Department for Energy Security & Net Zero

Information on the number of civil servants leaving each government department and organisation by responsibility level for the years 2021 to 2025 is published annually through the ‘Civil Service data browser’ as part of Civil Service Statistics 2025, an accredited official statistics publication. Information can be accessed through the Civil Service data browser for 2021 through 2025 at the following web address:

Civil Service statistics - GOV.UK

(a)There is no evidence in the data held in the DESNZ HR Oracle system of any employee being dismissed during their probationary period.

(b) Probation extensions are not centrally recorded in the Oracle HR System.

The Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ) was created in February 2023.

In the period 23/24: 1 Employment Tribunal (ET) claim was lodged for unfair dismissal and disability discrimination.

In the period 24/25: 2 ET claims were lodged for unfair dismissal and disability discrimination and 1 ET claim for unfair dismissal alone.

In the period 25/26: 1 ET claim has been lodged for disability discrimination alone.

The government consultation seeking views on how to implement transition plan requirements has now closed. We are reviewing responses and will respond in due course. Sustainable finance is a key priority for the government and is one of the growth pillars for the financial services sector in the Industrial Strategy. According to analysis by the CBI, the net zero sector is growing three times faster than the overall UK economy. Transition planning can help businesses and investors identify and seize the economy-wide opportunities of the net zero transition, catalysing investment across the whole economy to create jobs, boost exports and drive economic growth.

The government consultation seeking views on how to implement transition plan requirements has now closed. We are reviewing responses and will respond in due course. Sustainable finance is a key priority for the government and is one of the growth pillars for the financial services sector in the Industrial Strategy. According to analysis by the CBI, the net zero sector is growing three times faster than the overall UK economy. Transition planning can help businesses and investors identify and seize the economy-wide opportunities of the net zero transition, catalysing investment across the whole economy to create jobs, boost exports and drive economic growth.

The government consultation seeking views on how to implement transition plan requirements has now closed. We are reviewing responses and will respond in due course. Sustainable finance is a key priority for the government and is one of the growth pillars for the financial services sector in the Industrial Strategy. According to analysis by the CBI, the net zero sector is growing three times faster than the overall UK economy. Transition planning can help businesses and investors identify and seize the economy-wide opportunities of the net zero transition, catalysing investment across the whole economy to create jobs, boost exports and drive economic growth.

The government consultation seeking views on how to implement transition plan requirements has now closed. We are reviewing responses and will respond in due course. Sustainable finance is a key priority for the government and is one of the growth pillars for the financial services sector in the Industrial Strategy. According to analysis by the CBI, the net zero sector is growing three times faster than the overall UK economy. Transition planning can help businesses and investors identify and seize the economy-wide opportunities of the net zero transition, catalysing investment across the whole economy to create jobs, boost exports and drive economic growth.

The government consultation seeking views on how to implement transition plan requirements has now closed. We are reviewing responses and will respond in due course. Sustainable finance is a key priority for the government and is one of the growth pillars for the financial services sector in the Industrial Strategy. According to analysis by the CBI, the net zero sector is growing three times faster than the overall UK economy. Transition planning can help businesses and investors identify and seize the economy-wide opportunities of the net zero transition, catalysing investment across the whole economy to create jobs, boost exports and drive economic growth.

The government consultation seeking views on how to implement transition plan requirements has now closed. We are reviewing responses and will respond in due course. Sustainable finance is a key priority for the government and is one of the growth pillars for the financial services sector in the Industrial Strategy. According to analysis by the CBI, the net zero sector is growing three times faster than the overall UK economy. Transition planning can help businesses and investors identify and seize the economy-wide opportunities of the net zero transition, catalysing investment across the whole economy to create jobs, boost exports and drive economic growth.

The Department is committed to working closely across Government and industry stakeholders to take forward the actions needed to develop supply chains that are resilient, sustainable, innovative and secure. The Government takes the security and resilience of UK energy infrastructure extremely seriously with the UK being one of the most reliable and safest energy systems, and one of the most attractive investment destinations in the world. We take a consistent, long-term and strategic approach to managing relations with China and will co-operate where we can, compete where we need to, and challenge where we must.

I also refer my hon Friend to the replies given on 10 March to Question UIN 34722 and on 11 March to question UIN 34972.

The Department is committed to working closely across Government and industry stakeholders to take forward the actions needed to develop supply chains that are resilient, sustainable, innovative and secure. The Government takes the security and resilience of UK energy infrastructure extremely seriously with the UK being one of the most reliable and safest energy systems, and one of the most attractive investment destinations in the world. We take a consistent, long-term and strategic approach to managing relations with China and will co-operate where we can, compete where we need to, and challenge where we must.

I also refer my hon Friend to the replies given on 10 March to Question UIN 34722 and on 11 March to question UIN 34972.

The Department is committed to working closely across Government and industry stakeholders to take forward the actions needed to develop supply chains that are resilient, sustainable, innovative and secure. The Government takes the security and resilience of UK energy infrastructure extremely seriously with the UK being one of the most reliable and safest energy systems, and one of the most attractive investment destinations in the world. We take a consistent, long-term and strategic approach to managing relations with China and will co-operate where we can, compete where we need to, and challenge where we must.

I also refer my hon Friend to the replies given on 10 March to Question UIN 34722 and on 11 March to question UIN 34972.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) was established on 7th February 2023. The data provided is from 1st April 2023 to present, in alignment with our performance year.

We do not record any data relating to performance management for any of our agencies.

DESNZ does not record the number of individual performance reviews undertaken, but records the formal ratings assigned at the end of each performance year at the end of March. For the 2023/24 annual cycle, 15 employees were rated as unsatisfactory or below. For 2024/25 period, 38 employees fell into this category.

Data on the number of employees leaving as a direct result of an unsatisfactory performance rating is not recorded locally by DESNZ. There can be a combination of reasons for individuals leaving, so a direct correlation cannot be drawn.

In December 2024, EDF announced the extension of the lifetime of Torness by a further 2 years until March 2030. As set out in our Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, nuclear will continue to play a key role in the energy system beyond 2030 with the continued operation of Sizewell B and delivery of new build projects such as Hinkley Point C, Sizewell C and advanced nuclear projects including GBE-N's SMR programme.

Energy security is a priority for the government. The Capacity Market is the UK Government’s main tool for ensuring continued security of electricity supply.

The National Energy System Operator (NESO) is responsible for the secure and efficient operation of the electricity system, including maintaining voltage stability across the network. NESO has the necessary tools, expertise, and statutory powers to fulfil this role and ensure the continued stability of the system.

Linking is expected to bring significant economic benefits. It would create a larger, stable carbon market, support British businesses through removing trade barriers, support UK renewable rollout and lower electricity costs.

Linking is expected to facilitate a mutual UK-EU CBAM exemption, removing a major barrier to trade and lowering costs for UK firms. Linking is also expected to support new green industries in the UK and enable cross-border CO2 storage.

UK Government analysis was published on 19^th May 2025 and is available at Gov.uk

We are working across government on a comprehensive Warm Homes Plan to cut energy bills for good. We will publish more details soon.

The appointment of Nigel Topping as Chair of the Climate Change Committee was made in line with the Governance Code on Public Appointments. In supporting evidence for his pre-appointment scrutiny by the Energy Security and Net Zero Committee on 16 July 2025, Nigel Topping confirmed he had no political activity to disclose.

Nigel Topping brings a wealth of experience to the CCC Chair position, having been appointed to several public roles under previous governments, including as High-Level Climate Action Champion for COP26 in 2020 and as a Board Member of the UK Infrastructure Bank in 2022.

The UK government is committed to ensuring that no-one is left behind in the transition to Net Zero, supplying solutions that work for all buildings regardless of age or location.

Therefore, research was commissioned by the Department to develop a definition for housing stock for which the presence, and combination, of attributes and contextual factors can add complexity to improving energy efficiency and utilising low carbon heating solutions.

The government is currently carefully considering the findings of the research, which can be found at: (www.gov.uk/government/publications/defining-and-identifying-complex-to-decarbonise-homes.)

For tailored recommendations on home upgrades consumers should visit the government’s home retrofit tool on gov.uk: https://www.gov.uk/improve-energy-efficiency.

We have been clear that the original installer is responsible for remediating issues with their work and for the costs of doing so. Where an installer ceases to trade or in some cases fails to rectify an issue, TrustMark require a guarantee to have been issued which for SWI will cover up to £20k.

We are working with Ofgem, TrustMark, certification bodies, energy suppliers and guarantee providers to encourage businesses to fulfil their responsibilities.

Where installers refuse to engage with remediation requests, TrustMark and certification bodies can suspend or remove their certifications. This prevents them being awarded any new work.

The cost of remediation sits with the original installer. For every measure installed under TrustMark schemes, a guarantee is required to be in place. If the installer is no longer trading, then the guarantee policy will kick in up to the cap for that policy. For SWI the cap is £20k.

In rare cases where the costs exceed the cap, the Department will continue to facilitate solutions with organisations across the sector.

As part of our reforms, we will be improving protections for consumers, ensuring, in the rare cases they are needed, financial protection products fully protect consumers and it’s clear how consumers get the help they need.

ECO has installed measures in 2.6m households. ECO4 was designed to address deep fuel poverty by addressing the worst properties first. When installed correctly, insulation can help reduce energy costs.

DESNZ has acknowledged there have been quality failings with SWI measures installed under the current ECO4 and GBIS schemes. As a result, we have committed to a property level check, followed by remediation of any issues found, for all households fitted with EWI under those schemes.

Our Warm Homes Plan will outline the full package of measures proposed to support those on low-income and get people out of fuel-poverty.

The Government is reviewing the system of consumer protection and oversight for home retrofit installations, and is committed to creating a simpler, stronger system of standards and oversight that will give consumers confidence.

We will look at the entire landscape: from how installers work in people’s homes to where homeowners turn for rapid action and enforcement if things go wrong. More information will be shared in our Warm Homes Plan.

The Government is planning to consult on proposals for retrofit system reform early next year.

The Government is committed to ensuring building work is done to the highest levels of quality and safety, be that in new builds, high rise or the home retrofit space such as Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) scheme / Great British Insulation Scheme. The Department is working closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Building Safety Regulator on reforms to the consumer protection system to improve accountability and support higher-quality installations including addressing the issues identified in the NAO report pertaining to the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) scheme.

Net zero is the economic and industrial opportunity of the 21st century, driving growth and creating new jobs whilst benefiting businesses through new market opportunities, access to green finance and reduced energy bills.

Government is working in partnership with businesses to support their transition to net zero, including through the Net Zero Council.

The UK Business Climate Hub provides advice and guidance to support SMEs to reduce their emissions.

Climate Change Agreements provide tax discounts for businesses reducing their emissions, and the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund supports industrial sites with high energy use to transition.

We are aware of unresolved issues with external wall insulation in Fishwick under the Community Energy Savings Programme (a supplier obligation based scheme)

The Department will continue to update the House on energy efficiency schemes, including the publication of relevant analysis.

Data has not been collected regarding the specific number of houses affected by non-compliance, however failure rates from audits of individual measures has been collected for some schemes of which a summary is included in the NAO report.

For SWI installed under ECO4 and GBIS we have calculated the number of homes affected. We acknowledge that issues have emerged in other schemes, however this is not on the scale seen with EWI issues under ECO4 / GBIS. We have recent published results from audits on our housing association and local authority based schemes on gov.uk.

Ofgem was first made aware of concerns with insulation issues in Fishwick in 2013 and they engaged with the energy supplier responsible to secure remediation.

Since then, National Energy Action (NEA) have led remediation schemes to support residents but we understand that there are still homes needing remediation. DESNZ has been in contact with NEA.

ECO4 / GBIS non-compliance issues were alerted to DESNZ in October 2024. Since that date thousands of additional audits have taken place and any issues are being fixed. We have offered an audit to all homes fitted with EWI under these schemes.

Everyone deserves to live in a healthy and warm home. Damp and mould can have a serious impact on the health of residents.

The audits the Department has commissioned into Solid Wall Insulations on ECO4 and GBIS schemes consider risks to health and safety and where any such risk is identified, we require the installer to make it safe within 24 hours. For government schemes, it is the responsibility of the installer to fix any defective installation and if they cease to trade, then the guarantee for that work can be exercised by the householder.

Decarbonising heating is one of the biggest challenges facing the UK getting to Net Zero by 2050. A range of technologies are likely to be required including heat pumps, heat networks and biomethane. As part of the Government's ambitious Warm Homes Plan, we will upgrade up to 5 million homes across the country by accelerating the installation of efficient new technologies like heat pumps, solar, home batteries and insulation. We will publish more details soon.

The £13.2 billion investment in the Warm Homes Plan includes funding for the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund (WH:SHF) and the Warm Homes: Local Grant (WH:LG) with more information at www.gov.uk/government/collections/find-energy-grants-for-you-home-help-to-heat. For example WH:LG allows private landlords to claim 100% grant fundings towards energy performance upgrades for one eligible privately rented home, with subsequent eligible homes in their portfolio requiring a 50% cost contribution.

Landlords can access support and guidance through the Gov.UK page ‘Find Ways to Save Energy in your Home’ (www.gov.uk/improve-energy-efficiency), which provides users with tailored recommendations for home improvements to increase energy efficiency and clean heat.

In the year to June 2025, Ofgem data shows that there has been a fall by around £500m of credit balances held by suppliers (Domestic Energy Customer Credit Balances, July 2024 to June 2025 | Ofgem)

Customers may challenge increased direct debit payment amounts with their supplier if they disagree with it and ask the supplier to justify how they calculated the new amount. Suppliers must explain clearly how they reached the figure they want to charge and give the meter readings they used. If a customer is not happy with the supplier’s calculation, they can ask the supplier to lower the monthly payments to reflect the energy use more accurately.

Additionally, if a customer is concerned about the size of a credit balance on their energy account, they can ask their supplier to refund it. Suppliers must do this promptly unless there are reasonable grounds not to and the supplier must explain the reasons for not doing so.

In the year to June 2025, Ofgem data shows that there has been a fall by around £500m of credit balances held by suppliers (Domestic Energy Customer Credit Balances, July 2024 to June 2025 | Ofgem)

Customers may challenge increased direct debit payment amounts with their supplier if they disagree with it and ask the supplier to justify how they calculated the new amount. Suppliers must explain clearly how they reached the figure they want to charge and give the meter readings they used. If a customer is not happy with the supplier’s calculation, they can ask the supplier to lower the monthly payments to reflect the energy use more accurately.

Additionally, if a customer is concerned about the size of a credit balance on their energy account, they can ask their supplier to refund it. Suppliers must do this promptly unless there are reasonable grounds not to and the supplier must explain the reasons for not doing so.

In the year to June 2025, Ofgem data shows that there has been a fall by around £500m of credit balances held by suppliers (Domestic Energy Customer Credit Balances, July 2024 to June 2025 | Ofgem)

Customers may challenge increased direct debit payment amounts with their supplier if they disagree with it and ask the supplier to justify how they calculated the new amount. Suppliers must explain clearly how they reached the figure they want to charge and give the meter readings they used. If a customer is not happy with the supplier’s calculation, they can ask the supplier to lower the monthly payments to reflect the energy use more accurately.

Additionally, if a customer is concerned about the size of a credit balance on their energy account, they can ask their supplier to refund it. Suppliers must do this promptly unless there are reasonable grounds not to and the supplier must explain the reasons for not doing so.

Between April 2024 – March 2025, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme paid out 25,144 vouchers for heat pumps (air source and ground source), to the cost of ~£189 million.

Other schemes delivered by the department such as the Home Upgrade Grant and Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, do not provide a breakdown of funding costs specific to heat pump subsidies alone, as these schemes support a range of retrofit energy efficiency measures. The Government does publish data showing the average contribution costs for measures under these schemes, including for heat pumps.

This data is available at: Heat pump deployment statistics: June 2025, Home Upgrade Grant statistics: August 2025 and Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund statistics: September 2025

The domestic Energy Performance Certificate is based on energy costs. This government is investing £13.2 billion in the Warm Homes Plan to upgrade up to 5 million homes and cut energy bills for good, in line with the Manifesto commitment.

Further details on allocations for individual programmes will be set out soon, but will include increasing funding for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, additional funding for social housing landlords through the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund and funding for the Warm Homes: Local Grant, to improve the energy performance of low-income households through the installation of energy efficiency measures and low carbon technologies, as well as funding to deliver heat network schemes.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero is committed to supporting small businesses across the UK in their transition to cleaner, more secure energy.

Key steps include:

• UK Business Climate Hub – the Department has recently provided a grant to fund a refresh of the UK Business Climate Hub, a central platform offering SMEs across the UK sector-specific guidance, and information about green finance options.
• Business Energy Advice Service (Pilot in the West Midlands) – the Department is trialling an approach to providing small businesses with energy audits and grants to invest in energy efficient equipment.
• Financial support via schemes like the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (now closed for new applications) and the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (not available in Northern Ireland)
• Investing in innovation, helping SMEs adopt low-carbon technologies and improve energy efficiency.

These programmes form part of the Department’s wider efforts to ensure small businesses can play a full role in the UK’s energy transition, while benefiting from reduced costs and enhanced competitiveness.

For Northern Ireland, energy policy is devolved. However, we continue to work closely with the Northern Ireland Executive to share best practice and support UK-wide collaboration on energy transition. Small businesses in Northern Ireland can access advice and support through local programmes.

This government is investing £13.2 billion in the Warm Homes Plan to upgrade up to 5 million homes, including £500 million to be delivered from 2025-28 through the Warm Homes: Local Grant. The WH:LG provides energy performance measures to low-income homes with EPCs band D-G on or off the gas grid across England.

For most rural homes, decarbonising heat will involve installing a heat pump. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme grants offer £7,500 for heat pumps, and £5,000 for biomass boilers in specific rural cases.

For tailored recommendations on home upgrades consumers should visit the government’s home retrofit tool on gov.uk: https://www.gov.uk/improve-energy-efficiency

The next generation of nuclear, including small modular reactors (SMR), offers new possibilities including faster deployment, lower capital costs, and greater flexibility.

Whilst nuclear energy has a unique role to play in delivering stable, low carbon baseload energy, SMRs may be able to serve the electricity grid more flexibly than traditional nuclear, as well as unlock a range of additional applications in energy sectors beyond grid electricity.

The Government has committed not to issue new oil and gas licences to explore new fields. In the ‘Building the North Sea’s Energy Future’ consultation, it sought views on how to implement that commitment.

The Government is considering evidence from a wide range of sources as part of that process, including the latest evidence from the North Sea Transition Authority.

The Government will issue a response to the consultation in due course.

Sizewell C Ltd plan to begin operating the power plant in the mid- to late-2030s.

The Government is assessing updates to Great Britian’s energy labelling standards on a case-by-case basis. The department is working to address challenges from differing labelling regimes, informed by independent analysis of EU standards and potential implications for the UK internal market.

Additional information on energy labelling can be found here: https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/advice/home-appliances/. Further guidance on energy labelling for suppliers can be found here https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-energy-labelling-of-products, and on the Office for Product Safety & Standards website.

Solar photovoltaic (PV) is currently reflected in the domestic Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating, which is based on energy costs. Electricity generated by PV is assigned a value and deducted from the property’s energy cost, improving the EPC Rating.

Government is reforming EPCs to better align them with our Clean Power and Net Zero objectives. Our December 2024 consultation proposed moving from one metric to four complementary metrics, together highlighting the main aspects of a home’s energy performance. Alongside retaining an energy cost metric, this includes a Smart Readiness metric that would reflect a home’s ability to generate electricity, such as from solar PV. A response to the consultation will be published in due course.

It remains our intention to cut energy bills by up to £300 by 2030.

The Government believes that our mission to deliver clean power by 2030 is the best way to break our dependence on global fossil fuel markets and protect billpayers permanently.

The creation of Great British Energy will help us to harness clean energy and have less reliance on volatile international energy markets and help in our commitment to make Britain a clean energy superpower by 2030. This, combined with our Warm Homes Plan to upgrade millions of homes to make them warmer and cheaper to run is how we will drive down energy bills and make cold homes a thing of the past.

A clean power system will also help protect consumers from global gas prices and fluctuations which drove increases of over £1,300 in the electricity price cap for a typical household during winter 22/23.

Details of Ministers' and Permanent Secretaries' meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.