Asked by: Kirsten Oswald (Scottish National Party - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will make an estimate of how many people living in supported accommodation are unable to access the warm home discount because their landlord is the utility customer.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
The Warm Home Discount scheme obligates participating energy suppliers to provide rebates to eligible customers. Under the scheme in Scotland, customers are eligible if they are either in receipt of the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit or meet the eligibility criteria set by their energy supplier.
Energy suppliers can support households through the Industry Initiatives element of the scheme, through measures such as financial assistance, debt write-off, and energy efficiency. This support can be provided irrespective of whether a person is named on the electricity bill.
Asked by: Kirsten Oswald (Scottish National Party - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the Park Homes Warm Home Discount scheme, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending the warm home discount to people living in supported accommodation.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
The Park Homes Warm Home Discount scheme is run by Charis Grants and is funded voluntarily by energy suppliers under the Industry Initiatives element of the Warm Home Discount scheme. The Park Homes scheme is intended to support fuel-poor households living in park homes who pay for their electricity to their site owner.
Energy suppliers can also provide additional support to households through Industry Initiatives, through measures such as financial assistance, debt write-off, and energy efficiency. This support can be provided to households, irrespective of whether a person is eligible for a rebate under the scheme.
Asked by: Kirsten Oswald (Scottish National Party - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps she is taking to help support people living in supported accommodation who do not have their own energy account with the cost of living.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
The Government is continuing to support those most in need, including individuals in supported accommodation. Millions of vulnerable households will receive up to £900 in further Cost of Living Payments, with £300 to pensioner households, and £150 to those on eligible disability benefits. Low income and vulnerable households are also being supported this winter through the Winter Fuel Payment worth between £250 - £600 and the Cold Weather Payment providing £25 during very cold weather. Individuals in supported accommodation should visit the ‘Help for Households’ webpage on GOV.UK to see what support they are eligible for.
Asked by: Kirsten Oswald (Scottish National Party - East Renfrewshire)
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 merits of increasing the tariffs that energy suppliers are required to offer homeowners who generate electricity from their property by use of solar panels.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) is a cost-reflective and market led mechanism and it is for suppliers to determine the value of the exported electricity and to take account of the administrative costs associated when setting their tariffs. Ofgem reports annually on the range, nature and uptake of tariffs offered by suppliers in response to their SEG obligations. The Government will monitor whether the market is delivering an effective range of options for small exporters. To date, the market has responded positively, with a range of SEG tariffs.