1000 for shopping the boss
June 1st 2006

Utility price comparison service Energyhelpline.com is taking the fight to the water companies. It's offering 1000 to water industry workers whistle blowers who lift the lid on their employers' inefficiences and malpractice

The backlash against enforced water restrictions in the South East took an unusual turn last month with the launch of the 'Spring A Leak'campaign by Energyhelpline.com.

The utility price comparison service is offering rewards of up to 1,000 for water industry workers to lift the lid on their employers' inefficiencies and malpractice.

Although intended to parody the hosepipe ban in which the public have been urged by the water companies to 'shop' their neighbours, Energyhelpline.com is quick to stress the seriousness of its campaign.

According to Jonathan Elliott (right), head of business services at Enerhyhelpline.com:

"Firstly, we're echoing public sentiment that water companies should be putting their own affairs in order before holding the public responsible. Secondly, it is the nature of our business to get to the root of the problems which people suffer as a direct result of action taken by utility companies. We're not just talking about the short-term inconvenience of a hosepipe ban but the redundancies and business failures that will arise directly from Drought Orders. If incentivising industry insiders to spill the beans leads to an overall improvement of standards from utility companies, then we have succeeded in doing our job."

The launch of the 'Spring A Leak'campaign follows in the wake of the Severn Trent case in which an employee's revelations prompted the Serious Fraud Office to investigate the reliability of leakage data provided by the water firm. Elliott is confident that the campaign will uncover more of the same type of injustices, which Energyhelpline.com will pass straight on to OFWAT, the water industry regulator.

Elliott continues: "While members of the public are expected to 'shop' their neighbours for flouting the hosepipe ban, we think it's only fair that the behaviour of the water companies be similarly measured. Whether it's major inefficiency, fraudulent use of data or double standards like high pressure hoses being used on the buildings occupied by water companies, we want to hear about it."

The campaign's website (www.springaleak.co.uk) and hotline (0800 970 2670) asks anyone with useful information to share it in confidence and anonymously if need be. In the same way that the water companies have the power to impose fines of up to 1,000, a similar amount will be given to individuals in return for information that leads to an OFWAT enquiry.