Eleanor Mullan | Head of Analysis
Consumer Scotland

As the Head of Analysis at Consumer Scotland, Eleanor leads the provision of quantitative analysis that informs policy and advocacy work to improve outcomes for consumers, including, but not limited to, energy and low carbon technology sectors. Consumer Scotland’s work has included the production of a regular energy affordability tracker surveying the experiences of energy consumers in Scotland (regulated and unregulated products), consideration of how to design energy bill support for disabled consumers, an assessment of impacts, challenges and opportunities arising from expected changes in the GB energy retail market, and extensive research and reporting on consumer aspects of the transition to net zero, for example an investigation on converting Scotland's home heating, research supporting the rollout of heat pumps and solar PV, briefing on the transition to sustainable transport and consumer attitudes and reports on consumer attitudes perceptions of and engagement with the net zero transition (cross sector). Drawing on our extensive net zero work, we recently published a consumer framework for addressing climate change - toolkit for policy makers which identifies four key issues for consumer - cost, convenience, clarity, confidence - and includes questions or tests to that enable policy makers to ensure that climate change mitigation and adaptation policy, regulation and practice is consumer-focused. 

Eleanor leads on Consumer Scotland’s work on electric vehicles which is informed by survey research undertaken to understand the consumer experience of electric vehicle drivers in Scotland. This research identified three primary areas where improvement is required to increase consumer confidence: presale information, servicing and repair capacity, and public charging provision particularly for those unable to charge at home. Consumer Scotland is now working closely with Transport Scotland to develop action within the Draft Implementation Plan for the Vision for Scotland’s Public Electric Vehicle Charging Network to convene key stakeholders to identify measures to continue to improve the consumer experience.