Apologize for sending an email to a customer saying 'Hug your pet or lover to keep you warm' and 'Eat porridge and refrain from alcohol'

Ovo Energy, Britain's third-largest energy company, emailed its customers how to save on heating costs, such as 'hugging pets and lovers' and 'eating hearty porridge'. It has been reported that some lawmakers have accused him of being 'insulting' and have been forced to apologize.

Cuddle your pet to keep down bills, says energy supplier Ovo | Financial Times
https://www.ft.com/content/d9b37011-b32a-4209-b6e8-f23b9c7ffda2

Energy firm sorry for telling customers to'cuddle pets' to keep warm --STV News
https://news.stv.tv/world/energy-firm-sorry-for-telling-customers-to-cuddle-pets-to-keep-warm

The email in question was sent by Ovo Energy to some customers as 'an easy and cost-effective way to stay warm this winter': 'comfort hugging your pet or lover', 'wine or whiskey'. Avoid drinking non-alcoholic drinks because it takes heat from the body. '' Eat ginger to promote blood flow and warm the body. However, avoid chili because it sweats. ' Advice such as 'eating muffled ginger to raise body temperature', 'making children practice hula hoops', 'cleaning the house', and 'doing full-body training such as star jumping several times' was introduced.

The fact that utility bills are skyrocketing in the UK is behind Ovo Energy's e-mail appeal to save on heating. According to the Financial Times of the British daily, the UK has entered a recession that is said to be 'the first time in 11 years since the financial crisis triggered by the Lehman shock ', and in April 2022, the utility bills of millions of households Is expected to increase by more than 50% to 2000 pounds (about 310,000 yen) per household per year.

However, in response to Ovo Energy's email urging utility bills, Darren Jones, a British Labor politician and chairman of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee, said, 'Ovo Energy has made insensitive statements. Should apologize to the customer. ' 'It's obviously unpleasant to be told to wear a jumper instead of turning on the heating when many homes are in a difficult situation,' said another Labor lawmaker. 'Ovo Energy's advice is humorous. It's depressing. '

'Ovo Energy's advice is probably in good faith, but it's still pretty insensitive. Many people are worried about rising utility bills and say they should do full-body training,' said British Conservative Theresa Villiers. I wouldn't be happy if I was struck. ' In addition, according to the Financial Times, one government official responded to the advice to 'eat porridge and refrain from alcohol,' 'it's like a nightmare in Charles Dickens ' novel A Christmas Carol.' I heard that he commented.

Labor Party Rep. Clive Lewis said, 'Ovo Energy's advice is ridiculous and insulting, but I wonder if it's a British government that doesn't have an energy strategy. You have to choose between food and heating. People will read emails from Ovo Energy. If that's the situation in the UK right now, I'm very depressed. '

Following a series of criticisms, Ovo Energy said, 'We understand how difficult this year's situation is for many customers. We find a meaningful solution to tackle the energy crisis. I'm trying my best, but I'm aware that the content of the email wasn't very helpful. I'm ashamed to say that I apologize from the bottom of my heart. '