Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds North West)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many private suppliers were not included in the initial energy rebate programme.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
All licensed domestic electricity suppliers are participating in delivering the Energy Bills Support Scheme. On 25th September 2022, The then Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy issued a Direction under Section 7(3) of the Electricity Act 1989 to enable Ofgem to implement the scheme through modifications to suppliers’ standard licence conditions.
Households without a licensed domestic electricity supply contract are not eligible for the Scheme and can apply for equivalent support through the EBSS Alternative Funding.
Companies supplying no more than 5MW of electricity which they generate themselves, of which only 2.5MW are supplied to domestic consumers, are not required to hold or register for a supply licence.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds North West)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what his planned timetable is for private energy suppliers (a) receiving and (b) disbursing payments to customers under the Energy Bill Support Scheme Alternative Funding scheme.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding (EBSS AF) will be delivered by Local Authorities in Great Britain, and a contracted delivery partner in Northern Ireland, rather than private energy suppliers. We are expecting to pay Local Authorities and the contracted delivery partner ahead of scheme launch, or as soon after that as we receive their payment details, which we have requested. The exact date that an eligible household will receive support will depend on when the application is made and when the payment can be processed by the relevant Local Authority.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds North West)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what information his Department holds on how many (a) private energy suppliers and (b) local authorities are awaiting guidance on administering payments under the Energy Bill Support Scheme Alternative Funding scheme.
Answered by Graham Stuart
Private energy suppliers will not administer payments for the Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding (EBSS AF). EBSS AF payments will be delivered by 363 Local Authorities across England, Scotland and Wales, and by a contracted delivery partner in Northern Ireland. Guidance will be provided to them this month, ahead of the scheme launch.