ECC CHAIRMAN'S GROUP

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ECC CHAIRMAN'S GROUP
ECC/07/98 27 April 1998

ELECTRICITY MARKET FACTS WELCOMED TO INFORM CONSUMERS

"Electricity consumers will soon have choice. They will need unbiased
information before deciding to switch supplier. Electricity
Consumers' Committees (ECCs) welcome the start of OFFER's information
campaign to explain how the competitive electricity supply market
will work" said Yvonne Constance, Chairman.

Electricity like gas will soon be offered by a number of suppliers.
Customers need to know that:

* there is no need for new wires or new meters

* they can keep their existing supplier

* they do not have to change supplier unless they choose to do so

* if they want to change , they should choose a new supplier
carefully comparing more than one offer

* they have a 7 day 'cooling off' period to make up their minds about
a new contract if made at home.

Consumers must be warned not to pay money in advance for information
about different suppliers or to change supplier. Pay no money till a
contract is signed.

NOTES TO EDITORS

The Electricity Consumers' Committees

Electricity Consumers' Committees were established in 1990 under the
provision of the Electricity Act 1989, to represent the interests of
all electricity consumers. There are 14 Committees, one for each of
the public electricity companies. The Committees are independent
bodies. The Chairmen of the Electricity Consumers' Committees are
appointed by the Director General of Electricity Supply after
consultation with the Secretary of State.

Electricity Consumers' Committees Chairmen's Group

The Chairmen of the regional Electricity Consumers' Committees meet
regularly in the forum of the Electricity Consumers' Committees
Chairmen's Group (ECCCG). The ECCCG enables Chairmen to provide an
independent collective consumer view on key issues and to take joint
action on issues of national interest to electricity customers.

Mrs Yvonne Constance OBE is the Chairman of ECCCG and of the
Electricity Consumers' Committee for London.

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ECC CHAIRMAN'S GROUP
ECC/98/08 1 May, 1998

ELECTRICITY CONSUMERS MARK ACHIEVEMENTS OF PROFESSOR LITTLECHILD

"Professor Stephen Littlechild achieved lower prices and higher
standards of service for all electricity consumers. Benefits gained
for domestic customers have been most notable: about 30% drop in real
prices, better services and complaints down by half with more to come
from greater competition to which he has been so committed", said
Yvonne Constance, Chairman of the ECC Chairmen's Group.

"Professor Littlechild's initiatives have established the model for
enterprise and competition to impact energy provision, and his
conviction that consumer choice in free markets delivers greatest
benefits has set the standard world-wide His contribution in energy
has been seminal.

He is known for his fairness and consistency together with his
willingness to listen to the independent views of the Electricity
Consumers' Committees. We are pleased to note that he will remain in
post long enough to see through the current reviews of pricing and
market trading arrangements."