Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has had discussions with Ofgem on the level of additional support provided by energy companies to assist people on the Priority Services Register with meter readings.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Vulnerable customers who need extra support are able to sign up for the Priority Services Register for free. This allows energy suppliers to provide extra help for vulnerable consumers, such as help taking their meter readings, advanced noticed of power cuts, and making sure their phone calls are a priority. Eligible individuals include those at or above State Pension age, those with a disability or medical condition, and people with children under the age of 5.
I have regular discussions with Ofgem, energy suppliers, and other stakeholders to ensure that vulnerable consumers are supported, including using the Priority Services Register to help assist eligible individuals.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
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 to help ensure that energy supplier read electricity meter readings are accurately recorded on customer energy accounts.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
It is the role of the independent regulator Ofgem to ensure compliance with Standard Licence Conditions, including condition 21B. I meet regularly with Ofgem to discuss consumer protection issues.
To ensure Ofgem’s continuing effectiveness, in December the Government launched its first comprehensive review of the regulator. The review is considering whether Ofgem has effective compliance and enforcement tools, so consumers can be confident that any failures will be investigated and rectified quickly.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how energy supplies are complying with condition 21B of the Electricity Supply Standard Licence Conditions.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
It is the role of the independent regulator Ofgem to ensure compliance with Standard Licence Conditions, including condition 21B. I meet regularly with Ofgem to discuss consumer protection issues.
To ensure Ofgem’s continuing effectiveness, in December the Government launched its first comprehensive review of the regulator. The review is considering whether Ofgem has effective compliance and enforcement tools, so consumers can be confident that any failures will be investigated and rectified quickly.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
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 the Energy Ombudsman on identified breaches of standard licencing conditions by energy companies related to (a) bill accuracy and (b) shortfalls in service.
Answered by Michael Shanks - 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.
On 19 June the Government announced that we will consult on strengthening the Energy Ombudsman to ensure that suppliers comply with its final decisions or pay compensation to their consumer. This consultation will also look at introducing automatic referrals to the Ombudsman instead of consumers having to do this themselves, and also to explore the reduction of referral waiting times from 8 weeks to 4 weeks.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, when he plans to implement the Fuel Finder open data scheme.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government aims to implement Fuel Finder by the end of 2025, subject to legislation and parliamentary time. The Data (Use and Access) Bill will provide the legislative basis to set up Fuel Finder to increase price transparency for UK drivers.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
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 help enable the scale-up of large-scale green hydrogen projects to commercial operation.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Hydrogen Production Business Model (HPBM) incentivises investment in new low carbon hydrogen production and encourages users to switch to low carbon hydrogen by making it a price competitive decarbonisation option.
In the Autumn Budget, we confirmed support for 11 green hydrogen projects from the first Hydrogen Allocation Round (HAR1), which comprised £90 million in capital grant support through the Net Zero Hydrogen Fund and c. £2.3bn revenue support through the HBPM once projects are operational and over a 15 year period.
Following this, on 7 April 2025 the Government announced a shortlist of 27 projects across England, Scotland and Wales that have been invited to the next stage of the Second Hydrogen Allocation Round (HAR2).
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
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 to increase the production of green hydrogen to support the transition to net zero.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Hydrogen Production Business Model (HPBM) incentivises investment in new low carbon hydrogen production and encourages users to switch to low carbon hydrogen by making it a price competitive decarbonisation option.
In the Autumn Budget, we confirmed support for 11 green hydrogen projects from the first Hydrogen Allocation Round (HAR1), which comprised £90 million in capital grant support through the Net Zero Hydrogen Fund and c. £2.3bn revenue support through the HBPM once projects are operational and over a 15 year period.
Following this, on 7 April 2025 the Government announced a shortlist of 27 projects across England, Scotland and Wales that have been invited to the next stage of the Second Hydrogen Allocation Round (HAR2).
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
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 Cabinet colleagues on increasing the production of green hydrogen for use in the (a) energy, (b) industry, (c) transport and (d) innovation sectors.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Our strategic approach to hydrogen production and use is grounded in robust, cross-government analysis to ensure hydrogen fulfils its role in the UK’s Clean Energy Superpower and Growth Missions. We continue to work closely across departments to align efforts and reflect the latest evidence. Including through the development of a refreshed Hydrogen Strategy, set to be published later this year.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
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 through (a) regulatory reform and (b) market incentives to encourage the growth of green hydrogen production capacity.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We continue to work closely with industry, regulatory bodies and devolved administrations to ensure that appropriate regulatory frameworks are in place for low-carbon hydrogen infrastructure, including through the Hydrogen Delivery Council’s Regulators Forum and the Transport and Storage Working Group. We are taking a proactive approach to identify and address existing and emerging regulatory challenges for the hydrogen economy.
For example, we will consult this summer on a proposed economic regulatory framework for 100% hydrogen pipelines.
The Hydrogen Production Business Model incentivises investment in new low carbon hydrogen production and encourages users to switch to low carbon hydrogen by making it a price competitive decarbonisation option.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
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 to support (a) scientific innovation and (b) R&D across the hydrogen value chain to (i) drive down costs and (ii) improve efficiency.
Answered by Kerry McCarthy - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Since 2021, the £1bn Net Zero Innovation Portfolio has awarded around £170m to hydrogen innovation projects to advance low-carbon technologies across the hydrogen value chain. Hydrogen-specific programmes include: the Low Carbon Hydrogen Supply 2 programme, the Industrial Hydrogen Accelerator, and the Hydrogen from Biomass with Carbon Capture and Storage programme. Demonstrators have been built and tested with the aim of reducing the costs of hydrogen production, or providing evidence towards the cost effectiveness of hydrogen for fuel switching. The Department commissioned the British Geological Survey to conduct a research study on the geological potential for natural hydrogen in the UK.