According to ScottishPower, the social tariff was announced together with measures making up the ScottishPower Fuel Poverty Program. The company has committed to spend GBP10 million on the program in the next 14 weeks helping an estimated 230,000 customers in winter 2008.

This forms part of ScottishPower’s GBP240 million expenditure over the next three years on social measures and energy efficiency programs that will deliver a comprehensive range of fuel poverty and energy efficiency initiatives that will help lift customers out of fuel poverty and reduce bills, the company said.

Willie MacDiarmid, ScottishPower’s retail director, said: “The social tariff is an important part to approach to helping vulnerable customers. We believe that discounted prices together with access to energy efficiency measures and benefits health checks, will provide customers with an approach to address each element known to contribute to fuel poverty, the cost of fuel, the energy efficiency of the property and the household income.”