UK energy firm apologizes after sending socks to thousands of customers during crisis
E.ON Next sent socks to around 30,000 homes with a tag attached saying that reducing their heating would reduce CO2. Households had taken part in an ‘energy saving campaign’ last year, The Guardian reported.
The sock message couldn’t have come at a worse time – UK households are facing soaring energy bills due to a combination of cold weather, nuclear power plant shutdowns in France and a reduced gas flow from Russia. UK consumers will pay around £790 ($1,075) more this year for heating and lighting their homes, according to Bank of America.
The energy company released an apology on Twitter, saying they are “incredibly sorry”. CNN Business has contacted E.ON Next for comment.
“If you recently received a pair of socks from us, we would like to say that we are extremely sorry for how we have made some people feel,” said the Tweeter noted. “Given the severity of the current challenges many people are facing, this shipment should have been stopped and we apologize for that.”
Customers have taken to Twitter to castigate the company.
“I don’t want your cheap free socks, I want cheaper utility bills please” one user tweeted.
“Seriously, energy prices are rising,” another user tweeted. “…What the fuck.”
Earlier this week, the main opposition Labor party called on Prime Minister Boris Johnson to impose a windfall tax on companies pumping oil and gas from the North Sea. The party claimed the tax could cut the average energy bill by around £200 ($272).
Another major energy supplier, SSE, owned by OVO Energy, faced backlash earlier this week after sending an email to customers encouraging them to snuggle up with their pets and ” hearty bowls of porridge” to keep warm this winter.
“Recently, a link to a blog with energy saving tips was sent to customers. We understand how difficult things will be for many of our customers this year,” an OVO spokesperson said. Energy.
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