This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/6330081.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Scottish Power charges criticised Scottish Power charges criticised
(about 4 hours later)
Scottish Power has been urged to stop back-charging customers with token meters when prices go up.Scottish Power has been urged to stop back-charging customers with token meters when prices go up.
A cross-party group of MSPs will hand in a letter to the company on Monday urging them to follow their rivals and stop backdating charges. A cross-party group of MSPs will hand in a letter to the company urging them to follow their rivals and stop backdating charges.
If token meters are not adjusted when prices go up a customer can unwittingly run up debts.If token meters are not adjusted when prices go up a customer can unwittingly run up debts.
Consumer group Energywatch said Scottish Power is the only electricity supplier in Scotland to still charge.Consumer group Energywatch said Scottish Power is the only electricity supplier in Scotland to still charge.
Scottish Gas and Scottish Hydro do not have back-charges. A group of cross-party MSPs will hand in a letter to Scottish Power urging them to follow suit. Read meters
Scottish Power said it tries to read customers meters every three months to help avoid them running up significant debts but it can sometimes be difficult for meter readers to gain access. Scottish Gas and Scottish Hydro do not have back-charges.
Scottish Power said it had about 100,000 token meter customers in Scotland, far more than its rivals.
The firm said that it tried to read customers' meters every three months to help avoid them running up significant debts but it can sometimes be difficult for meter readers to gain access.
Other companies only guarantee to read meters every year, Scottish Power said.
A spokesman for Scottish Power also said that it was introducing a new generation of smart key meters which would amend the cost as soon as it was changed.
He also pointed out that when prices go down customers can build up a surplus under the token scheme.