THE ENERGY regulator Ofgem has been asked to investigate a power company after almost 100 homes were disconnected from a heating system.

The Evening Times reported how SSE had been demanding a £274 reconnection fee and 50% of any outstanding debt from customers in Wyndford who had their communal heating and hot water supply cut off.

Bob Doris, SNP MSP for Maryhill and Springburn has written to Ofgem raising his concerns about a lack of protection for vulnerable tenants.

In December last year it emerged there had been 97 disconnections from the community heating scheme run by SSE.

After talks between Mr Doris, the Citizens Advice and the landlord Cube Housing, SSE agreed to a plan to connect several homes.

Mr Doris said: “I thank CAB and Cube for working with SSE to get 33 customers reconnected by Christmas Eve.” More have been reconnected this year

But months later the MSP still has concerns about how the scheme is being managed by SSE.

In a letter to Ofgem he states: “However the underlying issues remain. One issue relates to the differences between how Cube and SSE identify vulnerabilities within a household.

This is best illustrated by the fact that SSE do not consider having children in a household as a vulnerability but Cube does.

“It is also unclear how many households will remain disconnected in

Wyndford given they may never be able to raise 50% of the debt accrued or £274 to be reconnected.”

He has raised the matter with the Scottish Government minister for energy, Paul Wheelhouse, and expects a meeting to take place soon.

Mr Doris said the power firm was effectively barring certain customers from being reconnected due to their circumstances.

HE said: “For instance, if a householder had acriued a debt of £1000 they would be required to pay a redonnection fee of £274 or have it added to the outstanding debts.

“In any event, they would need to pay %50% of the debt (including the reconnection fee) in advance of being reconnected. In this instance that would be £637. The remainder of the balance would be paid off over the next 24 to 36 months.”

HE said this was out of reach for many people in the area.

The MSP added: “For many of my constituents such and upfront payment simply means being left disconnected indefinitely and in reality disconnected for good. Many low income or benefit dependent households were priced out of being reconnected.”

Having raised the issue with Nicola Sturgeon at First Minister’s Questions in the Scottish Parliament Mr Doris is now asking the energy regulator to look into the concerns. In his letter to the regulator, he said: “I would ask Ofgem to investigate the situation I have drawn your attention to within the Wyndford Estate.

“I would also ask you to review urgently what statutory regulations guidance and criteria exist to take account of such circumstances and whether Ofgem is indeed able to act.

“There does appear however, to be a clear regulatory or legislative gap that is leaving many of my vulnerable constituents at great risk. I would urge that greater protections be afforded in such cases.”