Police in Edinburgh have arrested and charged a woman in connection with dishonesty offences in the west of the city. Continue reading Bogus Carer: Woman charged following dishonesty offences
Mental health campaign encourages Scots to care for others
Scotland is known as one of the friendliest countries in the world, famed for the warmth of our welcome. Breathing Space, Scotland’s mental health phone service, is encouraging Scots to continue to live up to this reputation, as they launch their ‘You Matter, We Care’ campaign this January.
Continue reading Mental health campaign encourages Scots to care for others
Doddie ups donation to MND Scotland
In June last year, the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation donated £100,000 to support MND Scotland’s Grants Service to help people affected by Motor Neurone Disease (MND) with the financial burdens the disease brings.
International rugby player, Doddie Weir, who was diagnosed with MND in 2017, has now announced his foundation will up this contribution with another £50,000 donation towards MND Scotland’s grant scheme. Continue reading Doddie ups donation to MND Scotland
Funding cuts: end of the road for LOOPS service
No funding for Local Opportunities for Older People initiative
Over the last five years, the LOOPs partners and teams have been working closely with City of Edinburgh Council and, more recently, Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership to deliver the Local Opportunities for Older People initiative across the city. It is with sadness that we are now in the position to inform you that this work will be coming to an end in March.
Continue reading Funding cuts: end of the road for LOOPS service
Persevered! Victory for Save Leith Walk campaigners
“Rarely has Leith’s motto ‘Persevere’ been more appropriate” Continue reading Persevered! Victory for Save Leith Walk campaigners
Community Council cancelled: activists speaking at tonight’s Localities meeting
Tonight’s Drylaw Telford Community Council meeting has been cancelled as all Inverleith councillors will be attending another meeting – North West Locality Committee is meeting tonight at 6.30pm in the Dean of Guilds Room at the City Chambers.
Two local activists representing Save Our Services North Edinburgh will be speaking about the impact of the Health and Social Care cuts in a deputation to the Localities Committee.
The meeting is open to the public: go along and support local services if you can!
Schools Film Competiton: information session tomorrow
Hello, Edinburgh Teachers,
The Edinburgh and Lothians Film Competition is an opportunity for your students to showcase their talent at the Edinburgh International Film Festival in June 2019!
Open to all City of Edinburgh council & Lothians schools, come along to the teachers’ information sessions tomorrow (Thursday 31st January) at the Filmhouse to find out more about the Edinburgh and Lothians Film Competition.
New report sets out lessons for a Scottish Basic Income pilot
“an unconditional, automatic and nonwithdrawable payment to each individual as a right of citizenship”
IS IT TIME FOR A BASIC INCOME?
A new report published today by the Carnegie UK Trust sets out the key questions to be addressed to pave the way for a successful basic income pilot in Scotland. Continue reading New report sets out lessons for a Scottish Basic Income pilot
Short Term Lets: Wightman questions legality of Key Boxes
Scottish Greens housing spokesperson Andy Wightman MSP, whose Homes First campaign aims to better regulate the short-term letting industry, is urging residents in affected areas to check the legality of key boxes that are spreading like wildfire. Continue reading Short Term Lets: Wightman questions legality of Key Boxes
Ofgem steps in as Our Power ceases trading
Our Power, the housing association-backed energy supplier, has ceased to trade. It’s understood Our Power has around 31,000 domestic customers.
Company directors blame volatile energy markets for the firms collapse, which will result in seventy job losses.
In a statement, Our Power directors said: “It is with heartfelt regret that Our Power board of directors has taken the decision to close by taking the company into administration.
“Directors had no choice but to reach this decision as the requirement to bring working capital into the business outpaced our ability to improve revenue collection and raise funds.
“The leadership team and directors have done their utmost to try to find a solution but have been unable to and reluctantly took the decision to close the business.”
Under Ofgem’s safety net, the energy supply of Our Power’s customers will continue and pre payment meters can be topped up as normal. The outstanding credit balances of domestic customers will be protected.
Ofgem will choose a new supplier to take on Our Power’s customers as quickly as possible. This supplier will contact these customers shortly after being appointed.
Ofgem’s advice to Our Power’s customers in the meantime is:
- Do not switch to another energy supplier.
- Take a meter reading ready for when your new supplier contacts you.
This will make the process of transferring customers over to the chosen supplier, and paying back their outstanding credit balances, as smooth as possible.
Philippa Pickford, Ofgem’s director for future retail markets, said: “Our message to energy customers with Our Power is there is no need to worry, as under our safety net we will make sure your energy supplies are secure and your credit balance is protected.”
“Ofgem will now choose a new supplier for you, ensuring you get the best deal possible. Whilst we’re doing this our advice is to ‘sit tight’ and don’t switch. You can rely on your energy supply as normal. We will update you when we have chosen a new supplier, who will then get in touch about your new tariff.”
“We have seen a number of supplier failures over the last year and our safety net procedures are working as they should to protect customers.”
Updates are available from our website or through our twitter feed @ofgem.
Customers who have questions should visit the FAQs on our website. Or if they need additional support, call Citizens Advice on 03454 04 05 06 or email them via their webform. Alternatively, get in touch through Ofgem’s facebook or twitter feed @ofgem.
Port of Leith Housing Association has issued this advice to their tenants:
Important notice for Our Power Energy customers
We have been informed that Our Power Energy Supply Ltd has gone into administration. The energy regulator Ofgem will select a new supplier to take over any customer accounts held by Our Power.
If you are a customer of Our Power your energy supply will continue as normal and any credit you have will be transferred to the new supplier. If you have a meter, you should continue to top it up as usual.
You should hear from your new supplier soon.
In the meantime, you can find guidance from the regulator here: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/…/ofgem-safety-net-if-your-energy-…