Asked by: Tonia Antoniazzi (Labour - Gower)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what support is available for vulnerable people who meet the financial threshold for the Warm Home Discount but are not the named bill payer.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Warm Home Discount is a rebate on energy bills, usually paid into the bill payer’s account. Where an individual is not named on the bill, the rebate may still be paid if their partner or legal representative is named. The scheme also funds wider support, including a grant scheme for occupiers of park homes and programmes providing energy efficiency advice and measures. Those not benefiting from the rebate may be eligible for other government programmes, current schemes include the Energy Company Obligation, the Great British Insulation Scheme, the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, and the Home Upgrade Grant.
Asked by: Tonia Antoniazzi (Labour - Gower)
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 ensure vulnerable people are able to access financial support with energy bills.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is committed to ensuring energy bills are affordable for all consumers, especially the most vulnerable. The Government is continuing to deliver the Warm Home Discount which provides a £150 rebate off energy bills to eligible low-income households.
I recently met with suppliers and encouraged them to build on the Voluntary Debt Commitment from last year and go further in supporting vulnerable customers this winter.
The Government has also extended the Household Support Fund for an additional six months until 31 March 2025 with an extra £500 million in funding, and I encourage any vulnerable individual who is struggling to pay their bills contacts their local authority to see if they are eligible for this support.
Asked by: Tonia Antoniazzi (Labour - Gower)
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 implications for his policies of availability of the Warm Home Discount to named account holders only.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Warm Home Discount is a rebate on energy bills received by over 3m households where an eligible individual, their partner or their legal representative is named on the energy account. To provide support on this scale, it is paid directly into energy accounts in the majority of cases. Those who are not eligible for the Warm Home Discount may be eligible for support from other government schemes or the wider support offered through the Warm Home Discount.
Asked by: Tonia Antoniazzi (Labour - Gower)
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 support park home residents with energy costs.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
Last winter, the Government delivered the Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding and the Alternative Fuel Payment Alternative Fund which many park homes were eligible for, delivering over £20 million in support to park home households. The Government is continuing to support those who need it the most, with millions of vulnerable and low-income households receiving £900 in further cost of living payments, including £150 to those on eligible disability benefits. This in addition to established support for vulnerable households such as the Winter Fuel Payment worth between £250 - £600.
Asked by: Tonia Antoniazzi (Labour - Gower)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate has he made of the cost to energy-intensive businesses that are no longer entitled to receive support through the (a) Energy and Trade Intensive Industries and (b) Energy Bill Discount schemes after signing a blend and extend contract with their supplier.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
The Energy Bills Discount Scheme (EBDS) will continue to provide support to eligible non-domestic energy users from April 2023 until March 2024.
Contract negotiations are ultimately a matter for suppliers and their customers who should make informed decisions based on their individual circumstances. We continue to work with Ofgem and energy suppliers to ensure they are doing all they can to address price pressures and support their customers.
Asked by: Tonia Antoniazzi (Labour - Gower)
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 with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of the level of energy prices in the UK relative to those in European countries on the UK's international competitiveness.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
Gas prices for industrial users in the UK are typically among the cheapest in Europe. However, the UK’s industrial electricity prices are higher than those of other comparable countries, in part reflecting how the UK has spread electricity infrastructure costs more evenly between industry and households compared to other European countries. Recognising potential implications on industrial competitiveness, the Government announced in February that approximately 300 businesses across the UK will benefit from the British Industry Supercharger: targeted measures to ensure energy costs for key UK industries are in line with other major economies.
Prices data are published at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/international-energy-price-comparisons.
Asked by: Tonia Antoniazzi (Labour - Gower)
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 with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact on businesses of the replacement of the Energy Bill Relief Scheme by the Energy Bill Discount Scheme.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
The review of the Energy Bill Relief Scheme assessed a range of qualitative and quantitative evidence from businesses and stakeholders on sectors that may be most affected by rising energy prices based on energy and trade intensity. The results were used alongside results from a BEIS business survey, inputs from Government departments, wider economic and public policy considerations. The outcome of the review informed the criteria used to determine eligibility for the Energy Bills Discount Scheme (EBDS).
The EBDS reflects the scale of change in the energy market since last September and strikes the right balance by supporting businesses over the next year, ensuring fiscal responsibility and limiting the taxpayer’s exposure to volatile energy markets.
Asked by: Tonia Antoniazzi (Labour - Gower)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what support his Department is providing to families of children with life-limiting illnesses for energy costs.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
The Energy Bills Support Scheme and the Energy Price Guarantee (EPG) have provided financial support to all families to help manage the rising costs of their energy bills.
Households using alternative fuels are entitled to a £200 Alternative Fuel Payment. In addition to the Energy Affordability schemes, families with children with life-limiting illnesses are also entitled to a one-off £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment.
As set out in the Autumn Statement, the Government is developing a new approach to consumer protection in energy markets, which will apply from April 2024 onwards including options such as social tariffs, as part of wider energy retail market reforms.
Asked by: Tonia Antoniazzi (Labour - Gower)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether the Government is taking further steps to provide extra financial support for those who are eligible for the Energy Bill Support Scheme Alternative Fund but who pay for their energy at a non-domestic rate through a landlord, including park home residents.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Shadow Minister (Energy Security and Net Zero)
Eligible applicants of the EBSS AF, including those who pay for their energy at a non-domestic rate through a landlord, such as park home residents, may also be eligible to receive additional support. Landlords who are in receipt of the Energy Bills Relief Scheme, such as park home owners, must also ensure this support is passed through to the end user in a just and reasonable manner. Households who use alternative fuels as their primary source of heating are able to apply for the Alternative Fuel Payments Alternative Fund if they have not received support automatically.
Asked by: Tonia Antoniazzi (Labour - Gower)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, for what reason an eligible person who is not the named bill payer is not able to access the warm home discount scheme for winter 2022-23.
Answered by Andrew Bowie - Shadow Minister (Energy Security and Net Zero)
This rule was adopted as the named bill payer is responsible for any payment issued on the electricity account. It also ensures that the Government can verify customers’ eligibility and reduces the risk of fraudulent claims. There are exceptions when an eligible customer’s partner is named on the electricity bill and linked on their DWP benefit record, or when an eligible customer has a DWP Appointee or other legally appointed representative who is named on the bill.