struggling to cope with the biggest cost of living squeeze for at least 60 years.
Charities and consumer groups fear an increasing number will have to make a nightmare choice this winter between heating and eating. Some 4.5million households are in fuel poverty, which means they may have to ration their heating this winter.
However, bills are predicted to rise another 25 per cent over the next four years, taking one in four households – 7.25million – into fuel poverty.
Customers will be hit by a ‘double whammy’ of having to pay for expensive imported gas and a £200billion programme to switch to wind, wave, solar and nuclear power to meet EU green targets.
Families can protect themselves and make savings of as much as £300 a year by switching energy suppliers. However, many have been deterred because they do not understand tariffs or trust the energy firms.
Yesterday Ofgem announced a radical shake-up designed to simplify the complex array of 400 tariffs that make it virtually impossible to find the cheapest deal.
14/10/2011 - Dailymail
Are you looking to switch energy supplier? Check out the Reduce Comparison Gas & Electricity Comparison Service now!
Friday, 14 October 2011
BlackBerry in motion again after three day outage
BlackBerry services resumed yesterday, ending three days of technical problems that saw millions of phone users worldwide unable to send or receive emails or access the internet from their handsets.
Although the phones were able to make calls and send text messages, many were unable to use ‘data transfer’ – a key selling point of the smartphones. Manufacturer Research in Motion’s problems began on Monday morning when a fault at its technical centre in Slough affected phones across Europe, Asia and Africa, before spreading to the US and Canada the next day.
Yesterday founder Mike Lazaridis posted a video on the firm’s website apologising for the blackouts.
Shares in the company, which have dropped more than 80 per cent since their peak in 2008, fell in both the US and Canadian markets by between 2 and 4 per cent yesterday.
The three-day blackout left some commentators speculating that RIM’s days as an independent company were numbered.
14/10/2011 - Dailymail
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Although the phones were able to make calls and send text messages, many were unable to use ‘data transfer’ – a key selling point of the smartphones. Manufacturer Research in Motion’s problems began on Monday morning when a fault at its technical centre in Slough affected phones across Europe, Asia and Africa, before spreading to the US and Canada the next day.
Yesterday founder Mike Lazaridis posted a video on the firm’s website apologising for the blackouts.
Shares in the company, which have dropped more than 80 per cent since their peak in 2008, fell in both the US and Canadian markets by between 2 and 4 per cent yesterday.
The three-day blackout left some commentators speculating that RIM’s days as an independent company were numbered.
14/10/2011 - Dailymail
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Thursday, 13 October 2011
Energy companies 'giving poor advice on best deals'
The number of energy tariffs available to householders is so vast and the options so complex that staff at energy companies have no idea which is the best deal, according to an undercover investigation.
Despite being asked clearly for the lowest cost option in each case, in nearly a third of the calls, the firms failed to offer their cheapest tariff. Staff also gave questionable advice about potential savings, cashback deals and fixed prices.
Southern Electric fared the worst in the 12 calls made to its sales staff. It only managed to come up with the cheapest option in three cases, while EDF Energy only managed five cases. Scottish Power identified the cheapest tariff in 11 out of the 12 calls but only mentioned its £51 exit fees in three of those calls.
British Gas, E.ON and npower identified the cheapest options in 10 out of the 12 calls, but British Gas offered wildly varied cashback deals alongside its best tariff, ranging from nothing to £175.
"If you call an energy supplier asking for their cheapest deal, that's exactly what you should get," said Richard Lloyd from Which?.
"It's unacceptable for sales staff to give information that's plain wrong or confusing. Giving the right advice to customers about switching matters more than ever when so many people are struggling with escalating fuel bills and colder weather is starting to bite."
Are you looking to switch energy supplier? Check out the Reduce Comparison Gas & Electricity Comparison Service now!
Consumer body Which? called each of the six major energy suppliers 12 times in one week to get advice on the cheapest deal.
Despite being asked clearly for the lowest cost option in each case, in nearly a third of the calls, the firms failed to offer their cheapest tariff. Staff also gave questionable advice about potential savings, cashback deals and fixed prices.
The big six energy companies have about 400 tariffs on offer between them, with some only available to online customers, others offering cashback incentives and others with "bill free" months if a customer signs up for long enough.
Southern Electric fared the worst in the 12 calls made to its sales staff. It only managed to come up with the cheapest option in three cases, while EDF Energy only managed five cases. Scottish Power identified the cheapest tariff in 11 out of the 12 calls but only mentioned its £51 exit fees in three of those calls.
British Gas, E.ON and npower identified the cheapest options in 10 out of the 12 calls, but British Gas offered wildly varied cashback deals alongside its best tariff, ranging from nothing to £175.
"If you call an energy supplier asking for their cheapest deal, that's exactly what you should get," said Richard Lloyd from Which?.
"It's unacceptable for sales staff to give information that's plain wrong or confusing. Giving the right advice to customers about switching matters more than ever when so many people are struggling with escalating fuel bills and colder weather is starting to bite."
On Monday the energy minister, Chris Huhne, will meet with energy suppliers, consumer groups and industry regulator Ofgem to see what more can be done to help consumers save money on their gas and electricity bills.
Last week the government announced an industry-funded Warm Home Discount scheme, which offers a £120 rebate off the bills of those considered most vulnerable this winter.
13/10/2011 - Guardian
Wednesday, 12 October 2011
Blackberry makes billions from communication. Why can't it communicate with its own customers?
BlackBerry users have been baffled by the idea that whole continents could rely on one building in Slough for their email and instant-messaging. But the ‘data centre’ where BlackBerry’s current disaster began is the Achilles heel of every internet company – huge, air-conditioned vaults, often underground, containing blinking server racks.
From the inside, they always seem terrifyingly vulnerable. Single cupboard-sized racks can contain whole companies – and a building can contain the financial future of an internet giant such as BlackBerry.
What has happened to BlackBerry is a stark reminder for providers of hi-tech services that the world of bricks and mortar can intrude on the world of bits and bytes – and that old-world virtues such as communicating with one’s customers are still paramount, even in the impersonal age of always-on email that BlackBerry itself helped to create.
BlackBerry’s mistakes in this regard have turned a simple, forgivable glitch into a disaster that has financial sharks circling the company – and even some of its own stockholders calling for a ‘break up’ or ‘shake up’ within parent company Research in Motion.
Data centres do collapse. Microsoft’s online ‘cloud’ services went offline for hours this year after an electrical transformer near their Dublin data centre was struck by lightning. But Microsoft handled the disaster by talking constantly on the company Twitter feed. The internet giant even answered questions from individual users.
BlackBerry has taken the silent approach – updates to the company’s Twitter accounts have been once a day, if that, and usually wrong. It’s a haughtiness born of the age when internet companies often no longer even have phone numbers. And it’s not an attitude the public seem minded to forgive.
At midday today, amid growing public anger, the British Blackberry Twitter feed still contained a self-congratulatory message from the previous night saying that the issues had been fixed. The silence has been so pervasive that some UK users learned of BlackBerry’s problem from their phone company, rather than from BlackBerry themselves.
Internet users do forgive. Every internet company worth its salt has seen its services go down – even giants such as Microsoft and Google. But this week
Blackberry, a company already flailing about for purpose in the face of rivals such as Apple, has shown just how out-of-touch it is.
Even a tiny amount of communication would have been enough. But we’ve had almost nothing. And the timing could not be worse for the company, facing
Apple’s new iPhone this Friday. It’s conceivable that this single error could tarnish the brand for good.
It’s a lesson: if you are going to make billions from communication, you cannot afford to be above communicating yourself.
12/10/2011 - Dailymail
Are you looking for a new phone/new contract? Check out our Reduce Comparison mobile site featuring all the latest handsets and fantastic deals.
From the inside, they always seem terrifyingly vulnerable. Single cupboard-sized racks can contain whole companies – and a building can contain the financial future of an internet giant such as BlackBerry.
What has happened to BlackBerry is a stark reminder for providers of hi-tech services that the world of bricks and mortar can intrude on the world of bits and bytes – and that old-world virtues such as communicating with one’s customers are still paramount, even in the impersonal age of always-on email that BlackBerry itself helped to create.
BlackBerry’s mistakes in this regard have turned a simple, forgivable glitch into a disaster that has financial sharks circling the company – and even some of its own stockholders calling for a ‘break up’ or ‘shake up’ within parent company Research in Motion.
Data centres do collapse. Microsoft’s online ‘cloud’ services went offline for hours this year after an electrical transformer near their Dublin data centre was struck by lightning. But Microsoft handled the disaster by talking constantly on the company Twitter feed. The internet giant even answered questions from individual users.
BlackBerry has taken the silent approach – updates to the company’s Twitter accounts have been once a day, if that, and usually wrong. It’s a haughtiness born of the age when internet companies often no longer even have phone numbers. And it’s not an attitude the public seem minded to forgive.
At midday today, amid growing public anger, the British Blackberry Twitter feed still contained a self-congratulatory message from the previous night saying that the issues had been fixed. The silence has been so pervasive that some UK users learned of BlackBerry’s problem from their phone company, rather than from BlackBerry themselves.
Internet users do forgive. Every internet company worth its salt has seen its services go down – even giants such as Microsoft and Google. But this week
Blackberry, a company already flailing about for purpose in the face of rivals such as Apple, has shown just how out-of-touch it is.
Even a tiny amount of communication would have been enough. But we’ve had almost nothing. And the timing could not be worse for the company, facing
Apple’s new iPhone this Friday. It’s conceivable that this single error could tarnish the brand for good.
It’s a lesson: if you are going to make billions from communication, you cannot afford to be above communicating yourself.
12/10/2011 - Dailymail
Are you looking for a new phone/new contract? Check out our Reduce Comparison mobile site featuring all the latest handsets and fantastic deals.
Tuesday, 11 October 2011
Fuel poor could miss out on energy bill discount because of funding limits
Low income households may miss out on a £120 discount off their energy bills this winter because of limits to funding.
More than half a million low income pensioner households will get the Warm Home Discount
automatically this winter, as part of a government scheme to help fuel poverty.
But other households eligible for the scheme may miss out on the rebate because of caps imposed by energy firms.
Speaking on the BBC Breakfast programme today, Energy Minister Greg Barker called for all energy firms to provide the discount to eligible customers.
The BBC reported over the weekend that some suppliers, including nPower and EDF, were unable to guarantee that all eligible customers would get the rebate.
However, many of the energy firms have now said they will do as much as possible to help customers.
Who is eligible?
Older people who pay their own bills and receive the Pension Credit Guarantee will automatically get the £120 annual discount off their bills.
If your household qualifies you will receive a confirmation letter from the Government this winter.
The Warm Home Discount also replaces current social tariffs provided by energy firms to help those households on lower incomes – but those customers must qualify for the discount under different criteria.
These are typically households on means tested benefits, including income support and jobseeker's allowance, who also have a young child under five or a disabled person in the family.
Some firms are not able to guarantee all of these customers a discount.
Why is there a limit?
Energy firms are able to decide how many customers they will offer the discount to.
The big six suppliers, as well as other firms involved in the scheme, set out their own levels of criteria and decide how to contact customers. (For a full list of firms taking part in the scheme please see the Department of Energy and Climate Change website.)
The scheme, which is in its first year, is expected to help 600,000 low income pensioners, while only 26,000 low income families are expected to benefit, according to the government.
nPower said that it will help as many customers as possible but cannot commit to helping everyone. It said it would watch the progress of the scheme to reassess how it will help.
Customers can also check their eligibility online. EDF has set a limit of helping 40,000 to 45,000 customers, although a spokesman said that it did not expect to reach this limit.
A spokesman from Scottish Power said that the company was still negotiating with Ofgem regarding the level of customers it will help.
Scottish and Southern Energy told This is Money that there is no cap on the people who can get help. A spokesman said: 'We have been contacting customers through agencies such as citizens advice and have been as proactive as possible but we still ask customers to contact us.'
However, British Gas said it would not be placing a limit on the number of customers it will be helping and has a broader set of criteria than the other companies.
Customers who think they may be eligible because of low income should contact their energy supplier to see if they are eligible.
Jonathan Stearn of Consumer Focus, said: 'Currently less than one in thirty people from the broader group are likely to be helped by the Warm Home Discount this year. That is worrying as it includes many of the most vulnerable families and disabled people, who will be struggling to afford higher energy bills this winter.
'If energy firms are able to offer help to more people, as British Gas has said it will be doing, this would clearly be good news. It is welcome that the Minister has said he will be putting pressure on other firms to follow suit, as consumers need all the help they can get to make ends meet.
'But there is also a wider issue of how to fund helping more vulnerable households and lifting them out of fuel poverty. We need a comprehensive fuel poverty strategy which looks at how best revenues from measures such as the carbon floor price can be used to address problems with energy efficiency and fuel poverty.'
11/10/2011 - Dailymail
Are you looking to switch energy supplier? Check out the Reduce Comparison Gas & Electricity Comparison Service now!
More than half a million low income pensioner households will get the Warm Home Discount
automatically this winter, as part of a government scheme to help fuel poverty.
But other households eligible for the scheme may miss out on the rebate because of caps imposed by energy firms.
Speaking on the BBC Breakfast programme today, Energy Minister Greg Barker called for all energy firms to provide the discount to eligible customers.
The BBC reported over the weekend that some suppliers, including nPower and EDF, were unable to guarantee that all eligible customers would get the rebate.
However, many of the energy firms have now said they will do as much as possible to help customers.
Who is eligible?
Older people who pay their own bills and receive the Pension Credit Guarantee will automatically get the £120 annual discount off their bills.
If your household qualifies you will receive a confirmation letter from the Government this winter.
The Warm Home Discount also replaces current social tariffs provided by energy firms to help those households on lower incomes – but those customers must qualify for the discount under different criteria.
These are typically households on means tested benefits, including income support and jobseeker's allowance, who also have a young child under five or a disabled person in the family.
Some firms are not able to guarantee all of these customers a discount.
Why is there a limit?
Energy firms are able to decide how many customers they will offer the discount to.
The big six suppliers, as well as other firms involved in the scheme, set out their own levels of criteria and decide how to contact customers. (For a full list of firms taking part in the scheme please see the Department of Energy and Climate Change website.)
The scheme, which is in its first year, is expected to help 600,000 low income pensioners, while only 26,000 low income families are expected to benefit, according to the government.
nPower said that it will help as many customers as possible but cannot commit to helping everyone. It said it would watch the progress of the scheme to reassess how it will help.
Customers can also check their eligibility online. EDF has set a limit of helping 40,000 to 45,000 customers, although a spokesman said that it did not expect to reach this limit.
A spokesman from Scottish Power said that the company was still negotiating with Ofgem regarding the level of customers it will help.
Scottish and Southern Energy told This is Money that there is no cap on the people who can get help. A spokesman said: 'We have been contacting customers through agencies such as citizens advice and have been as proactive as possible but we still ask customers to contact us.'
However, British Gas said it would not be placing a limit on the number of customers it will be helping and has a broader set of criteria than the other companies.
Customers who think they may be eligible because of low income should contact their energy supplier to see if they are eligible.
Jonathan Stearn of Consumer Focus, said: 'Currently less than one in thirty people from the broader group are likely to be helped by the Warm Home Discount this year. That is worrying as it includes many of the most vulnerable families and disabled people, who will be struggling to afford higher energy bills this winter.
'If energy firms are able to offer help to more people, as British Gas has said it will be doing, this would clearly be good news. It is welcome that the Minister has said he will be putting pressure on other firms to follow suit, as consumers need all the help they can get to make ends meet.
'But there is also a wider issue of how to fund helping more vulnerable households and lifting them out of fuel poverty. We need a comprehensive fuel poverty strategy which looks at how best revenues from measures such as the carbon floor price can be used to address problems with energy efficiency and fuel poverty.'
11/10/2011 - Dailymail
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Monday, 10 October 2011
Vulnerable energy consumers may lose bills help - Some companies to cap gas and electricity help
Families struggling with their gas and electricity bills could miss out on vital help this winter, if energy companies limit the number of customers eligible for grants.
Energy suppliers currently offer cheaper 'social tariffs' to help their most vulnerable customers, but these will be replaced this winter by the Warm Home Discount scheme - a £120 payment to help those struggling to pay their energy bills.
But according to figures obtained by the BBC, not all households which should be eligible for the Warm Home Discount, will get the cash.
Help with energy bills
Under the Warm Home Discount scheme - which will be managed by energy companies - pensioners who receive a guarantee credit element of pension credit will automatically receive the money towards their winter bills.
But energy companies should also help a ‘broader group’ of people who struggle to pay energy bills, in line with government guidelines. Suppliers have a degree of discretion over which of their customers make up the 'broader group', and how many to help, based on their market share.
Grants for energy customers
Which? contacted the largest energy companies to find out how many customers they were planning to help under the new Warm Home Discount.
· British Gas said it will offer the Warm Home Discount to all its eligible customers, which includes those with a household income of below £16,190 who spend more than 10% on fuel for adequate heating, or receive certain benefits.
· Npower told Which? it was expecting to help around 90,000 customers through the Warm Home Discount, including eligible pensioners and customers receiving certain benefits.
· Scottish Power said it was still deciding which customers would be eligible for the Warm Home Discount, but those who receive certain benefits were likely to be included. Scottish Power will cap the number of people it will help, but this number is yet to be announced.
· Scottish and Southern Energy told Which? it was too early for it to say which customers, and how many, would be eligible for the Warm Home Discount. It said it has around 210,000 customers on its current Energyplus social tariff.
According to the BBC investigation, EDF will offer the Warm Home Discount to about 45,000 customers. Eon is yet to respond.
Social tariffs replaced
Which? energy policy advisor James Tallack says: 'With social tariffs being phased out in favour of the Warm Home Discount, it's essential that all of the fuel poor get the help they need under the new programme.
'If you qualified for your supplier's social tariff, you should be eligible for the Warm Home Discount.
'While it's encouraging to see companies like British Gas giving reassurances that no eligible customer will lose out, with over six million households in fuel poverty this issue is too important to leave to the discretion of individual suppliers.
'Ofgem and suppliers can do more to help poorer consumers by adopting the Which? proposals for simpler energy tariffs. Low users - who are far more likely to be in low income groups - currently pay 23% more than higher users for gas due to the way tariffs are currently structured.'
10.10.2011 - Which?
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Friday, 7 October 2011
Cheapest energy bills hit £1,000
The record energy bills come as three in 10 Britons admit that they are struggling to afford their energy bills.
Eight in 10 householders say they will be forced to start rationing their energy use by going without adequate heating, according to a survey of 2,300 people.
“Britain is on the brink of an affordability crisis when it comes to household energy,” said Uswitch.com, the price comparison site which carried out the survey.
The milestone of the £1,000 bill was reached earlier this week when Scottish Power pulled a £990 ‘dual fuel’ tariff from the market.
Mark Todd, a director at Energyhelpline.com, which released the findings about the
£1,000 bills, said: “The cheapest energy tariffs keep getting axed and now there are no tariffs costing under £1,000 a year for an average home.”
“This is the first time that has been the case and emphasises in stark terms how bills are reaching historic levels,” he said.
He advised consumers to sign up to a fixed-term deal before the winter sets in order to keep their bills down.
Energyhelpine.com said that until Tuesday, the cheapest dual fuel deal was Scottish Power’s Online Energy Saver 15 deal, which cost £990. It said that the lowest deal is now EDF’s Energy Discount Plan v5 which costs £1,024 a year.
The costs are calculated using the UK average for household usage; 16,500 kWh for gas and 3,300 kWh electricity.
In a separate survey about consumers’ attitudes towards energy bills, Uswitch.com found that seven in ten people think that the Government has not struck the right balance between keeping bills low and green taxes. A £200 billion investment programme in the UK energy sector is expected to result in even higher energy bills over the next decade.
The average household energy bill is now £1,293 a year. When bills hit £1,500, eighty per cent of Britons said that they will start rationing their fuel usage, Uswitch.com said.
The company found that six in ten households would struggle to afford an increase of as little as £30 a month in the current economic climate.
Scottish Power said that it pulled the £990 tariff because there were only a limited number of the deals available and that customers had taken the entire allocation.
06/10/2011 - Telegraph
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