Difference between revisions of "Charles Coulthard"

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Charles Coulthard is a member of the [[Water Industry Commission]].  He was Managing Director of [[Ofgem]] (the Gas and Electricity regulator) in Scotland. He served as Deputy Director of the [[Office for the Regulation of Electricity and Gas in Northern Ireland]] between 1992 and 1999. He is also currently the Chair of the [[Gas and Electricity Consumers Council]] in Scotland. Mr Coulthard, as OFGEM Director General for Scotland was involved is further liberalising the Energy Market in Scotland by lifting price controls.  Back in 2000 he said, that:
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Charles Coulthard is currently a member of the [[Water Industry Commission]].   
  
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:These proposals taken together will significantly liberalise the Scottish electricity market. At the same time, the methods proposed will increase competition on a cross-border basis among generators and suppliers. This can only benefit customers in Scotland.<ref>Hermes Database, May 10, 2000, Office Of Gas & Electricity Markets Ofgem Proposes Reform Of Scottish Electricity Industry</ref>  The reality is that competition in gas and electricity in Scotland has moved on significantly since it began more than two years ago. Today, everyone is benefiting from competition. Because of this, we believe that all remaining price controls can now be safely lifted.<ref>Coulthard, C, Letter to the Editor, ‘Bringing choice and value to customers’, The Herald (Glasgow), February 19, 2002  Pg. 19</ref>
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He was Managing Director of [[Ofgem]] (the Gas and Electricity regulator) in Scotland. [[OFGEM]] is clear about its role and remit: 'Protecting consumers is Ofgem’s first priority. We do this by promoting competition, wherever appropriate, and regulating the monopoly companies which run the gas and electricity networks. Other priorities and influences include: helping to secure Britain’s energy supplies by promoting competitive gas and electricity markets - and regulating them so that there is adequate investment in the networks' <ref> OFGEM,[http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/About%20us/Pages/AboutUsPage.aspx About US], Accessed September 5th 2008 </ref>.
  
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Since the lifting of price controls prices have risen greatly, despite the assurances given by Mr Coulthard at the time.  In fact, ‘overall, in only two years (between 2004-2006), gas prices in Scotland have gone up 40 per cent and electricity prices by 30 per cent’.<ref>Leader Column, ‘Gas customers held to ransom’ The Scotsman, February 18, 2006, Pg. 25</ref>  This has led to predictions that ‘the number of households facing fuel poverty - defined as spending 10 per cent or more of family income on gas and electricity - will double’.<ref>Ibid.</ref>
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Mr Coulthard, as OFGEM Director General for Scotland was involved in liberalising the Energy Market in Scotland by lifting price controls.  In 2000 he said, that:
  
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These proposals taken together will significantly liberalise the Scottish electricity market. At the same time, the methods proposed will increase competition on a cross-border basis among generators and suppliers. This can only benefit customers in Scotland.<ref>Hermes Database, May 10, 2000, Office Of Gas & Electricity Markets Ofgem Proposes Reform Of Scottish Electricity Industry</ref>  The reality is that competition in gas and electricity in Scotland has moved on significantly since it began more than two years ago. Today, everyone is benefiting from competition. Because of this, we believe that all remaining price controls can now be safely lifted.<ref>Coulthard, C, Letter to the Editor, ‘Bringing choice and value to customers’, The Herald (Glasgow), February 19, 2002  Pg. 19</ref>
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In spite of the rhetoric of Mr Couthard in 2000 and [OFGEM] today the interests of consumers are not being proteceted by competition and the lifting of price controls.  On the contrary: fuel poverty is now one of the main issues of the day.  Since the lifting of price controls prices have risen greatly, despite the assurances given by Mr Coulthard at the time.  In fact, ‘overall, in only two years (between 2004-2006), gas prices in Scotland have gone up 40 per cent and electricity prices by 30 per cent’.<ref>Leader Column, ‘Gas customers held to ransom’  The Scotsman, February 18, 2006, Pg. 25</ref>  This has led to predictions that ‘the number of households facing fuel poverty - defined as spending 10 per cent or more of family income on gas and electricity - will double’.<ref>Ibid.</ref>
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He served as Deputy Director of the [[Office for the Regulation of Electricity and Gas in Northern Ireland]] between 1992 and 1999. He is also currently the Chair of the [[Gas and Electricity Consumers Council]] in Scotland.
 
Mr Coulthard, in 2000, spoke at the [[Institute of Economic Affairs]]' annual conference, ‘UK Energy: Creating value in a competitive market’.<ref>Utility Week, October 2000</ref>  He is also a member of the [[David Hume Institute]].<ref>[http://www.watercommissioner.co.uk/UserFiles/Documents/Approved%20minute%20of%20meeting%20March.pdf Minute of the twenty-fourth meeting of the Water Industry Commission for Scotland] Held on 6 and 7 March 2007 in Stirling</ref>
 
Mr Coulthard, in 2000, spoke at the [[Institute of Economic Affairs]]' annual conference, ‘UK Energy: Creating value in a competitive market’.<ref>Utility Week, October 2000</ref>  He is also a member of the [[David Hume Institute]].<ref>[http://www.watercommissioner.co.uk/UserFiles/Documents/Approved%20minute%20of%20meeting%20March.pdf Minute of the twenty-fourth meeting of the Water Industry Commission for Scotland] Held on 6 and 7 March 2007 in Stirling</ref>
 
Mr Coultard is also currently employed in Northern Ireland  
 
Mr Coultard is also currently employed in Northern Ireland  

Revision as of 11:19, 5 September 2008

Charles Coulthard is currently a member of the Water Industry Commission.

He was Managing Director of Ofgem (the Gas and Electricity regulator) in Scotland. OFGEM is clear about its role and remit: 'Protecting consumers is Ofgem’s first priority. We do this by promoting competition, wherever appropriate, and regulating the monopoly companies which run the gas and electricity networks. Other priorities and influences include: helping to secure Britain’s energy supplies by promoting competitive gas and electricity markets - and regulating them so that there is adequate investment in the networks' [1].

Mr Coulthard, as OFGEM Director General for Scotland was involved in liberalising the Energy Market in Scotland by lifting price controls. In 2000 he said, that:

These proposals taken together will significantly liberalise the Scottish electricity market. At the same time, the methods proposed will increase competition on a cross-border basis among generators and suppliers. This can only benefit customers in Scotland.[2] The reality is that competition in gas and electricity in Scotland has moved on significantly since it began more than two years ago. Today, everyone is benefiting from competition. Because of this, we believe that all remaining price controls can now be safely lifted.[3]

In spite of the rhetoric of Mr Couthard in 2000 and [OFGEM] today the interests of consumers are not being proteceted by competition and the lifting of price controls. On the contrary: fuel poverty is now one of the main issues of the day. Since the lifting of price controls prices have risen greatly, despite the assurances given by Mr Coulthard at the time. In fact, ‘overall, in only two years (between 2004-2006), gas prices in Scotland have gone up 40 per cent and electricity prices by 30 per cent’.[4] This has led to predictions that ‘the number of households facing fuel poverty - defined as spending 10 per cent or more of family income on gas and electricity - will double’.[5]


He served as Deputy Director of the Office for the Regulation of Electricity and Gas in Northern Ireland between 1992 and 1999. He is also currently the Chair of the Gas and Electricity Consumers Council in Scotland. Mr Coulthard, in 2000, spoke at the Institute of Economic Affairs' annual conference, ‘UK Energy: Creating value in a competitive market’.[6] He is also a member of the David Hume Institute.[7] Mr Coultard is also currently employed in Northern Ireland

Affiliations

Notes

  1. ↑ OFGEM,About US, Accessed September 5th 2008
  2. ↑ Hermes Database, May 10, 2000, Office Of Gas & Electricity Markets Ofgem Proposes Reform Of Scottish Electricity Industry
  3. ↑ Coulthard, C, Letter to the Editor, ‘Bringing choice and value to customers’, The Herald (Glasgow), February 19, 2002 Pg. 19
  4. ↑ Leader Column, ‘Gas customers held to ransom’ The Scotsman, February 18, 2006, Pg. 25
  5. ↑ Ibid.
  6. ↑ Utility Week, October 2000
  7. ↑ Minute of the twenty-fourth meeting of the Water Industry Commission for Scotland Held on 6 and 7 March 2007 in Stirling
  8. ↑ WICS Register of interests: Charles Coulthard
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