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Ann Robinson (uSwitch) strikes again!

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Wywth
Wywth Posts: 5,079 Forumite
Britain faces the prospect of gas rationing for the first time
Reserves have fallen so low they now stand at just 1.4 days of supply
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/britain-faces-the-prospect-of-gas-rationing-for-the-first-time-8544975.html

“If this dreadful weather continues for the next two or three weeks we should be very worried, because if we get into a position where we do run out of gas there is not a lot that can be done in the short term,” warned energy expert Ann Robinson.
“Rationing would be inevitable, for businesses and domestic users and maybe for gas-powered electricity producers as well, so we might be looking at electricity rationing too,” said Ms Robinson, director of consumer policy at uSwitch, the energy consultant.

“Gas supplies are not running out. Gas storage would never be the sole source of gas meeting our needs, so it is misleading to talk purely about how many days’ supply is in storage,” said a spokesman for the Department of Energy & Climate Change.

Ms Robinson called the government’s response “very complacent”.

Well how about this from National Grid, the energy network operator?
“There is no reason to think that a prolonged spell of cold would lead to the country running out of gas or needing rationing. There is every indication that the market is responding to the low storage supplies and that there is plenty of gas.”


I call upon uSwitch to sack the silly old moo. She is doing nothing to enhance the reputation of uSwitch.
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Comments

  • Nada666
    Nada666 Posts: 5,004 Forumite
    It is possible to criticise someone without resorting to gendered insults.
  • Cardew
    Cardew Posts: 29,060 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Rampant Recycler

    warned energy expert Ann Robinson

    She is just a PR spokesperson - not an expert.

    She used to appear regularly on TV in another job she held. However can't remember the organisation - ABTA?

    Anyone remember?
  • Road_Hog
    Road_Hog Posts: 2,749 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Nada666 wrote: »
    It is possible to criticise someone without resorting to gendered insults.

    Oh look, we have a diversity co-ordinator.
  • Nada666
    Nada666 Posts: 5,004 Forumite
    Road_Hog wrote: »
    Oh look, we have a diversity co-ordinator.
    Not at all. I happily and regularly call people b1tches and dicks and blackguards. But they are used universally. The term used by the OP is, however, pretty much only used against women and really ought to be avoided.
  • She makes her (almost) namesake seem likable in comparison. No mean feat.
  • brewerdave
    brewerdave Posts: 8,714 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    There was a lady called Anne Robinson who was something to do with the British Bankers Association if memory serves ...but I'm not sure its the same person???
    I watched her being interviewed on Breakfast TV - have to say she was far from impressive as a "spokesperson"!!
  • Dave_save
    Dave_save Posts: 362 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    She's Consumer Policy Director, which means she is certainly no expert, and I doubt very much whether she has any inside knowledge of the Energy Supply Industry. Whoever advised her that the gas supplies are running out is obviously incompetent. She has a CV which covers a diverse career, no post seems to last longer than a few years. A former civil servant with the Benefits Agency and CE of the charity Scope are a couple of her roles.

    I really don't understand how uSwitch have suddenly become the consumer's protector in the eyes of the media.
  • IIRC she was once high up in Energywatch. And she now works for uSwitch. Interesting......
  • andymd
    andymd Posts: 67 Forumite
    Ann Robinson's title might as well be Business Development Director - uSwitch.

    Her role is to make people as angry as possible to encourage people switch, preferably using her website. Whilst, this will in some cases lead to customers saving a bit on their energy bills, it also helps the company behind uSwitch rake in millions of pounds (for their single owner) which we all pay for in higher bills.

    Last year, they made more per switch than the average profit per customer of all the main suppliers, the only difference is their profits are hidden away and not plastered all over the media.

    The free advertising she gets from the BBC in particular must be worth a fortune.
  • I couldn't disagree with any of that. Once you've been involved working for a regulator/industry body I suppose you become a potentially valuable name to the industry once you've stopped being involved in regulating it. I would love to know how many leading lights in OFGEM over the years have ended up actually working in the industry once they have left OFGEM with a very nice severance package...
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