Asked by: Drew Hendry (Scottish National Party - Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made an assessment of the compatibility of the social energy tariff system in Italy with the UK energy market.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
As set out in the autumn statement, the Government is exploring the best approach to consumer protection from April 2024, as part of wider retail market reforms. The Government has looked at a range of international comparators, including Italy, although as energy markets and consumer circumstances vary between countries, the specific situation in the UK will need to be assessed.
The Government will set out its proposals in due course.
Up to then, in response to higher prices, the Government has put in place the Energy Price Guarantee and provided significant additional support to help those who need it most through this winter and into 2023-24.
Asked by: Drew Hendry (Scottish National Party - Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions her Department has had with energy providers on extending smart meter coverage in the Scottish Highlands.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Today, the Data Communications Company (DCC) provides Wide Area Network (WAN) coverage for smart meters to at least 99.5% of premises across its ‘North’ region.
The DCC also has a license obligation to explore solutions for increasing WAN coverage even further. It is currently developing a business case exploring such solutions, including an option for using already available internet-connected Consumer Access Devices to provide smart services. The consumer would need to have their own broadband connection and be prepared to enable the Consumer Access Device to utilise it. The Department expects to receive initial proposals from DCC shortly for review.
Asked by: Drew Hendry (Scottish National Party - Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the time taken to make new National Grid connections on new renewable energy projects in the UK.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government recognises that lengthy connection dates offered to renewable energy projects can create delays. Work is underway to release network capacity and improve the connection process, which should bring connection dates forward for renewable developers, amongst others. Government will publish a connections action plan jointly with Ofgem in the summer to build on this work and set out longer-term reforms to ensure that network connections support our net zero and energy security objectives.
Asked by: Drew Hendry (Scottish National Party - Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether officials in his Department have had discussions with National Grid on decreasing the waiting time for new grid connections for renewable energy projects.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is working with Ofgem and network companies, including National Grid, to reduce connection timescales. This includes through the Electricity System Operator-led Connections Reform Project.
Asked by: Drew Hendry (Scottish National Party - Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey)
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 ensure that the Energy Bill Support Scheme provides equal help to each household when multiple householders have a shared single domestic energy connection for billing purposes but are classed as separate households for council tax and other official purposes.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Energy Bills Support Scheme provides one payment to each domestic electricity meter in 6 instalments. In instances where a single domestic meter supplies more than one household, one EBSS discount will have been paid and shared between the households. This approach was taken so that delivery via electricity suppliers could commence in time to support households over the winter.
The Government has provided further support to help with the energy bills including the Energy Price Guarantee which reduces the unit cost of electricity and gas so that a typical household in Great Britain will save around £700 this winter.
Asked by: Drew Hendry (Scottish National Party - Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the potential benefits of working with alternative fuel provider trade bodies.to reduce the evidence requirement for householders in relation to the Alternative Fuel Payment..
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
In developing the scheme, the Government worked closely with stakeholders across the country including with the relevant trade bodies. Applicants will have to provide evidence to demonstrate use of alternative fuels as their main heating source in order to reduce the risk of fraud e.g. by receipt/delivery note. The Government was assured by the industry that most alternative fuel users are routinely provided with suitable documentation through their fuel provider.
Asked by: Drew Hendry (Scottish National Party - Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of allowing the estates of deceased people who were alive during the qualifying period to apply to the Energy Bill Support Scheme Alternative Funding Scheme.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The eligibility of applicants for the EBSS Alternative Funding is determined at the time of their application. Therefore, the estates of deceased people will not be able to apply on behalf of a deceased person as an application can only be made by or on behalf of someone who is living and occupying an address.
Asked by: Drew Hendry (Scottish National Party - Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has had recent discussions with the Competition and Markets Authority on the adequacy of audit systems for assessing the delivery of the cold weather priority initiative by liquefied petroleum gas suppliers.
Answered by Graham Stuart
Liquid Gas UK is the trade association for suppliers of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Cold Weather Priority Delivery is one of the principles for the Customer Charter to which their members agree. Liquid Gas UK provides an ombudsman scheme as an alternative dispute resolution service for customer disputes.
Officials from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero maintain regular contact with Liquid Gas UK to monitor threats to security of supply.
The Competition and Markets Authority administers the Liquefied Petroleum Gas market orders, which are intended to make it easier for customers to switch LPG suppliers.
Asked by: Drew Hendry (Scottish National Party - Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey)
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 recent discussions with Ofgem on taking steps to ensure that Alternative Fuel Payments are received by domestic customers and not retained by energy providers.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Department regularly engages with Ofgem on these matters and will discuss any issues as they arise. There is no evidence energy suppliers are retaining Alternative Fuel Payment grants. Electricity suppliers are currently subject to compliance monitoring and the Department will properly assure and audit payments. Any unused funds will be fully reconciled and recovered.
Asked by: Drew Hendry (Scottish National Party - Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey)
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 ensure caravan tenants paying their landlord directly for energy, who live on domestic private land, are able to access off-grid energy support payments.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Caravan tenants on domestic private land who pay their landlord directly for energy, and where the landlord holds a commercial electricity contract, are eligible to apply for support through the Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding (EBSS AF) which launched on 27 February, if they meet full eligibility requirements. A landlord with a domestic electricity contract will already have been receiving the Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS) automatically through their electricity supplier and must ensure this is passed through to the caravan resident in a just and reasonable manner.