Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that energy performance certificates are inaccurate.
Answered by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government recognises challenges with energy performance certificates (EPCs) and is consulting on proposals for improvements to the EPC system, including on how to make them more accurate and reliable.
As part of this, the Government is overhauling the methodology underpinning EPCs with the Home Energy Model. An initial consultation on the Home Energy Model closed in March 2024, which will be followed by a technical consultation on a revised EPC methodology in due course.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made, if any, of the number of smart meters which malfunction in the UK.
Answered by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department is working closely with industry and Ofgem to reduce the proportion of smart meters not operating in smart mode. Data on this is included in the statistics the Government publishes every quarter on the progress of the smart metering rollout. These are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/smart-meters-statistics and at Gov.UK. This shows that over 90% of smart meters are functioning in smart mode and that the proportion of meters operating in ‘traditional’ mode is steadily reducing. Smart meters operating in traditional mode continue to record energy usage accurately but do not send automatic readings to energy suppliers.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to banning outdoor hot tubs to facilitate the transition to net zero.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government has no plans to ban outdoor hot tubs.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of cases of energy supply companies using (1) coercive techniques, and (2) untrue statements, to try to compel customers to install smart meters.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Energy suppliers must treat customers fairly in line with their Standards of Conduct licence obligations, behave in a fair, honest, appropriate, and professional manner to ensure that consumers receive the right information to make decisions about their energy supply and have a positive experience when dealing with their supplier.
The Government expects energy suppliers to fulfil their regulatory obligations. Ofgem is responsible for regulating energy suppliers against their obligations.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to review the impact of the proposed new EPC standards on rental levels in the private rented sector.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Alongside the consultation on improving the energy performance of privately rented homes the Government published an impact assessment, which includes an assessment of the potential impact on rental payments. We are continuing to refine the policy design to ensure the costs, circumstances, and potential impacts relating to energy efficiency improvements are fair and proportionate for landlords and tenants. We will publish a summary of responses by the end of this year and will publish an updated impact assessment once the final policy decisions are made.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of who was behind the attack on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline; and what evidence they have for that assessment.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government takes the protection and resilience of subsea and offshore infrastructure seriously. Departments work together to protect it from malicious and other hazards such as accidental damage. The Department awaits the findings of the ongoing investigations into the deliberate damage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines. It would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the war in Ukraine on global warming.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government hasn't carried out an assessment of the impact of the war on global warming