The Utilities Act 2000 set up a combined Gas and Electricity Consumer Council and it is typical of its Director and Chief Executive that when this Council was launched last December it used the more dynamic Energywatch as its title.
NfCG has contributed to consultation on the role of the new Council and its relationship with OFGEM (The Gas and Electricity Markets Authority) and we are satisfied with the outcome. There is a chance of conflict between the market regulator and an active consumer body seeking as much information and redress as possible. However, the Memorandum of Understanding about this relationship and the arrangements for disclosing and exchanging information and the handling of complaints seem satisfactory and promise well for the future.
Energywatch has set up Scottish and Welsh National Offices and five English Regional Offices. This is the structure which NfCG advocated. We will be interested to see how it deals with the increasing number of amalgamations between energy suppliers.
Energywatch's forward programme of work is set out under five headings:
In all these areas it is clear that the needs of consumers will be paramount in the context of a viable market.
NfCG has good links with Energywatch, which, for its part, is keen to learn the views of `real consumers'. We can be sure of a sympathetic hearing whenever we have something to say on the part of our members and consumers generally. Please contact me (Ken Frere) if you have any problems with energy supply or if you have any experience of how the new regional arrangements for Energywatch work out in practice.
Ken Frere can be contacted on 01235 523915 (phone and fax).
Janet Graham has joined the Steering Group of a Food Satndards Agency funded study on "Understanding stakeholder concerns in relation to food safety". She has also recently joined the Board of the Crop Protection Council (as an unpaid member). She is a member of the Food Ethics Council and it is from their interesting Newsletter that we learn of her other activities.
Steve Ruddy, the Head of Croydon Council's Trading Standards Advice Team has been appointed to the new post of Trading Standards Manager following the merger of the advice and enforcement teams.
Alma Williams and her husband formed one of the first Consumer Groups, in Watford, before there was such a thing as the National Federation of Consumer Groups. She went on the be NfCG Chairman, President and Vice President.
Now she is a real `consumers' voice', in fact an NfCG Voice, in the heart of Europe. Two years ago she was appointed by the Government (after nomination by NfCG) to be a member of the EU's Economic and Social Committee. She reports that she is deeply involved as rapporteur for the revised legislation on product safety and the Commission has taken note of her pro-consumer reactions.
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