Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, for what reasons the eligibility criteria for the Warm Homes Discount were altered to not include people living in houses with an Energy Performance Certificate score of D or below.

The Warm Home Discount scheme in England and Wales does not exclude households based on their property’s energy efficiency rating. As outlined in the consultation and Government Response on reforming the scheme, eligibility is not based on energy efficiency ratings as Energy Performance Certificates are not available for every domestic property.

Households in receipt of a qualifying means-tested benefit and who live in a property with a high energy cost score may be eligible to receive a rebate. The Government calculates energy cost scores for properties using certain characteristics taken from Valuation Office Agency data: the type, age, and floor area.

In Scotland, energy suppliers can set their own criteria in addition to the minimum eligibility criteria as set in the Regulations, subject to approval by Ofgem.