News / Environment
Troubled energy scheme deposits ‘safe’
People who paid a deposit to a council scheme to insulate houses which was halted when a contractor folded will have the work completed.
Mayor of Bristol George Ferguson promised more than 1,000 customers that their money was secure and said any incomplete works would be finished.
“I would like to reassure all Warm Up Bristol customers of one thing. If you have paid a deposit it will be safe and you will have your planned work completed,” he said on Tuesday.
Climate Energy, who were carrying out the work, went into liquidation last week, leaving hundreds of homes half finished.
The firm, which blamed Government cuts to green energy for the collapse, was delivering the council’s Warm Up Bristol project, which offered subsidised insulation funded by £7.3 million of central Government money.
But customers told Bristol24/7 the project had been a “comedy of errors” from the start. One customer, Sam Sayer, accused the company “ incompetence and total lack of integrity.” He added: “Most of us rue the day we signed up.”
Many of the estimated 1,800 homeowners affected are attending a public meeting on Tuesday night at Easton Community Centre organised by housing campaigners Acorn and local councillor Afzal Shah.
Ferguson said: “I fully sympathise with the frustration and uncertainty caused to Climate Energy customers by them going into administration.
“They are one of two major renewable energy installers that went into administration last week, apparently triggered by Government announcements about reduced subsidies.
“While this has caused disruption, the Warm Up Bristol programme will continue and grow to ensure households are able to save energy costs into the future.
“Over the next couple of weeks we will be making a decision on how to complete works and continue the Warm Up Bristol scheme in the best way for customers past, present and future. It’s important that we take time to assess the options properly rather than rush into a quick fix which might lead to further problems in the long term.”
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