One main priority was to identifying specific measures to help people in rural areas who suffer from higher energy prices than the rest of Scotland.
Another urges energy companies to launch a proactive engagement campaign to guide customers on restricted meters through an assessment of their heating needs and ensure they are transferred to the cheapest and most appropriate deal for their needs.
Angela Constance said by “taking steps to ensure people are on the right deals and taking action to support those in rural Scotland we can start to make the progress that has been badly needed for some time.”
She said the summit was a “good start” on the road to fairer energy costs with collective agreement from all the large energy companies to explore ways in which they can achieve this.
Ms Constance added: “Tackling poverty, including fuel poverty and reducing the inequalities that exist in our society is an absolute priority for me. This requires action to increase incomes as well as driving down the extra costs that low income families in particular often face.
“We want to effectively tackle this poverty premium in the energy market and ensure that all consumers are paying a fair price for their energy and issues such as consumer debt are managed fairly.”
Energy companies urged to ‘make a difference’
17 December 2016
An energy summit has been looking at ways to help low income households living in fuel poverty and facing a ‘poverty premium’ of paying more for their energy.
Representatives from the ‘Big Six’ energy companies were invited to the meeting -
Highlighted were two recently published independent reports which made over 100 recommendations to tackle fuel poverty.