We don’t need no education. My 10 year old’s song request this morning: ‘can we have the wall’? At least her musical education is succeeding.

Word of the day is ‘swullocking’, from 19th-century East Anglian dialect: sultry, sweltering, and sudiferous (sweat-inducing).

The transition to a future energy market powered primarily by renewable sources must deliver for all consumers, Consumer Scotland has said in a new report. Read more: bit.ly/4l3bn7S

Consumer Scotland and @ofgem.gov.uk met yesterday to engage on heat network regulation and visit the MEL Energy Centre in Midlothian, which supplies low carbon district heating to Shawfair near Edinburgh. Consumer Scotland is the statutory advocacy body for heat networks in Scotland.

Confirmation of a phased approach to the Radio Teleswitch Service switch off has been welcomed by Consumer Scotland. Industry, government and regulator Ofgem have confirmed a gradual phase out from July. Read more: bit.ly/464PUGF

Island communities need new safeguards to improve postal services, Consumer Scotland has said. First Class deliveries in Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles are currently not protected by targets unlike all other postcode areas in Scotland. Read more: bit.ly/4l00rY8

Consumer Scotland has written to energy regulator Ofgem seeking assurances that consumers affected by the RTS switch-off will be appropriately supported and protected. Read more: bit.ly/43XZ2ve

Minister for Public Finance Ivan McKee and Scottish Government Deputy Director Jess Niven attended the Consumer Scotland Board meeting yesterday in Edinburgh. We discussed our work in securing better outcomes for consumers and our contribution to economic growth and public service reform.

Today @consumerscotland.bsky.social published the latest in our series of research reports on energy affordability. The report shows 15% of respondents are in energy debt compared to 9% last year. Read more: bit.ly/4jbUQN7

To engage consumers in the net zero transition, policymakers need to think from a consumer perspective. Consumer Scotland’s 4Cs framework - cost, convenience, clarity and confidence - can help them achieve that.

To engage consumers in the net zero transition, policymakers need to think from a consumer perspective. Consumer Scotland’s 4Cs framework - cost, convenience, clarity and confidence - can help them achieve that.

The 4 Cs for addressing climate change: cost, convenience, clarity and confidence.

It’s not just Catholics mourning the pope. I’m not a believer, but welcomed the humanity and compassion the Pope brought to social and international issues. The way he exercised his office enhanced it. 'God chose this day' - World's Catholics mourn Pope's Easter death www.bbc.com/news/article...

🏡 We think that a coordinated approach, where neighbourhoods and streets switch to clean heat together, will help the UK move closer to net zero. We explore the ways public grants and subsidies could support collective switching - and why restructuring current systems could be key ⤵️

Hello Sol, I’ve been expecting you

Bake sale for Ukraine this afternoon, the initiative of our 10 year old’s friend.

Consumer Scotland is recruiting for a number of exciting and rewarding roles across our Policy and Advocacy, and Analysis teams. Find out more and apply by 30th March: bit.ly/43zOgvs

Not much obvious good news this International Women’s Day but there are still hopeful signs if you look for them. www.heraldscotland.com/politics/vie...

Regulators have a vital role in enabling consumer participation in the net zero transition. At todays UKRN event I spoke about @Consumer Scotland research that suggests policymakers need to view choices through four consumer lenses: cost, convenience, clarity and confidence.

Contrary to some media reports heat pumps are a mature technology and have been around for more than 100 years: ✅ The first heat pump as we know it today was built by Austrian engineer Peter von Rittinger in 1856. ✅ Heat pumps were installed in peoples’ homes many decades ago. 🧵

Public services should be designed around the consumers they serve. @consumerscotland.bsky.social’s statutory guidance to public bodies on the new Consumer Duty will help them take consumers into account when making strategic decisions.

There is still time to help shape our priorities for the coming year by providing feedback on Consumer Scotland's Draft Work Programme 2025-2026. Our consultation closes on Monday 17th February. Find out more and take part here: bit.ly/410Gedk

Tonight’s score of human injuries vs cat conjunctivitis eye drops successfully applied: 3 - 0.

Consumer Scotland has responded to an announcement by Scottish Water that water bills in Scotland will increase by 9.9% from April. Read more: bit.ly/40UGzgL

Consumer Scotland has published its Draft Work Programme 2025-2026 and is seeking views to help shape our priorities in the coming year. Find out more about our draft work programme and how to take part in our online survey here: bit.ly/3PL4mu4

@consumerscotland.bsky.social’s winter newsletter is out, covering energy affordability support for disabled and terminally ill people, engaging people in the Net Zero transition, the replacement of RTS electricity meters, and more. new.express.adobe.com/webpage/XMNd...

New year, new job? @consumerscotland.bsky.social is recruiting two important new roles to lead our energy team, the Head of Energy Markets and the Head of Energy Transition, seeking to ensure our energy future works for, and with, consumers. www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/index.cg...

After the recent stormy weather and with a lot of key trades in demand, be on your guard from doorstep and rogue traders ⚠️ www.trustedtrader.scot #TrustedTrader #ShutOutScammers

Easter eggs for sale on 5th January. Easter Sunday is on 20th April this year.

Word of the day is most definitely ‘hurkle-durkling’ (19th-century Scots): to linger in bed long after it’s time to get up.

A few potential words of the day: Joblijock: a disturber of domestic peace (small children, cantankerous uncles, etc). Yule-hole: the furthest notch in your belt that you need to resort to at Christmas. Confelicity: joy in other people’s happiness. Merry Christmas.

Consumer Scotland has responded to an announcement by regulator Ofcom that it has fined Royal Mail £10.5m for failing to meet its delivery targets for first and second class mail. Read more: bit.ly/3BAiKlq

#WolfHall is one of those rare stories where the TV series is far better than the books. I don’t like Hilary Mantel’s style of writing, but the acting (esp. Mark Rylance) and filming of the #BBC series is utterly outstanding.

Terminally ill people can face high energy costs when they are least able to mange them. @consumerscotland.bsky.social’s new report recommends the Scottish Government targets extra support through the Special Rules for Terminal Illness, which allow for quicker access to benefits.

Terminally ill people can face high energy costs when they are least able to mange them. @consumerscotland.bsky.social’s new report recommends the Scottish Government targets extra support through the Special Rules for Terminal Illness, which allow for quicker access to benefits.

Is the ticketmaster system for selecting Lana Del Rey tickets in Glasgow broken or am I just technically useless? I suppose both could be true….

Consumer Scotland and National Energy System Operator have agreed a new strategic partnership to support energy consumers in Scotland. NESO chief executive Fintan Slye and our Chair David Wilson signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Glasgow this week. Read more: bit.ly/3Zswgkv

Public bodies operating in Scotland go.bsky.app/P6vyKyy

Consumer policy, advice and protection starter pack go.bsky.app/6hjXkRB

Consumers are facing a challenging winter after the announcement by energy regulator @ofgem.bsky.social of a rise in the energy price cap, Consumer Scotland has said. The annual energy bill for a typical household will rise to £1,738 in January. Read more: bit.ly/3Ol63Oo

Pleased to say that @consumerscotland.bsky.social is now on this platform.

One from the archive, from another place

The rather wonderful Neil Mackinnon was great company, astute and impossible to stay cross with. Very sadly he died a few weeks ago. There were drinks in his memory last Thursday. Here’s his obituary by @becmcq.bsky.social www.heraldscotland.com/business_hq/...

Clarity, cost and convenience. Thinking like a consumer is key for policymakers focused on making the transition to Net Zero happen. See my blog drawing on Consumer Scotland's research into people making sustainable choices. consumer.scot/blog-posts/t...