Asked by: Samantha Dixon (Labour - City of Chester)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if her Department will produce annual reports on the progress (a) of the Community Energy Fund and (b) towards establishing local supply rights.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Government has recently committed to publishing an annual report on the community energy sector, and to consult on the barriers the sector faces when developing projects. The right to local energy supply already exists and Ofgem has existing flexibility to award supply licences that are restricted to specified geographies.
Asked by: Samantha Dixon (Labour - City of Chester)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps her Department is taking to ensure the adequacy of (a) guidance and (b) information on participating suppliers to support the ECO4 flex application process.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Department and Ofgem, the ECO4 scheme administrator, consistently engage with stakeholders to ensure that the ECO4 Flex guidance is fit for purpose and meets the needs of its intended users.
Ofgem has published a full list of ECO-obligated energy suppliers on its website, including contact details. The Department and Ofgem encourage participating local authorities and ECO-obligated energy suppliers to promote ECO4 Flex through their own communication channels.
Asked by: Samantha Dixon (Labour - City of Chester)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department is taking steps to help ensure energy companies inform (a) the landlord and (b) the relevant housing provider of any social housing tenant who is about to have their energy supply stopped.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
In 2022 there were 13 electricity and 6 gas meters disconnected in Great Britain due to a failure to pay a debt owed. Energy suppliers must explore all other options first, such as payment plans.
An energy supplier would only be able to inform a landlord in cases where the landlord is the party that holds the contract with the energy supplier, or where the householder has given their permission for their energy supplier to communicate directly with their landlord.
Asked by: Samantha Dixon (Labour - City of Chester)
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 merits of expanding the eligibility criteria of the Warm Homes Discount Scheme to cover parents of children with special educational needs.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Warm Home Discount prioritises people who are most at risk of being in fuel poverty. Fuel poverty is a combination of low incomes and high energy costs, so the scheme is targeted at those on means tested benefits whose homes are expensive to heat. Parents of children with special educational needs do not automatically fall into that category.
These households may be able to speak to their energy supplier about being added to their Priority Services Register, which provides additional support for vulnerable households, such as priority support in an emergency.