Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of trends in the level of public confidence in Government-backed net zero projects.
Answered by Katie White - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
79% of the UK public are concerned about climate change [1], and are aware of and support the government’s net zero target [2]. We have a credible plan for delivering net zero. The Carbon Budget and Growth Delivery Plan sets out how the UK will continue to reduce emissions in a way that lowers bills and secures good jobs, as well as bringing warmer homes, cleaner air and increased access to nature – delivering tangible improvements to the everyday lives of people now and for generations to come.
[1] Public Attitudes Tracker, Summer 2025
[2] 91% are aware of UK’s net zero goal (Public Attitudes Tracker, Summer 2025) and 63% support it (Climate barometer 2025)
Asked by: Jayne Kirkham (Labour (Co-op) - Truro and Falmouth)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking with energy suppliers to help prevent large increases in energy bill direct debits.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Ofgem is the energy regulator for Great Britain and works to protect energy consumers and ensure they are treated fairly.
Under the terms of Ofgem’s Standard Licence Conditions, customers may challenge increased direct debit payment amounts with their supplier 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 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.
If a customer is concerned about the size of a credit balance on their energy account, they can ask their supplier to refund it.
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 bring down energy bills, and therefore direct debits, permanently.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how much solar power generating capacity is (a) operational, (b) under construction and (c) awaiting a planning decision.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
As of the end of September 2025, there is 20.0GW of solar generating capacity in the UK. Deployment statistics are published monthly, here: Solar photovoltaics deployment - GOV.UK.
According to the July edition of the Renewable Energy Planning Database, there is 2.4GW of solar capacity under construction and 12.0GW of solar awaiting the result of either an application for planning permission or a planning appeal. These figures exclude installations smaller than 150kW. The REPD is available here: Renewable Energy Planning Database: quarterly extract - GOV.UK.
Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a support mechanism for electricity infrastructure projects in rural areas that face high connection costs.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
I recognise that connection costs can be higher in rural areas that are distant from the wider electricity network. Under Ofgem’s price control framework, network companies are investing in new electricity network capacity ahead of need. This should reduce connection costs, including in rural areas. Ofgem has also reduced the proportion of connection costs that fall to the connecting customer where distribution network upgrades are required. In addition, connection customers can choose an Independent Connection Provider that can often deliver cheaper connections.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions he has had with PowerNI on electricity prices in autumn 2025.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Details of Ministers' and Permanent Secretaries' meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.
Asked by: Llinos Medi (Plaid Cymru - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate his Department has made of (a) the percentage of electricity supplied to the national grid from renewable forms of energy and (b) how much of this is generated from sources in Wales.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Data for electricity generated in Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, by fuel, is published in Energy Trends: December 2024, special feature article - Electricity generation and supply in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England, 2019 to 2023 - GOV.UK. Data for 2024 will be published on 18th December 2025.
Asked by: Llinos Medi (Plaid Cymru - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an estimate of the proportion of electricity supplied to the national grid that was generated in Wales.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Data for electricity generated in Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, by fuel, is published in Energy Trends: December 2024, special feature article - Electricity generation and supply in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England, 2019 to 2023 - GOV.UK. Data for 2024 will be published on 18th December 2025.
Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions he has had with Ofgem on ensuring that grid investment strategies take into account the long-term sustainability of remote rural communities.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government works with Ofgem to ensure grid investment supports all communities, including remote rural areas. Ofgem has allocated £22 billion for network upgrades under the current electricity distribution price control (2023–2028). The next price control (2028–2033) will require distribution network operators to produce long-term regional network plans.
Ofgem is also conducting an ‘end-to-end' review of connection obligations and incentives to improve customer service and network operator accountability, with proposals to be published later this year.
These measures enable timely upgrades and connections for rural communities, supporting low-carbon technologies while maintaining affordability for consumers.
Asked by: Angus MacDonald (Liberal Democrat - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to support electricity network operators to deliver connection upgrades in remote rural communities.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government works with Ofgem to ensure grid investment supports all communities, including remote rural areas. Ofgem has allocated £22 billion for network upgrades under the current electricity distribution price control (2023–2028). The next price control (2028–2033) will require distribution network operators to produce long-term regional network plans.
Ofgem is also conducting an ‘end-to-end' review of connection obligations and incentives to improve customer service and network operator accountability, with proposals to be published later this year.
These measures enable timely upgrades and connections for rural communities, supporting low-carbon technologies while maintaining affordability for consumers.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of adding energy nationally significant infrastructure projects to the renewable energy planning database.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Energy nationally significant infrastructure projects are already included in the Renewable Energy Planning Database, which can be seen by filtering by planning authority for The Planning Inspectorate.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/renewable-energy-planning-database-monthly-extract