Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans he has to bring all properties occupied by fuel-poor households up to Energy Performance Certificate band C by 2030.

The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) requires energy companies to fund household energy efficiency improvements each year. 70% of ECO is now focussed on improving the energy efficiency of low income and vulnerable and we intend to consult on moving that to 100% for the next Obligation period. Combined with energy bill rebates provided under the Government’s Warm Home Discount scheme, this is at least £770 million of support to low income and vulnerable households in 2017/18.

In the Clean Growth Strategy, the Government committed to extend support for home energy efficiency out to 2028 at least as the current levels of ECO funding (£640m per annum), and review the best form of support beyond 2022, recognising the need both to save carbon and to meet the Government’s commitment to upgrade all fuel poor homes to EPC Band C by 2030.

In addition, Government has legislated so that from April 2018 all landlords of the worst performing privately rented properties must meet a minimum standard of Energy Performance Certificate Band E, before properties can be let. In the longer term, Government has committed to looking at raising energy performance standards across the private rented sector further, with a view for as many properties to reach Energy Performance Certificate Band C by 2030.