A quick update on some more environmental links:
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Just over a week ago, I took a break from our one week holiday and went to the ITV Millbank studios to record an episode of ‘The Last Word’ for ITV Meridian. Â The whole thing was shot in half an hour – we discussed Damian Green, the economy and the Queen’s Speech – and the attached is the result!
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Further to my earlier blog post on British Gas, BBC Radio 4’s FileOn4 has reported on some of the other shenanigans the gas companies are getting up to.
Former Energywatch chief executive Allan Asher told BBC File On 4 that annual bills of around £1,200 could be cut by a third or more.
You can listen again and read more via the FileOn4 website or read a transcript of the programme here.
Updated on July 1, 2009 – podcast link no longer available
There’s been a lot of media interest in the problem of British Gas’s direct debit hikes.
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Almost all the people who responded to my email survey were facing increases far above both the 35% reported in the press and the 42% increase for direct debit customers reported by the Telegraph. The average figure was 81%.
The dramatic increase in interest income from British Gas parent, Centrica plc, suggests this is a deliberate strategy – building up cash balances to make money on interest. Since 2006, the interest income declared in their accounts has gone through the roof – doubling from £40 million in 2006 to £83 million in 2007. Interest in their interim accounts for first six months of 2008 (£43 million) is 54% higher than the £28 million interest income reported for the first six months of 2007.
I’d be amazed if it was just a Winchester problem and am interested in finding out who else has the same problem. Please feel free to email me with details at martin@martintod.org.uk or use the form below.
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Equitable Life – shocking
After being contacted by several local residents, I’ve been reading the 50 page summary of the Ombudsman’s report into the Equitable Life scandal – and the summary of the EU report (for which, incidentally, the investigation was led by a Lib Dem MEP – Diana Wallis) and they both make very disturbing reading.