As you are probably aware; Navitus Bay Wind Park (1) will be located off the Dorset and Hampshire Coasts, to the west of the Isle of Wight, and also visible from Bournemouth, Poole and Swanage. I understand this development could produce the equivalent energy to power 800,000 homes and reduce carbon emissions by up to 1,125,000 tonnes per annum. This will be a tremendous contribution to our country's energy needs and carbon reductions. It will also help towards our renewable energy target of 15% which in the past few years has been behind plan and behind the progress rates of many other EU nations (2). I am very concerned however that a small group of local activists are using information that has little to no scientific backing to discredit this development and are creating fears about the impact on tourism and jobs in the area. I would urge you to balance any of their views against the report produced by The University of Edinburgh, presented to a Committee of the Scottish Parliament (3) in which there is clear consensus that there has been no measurable economic impact, either positively or negatively, of wind farms on tourism and concludes that “while some strongly held localised and anecdotal opinion exists, the Committee has seen no empirical evidence which demonstrates that the tourism industry in Scotland will be adversely affected by the deployment of renewable energy projects, particularly onshore and offshore wind” I appreciate the turbines will be visible from the coast on a clear day but believe this to be a small and perfectly acceptable compromise for the benefits delivered. Furthermore, I personally confirm that this development will not any way restrict the frequency or manner in which I enjoy the beach and coastal areas in the effected locations. 1. www.navitusbaywindpark.co.uk 2. http://ec.europa.eu/energy/renewables/reports/doc/com_2013_0175_res_en.pdf 3. www.scottish.parliament.uk/S4_EconomyEnergyandTourismCommittee/Reports/eeR-12-07w-r.pdf

It is an ongoing disgrace and action needs to be taken urgently! People are struggling as it is, with all the other bills they have to pay every month. The energy companies probably take the most. Many parents and elderly, as well as the infirm across the country, have to decide every day. Do I have enough money to put the heating on for an hour or two, or decide if I can afford to put food on the table? To decide to eat or heat in this country in this day and age is nothing more than a disgrace! We have just had fourteen years of heartache and depression. We all need some help, some more than others especially now! Hopefully, we can get now under the new Labour government!!!

We all depend on energy in every aspect of our business and personal lives. However it needs to be affordable and without sudden, unexpected and unacceptable profiteering price rises.

Many people are getting help with normal heating bills but we, on district heating are getting nothing. We cannot afford a 300% rise and it will cause health and financial problems to the most vulnerable

Although a freeze on energy prices might initially sound good, these prices are already extortionately high and although it will stop them rising further for the next 2 years, we will still end up paying back that £100b (£100,000,000,000) so it will still affect us all in the long run. Nationalisation would cost £3b (£3,000,000,000) which would be a lot less to pay back and would mean we ended up with cheaper utility bills in the long run. Plus profits would go back to the country helping the many things that we need help with such as hospitals, schools, policing etc. The £100b (or £3b) will be in the form of a loan that will need to be paid back, and it is us, the average person, that will be paying it back, so we should get a say on what we do.

Because the suggested hikes in gas, electricity are going to kill the elderly and starve the population as they cannot possibly afford the price and will not pay their bills and be cut off meaning they either freeze to death in UK WINTER or starve.

Given the financial state of the average UK citizen it is very likely that predicted energy bills will rise beyond affordability for many. Having been induced to use less, the larger proportion of consumer’s bills will still mean making choices between paying the rent, buying food, and/or paying for other domestic outgoings for water and council tax. Many of those most affected will be employed (given that employment figures are currently high), but working under reduced-hours contracts. For this reason, there are still many consumers living below the poverty line notwithstanding the current minimum wage. And given the current projection this poverty line is set to rise considerably to include a larger proportion of the populous. One way of mitigating the effects of volatility in the current energy market is to remove the standing charge.

Take Park Home owners for instance. They are mostly over the age of 50 and are retired; many with health problems and have moved to a Park Home site for some peace and quiet. Many have to buy their energy, particularly electricity, from the site owner. Site owners have commercial accounts and often have many sites and will not be part of the EBSS (Energy Bill Support Scheme ) Many residents in rented accommodation are in a similar position if they do not pay for their energy directly to a supplier but are charged by their landlord based on meter readings. Leasehold properties who are run by a management company or directly via the Freeholder often have a similar system of paying for energy through their service charge and do not own a meter. This section of the population is large and does contain a large number of people who desperately need this help and will at the moment get nothing at all.

WELL IF PETROL PRICES CONTINUE TO RISE AS THEY ARE DOING THE GOVERNMENT TAKES MORE AND MORE AS A % SO WHY ARE THEY NOT HELPING. MPS ARE NOT BOTHERED AS THEY RECEIVE SUBSIDIES FOR MOST THINGS. SO BADGER YOUR LOCAL MP AD ASK HIM WHY FUEL DUTY IS NOT CUT.

It effects every bill payer.

This is important because the cost of fuel needs addressing urgently. This situation will only worsen if we don't act now. Millions of working households are facing food and fuel poverty and making the big energy companies pay the green levy directly will have an immediate positive effect on these households without damaging the renewable sector.

British Gas is the UK’s largest fuel supplier with around twelve million customers. Ofgem has so far passed them about 700,000 accounts when other companies had to stop trading. I can see no reason to think I am the only person they are overcharging. We are amidst an energy crisis AND a cost-of-living crisis. The poorest customers will be hit the hardest. The poverty-stricken may well also be the least able to spot what is happening with their bills. Too many people do not check their bills. British Gas continues to use false readings when billing me. How many others? Even after recent phone conversations with someone from their complaints management team, I am unable to get them to use the actual meter readings. I am now switching suppliers. At least I have chosen a supplier who believes in customer service. I can speak with them; they listen and act professionally. From what I have found, they will only bill me for the fuel I have used.