The UK's leading debt charity, Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS), has called upon npower to treat its customers with more compassion, following Ofgem's report identifying npower as the supplier most likely to disconnect customers who cannot pay their bills.

CCCS Chairman, Malcolm Hurlston said: "I welcome the fact that disconnections are down generally and hope that npower will follow the rest of the industry by showing more compassion towards its poorer customers. Rather than disconnecting, npower, along with other energy suppliers, should be referring customers with debt problems to debt counselling charities such as ourselves or Citizens Advice.

"With many customers facing double digit increases in energy bills, it is vital that they are directed to where they can get help with budgeting and better money management, including paying priority bills such as rent and utilities."

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For further information:

Frances Walker 020 7636 5214 fwalker@hurlstons.com

Notes for editors:

Consumer Credit Counselling Service is the UK's leading debt charity. In 2006 its helplines received almost 300,000 calls and provided in-depth advice to 73,000 people. It is self-funding. Unsecured lenders share with the charity the benefit they receive from its operation, making a donation from the money repaid to them through debt management plans. This allows CCCS to retain its independence and ensure that its advice is always in the best interest of the client. CCCS aims to separate the "can't pays" from the "won't pays".

January 25 2008