ScottishPower in partnership with the Scottish Energy Office of the Scottish Executive today launched a nationwide campaign to make businesses aware of the introduction of the Government's Climate Change Levy (CCL) - the new Levy set to be imposed from 1st April next year on the business use of energy.

The CCL is a tax that will be the major force behind the Government's commitment to reduce the UK's production of greenhouse gases by 12.5 per cent, compared to 1990 levels, by 2010. This legislation will impose a Levy upon every business in the country that uses more than 1,000kWh per month of electricity and/or up to 4,397 kWh of gas, adding approximately 15 % to energy bills.

In a concerted bid to help businesses best prepare for the complex regulations of the Levy introduced as part of the Kyoto agreement, ScottishPower and the Scottish Energy Efficiency Office are holding seminars at eight venues across Scotland.

Hundreds of delegates have signed up to the seminars, which will cover key issues including the operation of the Levy and its various discounts and exemptions, together with suggestions on the strategies businesses can adopt to reduce their energy consumption and therefore the Levy liability.

Fred Dinning, Corporate Environment Director at ScottishPower comments: "The Climate Change Levy is aimed at encouraging energy efficiency and reducing environmental pollution; ScottishPower will simply administer the collection of the Levy through energy bills and remit it to the Government. However, this campaign is designed to give businesses the best possible advice on how the Levy will work and to raise awareness of any steps they should take now to minimise its impact."

In addition to the seminars, ScottishPower is mailing more than 9,000 of its medium sized customers with a fact sheet on the Levy. Further information can be obtained from ScottishPower's website, www.scottishpower.com/ccl, which includes a CCL calculator to enable businesses to work out the approximate net cost of CCL/NI contributions, plus a list of frequently asked questions. The copy of the question and answers can also be obtained by calling 0845 270 1234.