Less Power Used Despite Big Freeze

• News
• Published: 03 Feb 2010 in Household and Gas Electricity

People used less gas and electricity this winter despite January's big freeze, Scottish & Southern Energy (SSE) has revealed.

The energy giant said customers used on average around 5% less gas and 4% less electricity between October 1 and January 31 compared with last winter.

This was despite the UK being gripped by Arctic snow and ice early this year during the coldest January for more than two decades - with temperatures dropping as low as minus 22C.

SSE - which owns Southern Electric, Swalec and Scottish Hydro Electric - attributed the dip in usage to an unseasonably warm October and November. However, it also pointed to customers trying to save money through the winter by putting on an extra jumper before turning up the heating.

Research showed that January was the coldest since 1987 and the ninth coldest in the last 100 years. SSE, which serves nearly 10 million customers, said it had offered a £12 credit to its 280,000 gas pre-payment meter customers to help out with their heating bills.