Asked by: David Mundell (Conservative - Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what her planned timetable is for publishing the response to the Eskdalemuir seismic array: revised approach to managing onshore wind turbine interference consultation.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The consultation on the Eskdalemuir seismic array closed last month and officials are currently analysing responses.
The Government cannot provide a timeline at present; however, officials are working to ensure the government response is published as soon as feasible.
Asked by: David Mundell (Conservative - Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will set out a timeline for a final funding decision from the Hydrogen Allocation Round 2 process.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We are working hard across government to start the Invite to Offer stage of the second Hydrogen Allocation Round (HAR2) as soon as possible and will be in touch with projects when this commences. Contract awards for successful projects will follow shortly afterwards. We will provide detailed guidance to projects which have been invited to the Invite to Offer stage, which will include clear timelines. We appreciate that there have been delays to this process and we thank projects for their patience and continued engagement.
Asked by: David Mundell (Conservative - Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 15 May 2025 to Question 51426 on Energy: Meters, what the sequence will be of the phased switch off of the Radio Teleswitch Service from the end of June.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
Energy suppliers led by the RTS Taskforce are planning a careful phase out of the Radio Teleswitch Service from 30 June. The Government is working closely with the RTS Taskforce, industry and Ofgem to ensure the phase out process is planned effectively and consumers are appropriately protected.
Asked by: David Mundell (Conservative - Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of zonal energy pricing in Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale constituency on household energy bills.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
Through the Review of Electricity Market Arrangements (REMA), the government is continuing to assess options for strengthening locational and operational signals in the electricity market. This includes measures which could be implemented under national pricing, as well as a zonal pricing option.
Zonal pricing has the potential to deliver large consumer benefits by creating a more efficient energy system. It would result in a smaller, more efficient power system reducing the need for new power stations and lower the amount of new network that needs to be built.
However, we recognise that implementing zonal could also create uncertainty for investors. We are considering the balance between potential consumer and system benefits from enabling greater demand-side flexibility, potential distributional impacts, and the future trajectory of network charging which already introduces regional variations in consumer bills.
Asked by: David Mundell (Conservative - Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many households in Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale constituency remain dependent on the Radio Teleswitch Service for their energy meter connections.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
The Department does not hold constituency level data on remaining RTS meters, but we are regularly engaging with energy suppliers, Ofgem and the industry body Energy UK to review local plans for the switch-off.
Energy suppliers have contacted all premises with RTS meters and Ofgem is encouraging customers to book an appointment to ensure they are provided with a replacement meter ahead of the switch-off.