Warning over energy sector standards

Warning over energy sector standards

14/01/2013 08:52:27

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The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) is aiming to boost standards in the energy efficiency sector in a bid to maintain growth and consumer confidence.

The OFT has written to more than 50 businesses in the sector, such as insulation, double glazing windows and doors and solar panel firms, to urge them to abandon potentially harmful practices.

These include high-pressure sales techniques, shoddy installations, and confusing information over cancellations, according to a review.

According to the OFT concerns in the sector include people being misinformed over their eligibility for grants, and misinformation about energy savings.

The trading watchdog also revealed that it had uncovered evidence of people being pressured in to buy energy efficiency products at home.

This included salespeople telling residents that discounts were only available if products were bought immediately.

This behaviour could pose a threat to consumer confidence in the sector and undermine the predicted market growth.

Between 2010/11 the sector recorded total sales of ?18 billion, figures show.

Nisha Arora, director in the OFT's services, infrastructure and public markets group, said: "Energy efficiency products offer real benefits to consumers and the sector has significant potential for business growth."

But she warned that consumers need to be confident that the firms they are dealing with are complying with the law and they don't have to face high-pressure sales techniques.

She said: "Many businesses in this sector comply with the law and engage in good business practices but we urge others to raise their standards."

Copyright Press Association 2013

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Source: http://www.specifinder.com/news/industry/green/800407677/Warning-over-energy-sector-standards.html

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