Charles Coulthard
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:
- 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.[1] 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.[2]
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’.[3] 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’.[4]
Mr Coulthard, in 2000, spoke at the Institute of Economic Affairs' annual conference, ‘UK Energy: Creating value in a competitive market’.[5] He is also a member of the David Hume Institute.
Mr Coultard is also currently employed in Northern Ireland
Affiliations
- member Kilsyth Community Council
- member and Scottish Chairman Gas and Electricity Consumers Council in Scotland.
- member Independent Water Review Panel for Northern Ireland
- Consumer Council for Northern Ireland[6]
Notes
- ↑ Hermes Database, May 10, 2000, Office Of Gas & Electricity Markets Ofgem Proposes Reform Of Scottish Electricity Industry
- ↑ Coulthard, C, Letter to the Editor, ‘Bringing choice and value to customers’, The Herald (Glasgow), February 19, 2002 Pg. 19
- ↑ Leader Column, ‘Gas customers held to ransom’ The Scotsman, February 18, 2006, Pg. 25
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Utility Week, October 2000
- ↑ WICS Register of interests: Charles Coulthard
