Asked by: Ben Goldsborough (Labour - South Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what consumer protections are in place where newly installed heat pumps do not adequately meet consumers' heating needs and Building Regulations prevent the reinstallation of higher-carbon heating appliances.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
All government supported heat pump installations are required to be certified by the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS). This provides consumers with access to additional redress routes within the MCS framework.
In the first instance, all consumers should raise their concerns with their installer, relevant consumer code or certification body.
We are committed to reforming the consumer protection system for Government supported home upgrades and are consulting on proposals.
Asked by: Ben Goldsborough (Labour - South Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of Building Regulations preventing the reinstallation of higher-carbon heating appliances on vulnerable, elderly and low-income consumers where it is necessary to change technology.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Low carbon heating systems are already an effective way to reduce household energy bills and are widely deployed across Government grant schemes to support low-income households. Analysis suggests a typical home could save around £130 a year compared with a gas boiler if they use a well-installed, efficient heat pump alongside a suitable smart tariff.
In terms of building regulations, heating systems such as boilers and heat pumps are defined as fixed building services. Their replacement in existing dwellings is covered by Part L and associated statutory guidance, which states the new system should not produce more emissions or consume more energy per kWh of heat than the system being replaced. This supports important principles not just in relation to carbon emissions but also to energy efficiency and affordability.
Asked by: Ben Goldsborough (Labour - South Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what consumer protections are in place for vulnerable and low-income households unable to afford electrical heating solutions where Building Regulations prevent the reinstallation of higher-carbon heating appliances.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Tackling high energy costs is a central priority for the Government. We are removing VAT from domestic electricity bills from 1 October, building on the average £150 reduction in energy bills announced at the last Budget. Around 6 million families are benefiting from the expanded Warm Home Discount.
All Government-supported heat pump installations must be certified under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS), giving consumers access to additional redress routes. Consumers should first raise concerns with their installer, consumer code or certification body.
We are committed to reforming the consumer protection system for Government supported home upgrades and are consulting on proposals.
Asked by: Ben Goldsborough (Labour - South Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment the department has made of the effectiveness of the Standard Assessment Procedure when applied to new energy-saving technologies.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government recognises that there are opportunities to improve how the Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) accommodates and recognises new energy-saving technologies and is taking steps to address these as part of the transition to the Home Energy Model.
We have strengthened our latest contractual Key Performance Indicators to refine guidance materials and improve application timescales. Additionally, the new modular HEM will enable new technologies to be recognised in the core engine on a more frequent basis, removing the need for a ‘bolt-on’ calculation.
Asked by: Ben Goldsborough (Labour - South Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps the department is taking to ensure the Standard Assessment Procedure is kept up to date in line with technological advancements in energy-saving technology.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is taking steps to ensure that the Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) continues to recognise innovative energy- saving technologies and remains fit for purpose during the transition to the Home Energy Model.
We have strengthened KPIs in our latest contracts to improve application timescales and the operation of the product recognition process. This includes working with our commercial partners to define timeframes where appropriate and refining guidance materials to deliver a clearer end-to-end process.
Asked by: Ben Goldsborough (Labour - South Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate the department has made of the comparative performance of predicted and actual energy performance of homes.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department has funded evidence on the relationship between predicted and actual home energy performance through its publicly available EPC Accuracy Research. The research identified differences between modelled EPC energy use and metered household energy consumption and found that these differences reflected a range of factors, including assumptions within methodologies, occupancy rates and changes to properties since EPCs were produced. The findings helped inform the development of RdSAP 10 and are informing the upcoming Home Energy Model to better reflect real-world building performance.
Asked by: Ben Goldsborough (Labour - South Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of redundant oil and gas assets following installation of new heating technologies such as heat pumps on the environment.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
When replacing a fossil fuel heating system with a heat pump or other low carbon technology, the expectation and rules for waste disposal are the same as like-for-like replacements.
Guidance for the disposal of appliances varies by product categorisation. Advice on waste management can be found on gov.uk.
Asked by: Ben Goldsborough (Labour - South Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of waste created as a result of consumers changing heating technologies.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
When replacing a fossil fuel heating system with a heat pump or other low carbon technology, the expectation and rules for waste disposal are the same as like-for-like replacements.
Guidance for the disposal of appliances varies by product categorisation. Advice on waste management can be found on gov.uk.
Asked by: Ben Goldsborough (Labour - South Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he is formally triggering Section 159(3) of the Energy Act 2023 with the launch of the consultation on alternative clean heating solutions which covers the Renewable Liquid Heating Fuel Obligation.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The consultation on alternative heating solutions seeks to gather evidence on the role that these technologies could play in ensuring that every household has a low-carbon option that is right for them. The government will consider the evidence before making any decisions on whether to exercise the powers in Section 159 of the Energy Act 2023 in respect of a Renewable Liquid Heating Fuel Obligation.
Asked by: Ben Goldsborough (Labour - South Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent estimate he has made of the number of households that are in fuel poverty in (a) South Norfolk constituency and (b) Norfolk.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
The latest statistics for the number of households in fuel poverty in 2022 in administrative areas and parliamentary constituencies in England can be found in the published sub-regional fuel poverty statistics, in Tables 2 and 4: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/fuel-poverty-statistics