Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate his Department has made of the average annual cost increase for households connected to heat networks as a result of recent increases in commercial gas prices.

Heat network operators buy the energy they need to provide heat to domestic consumers through commercial contracts.

The Department and Ofgem are actively monitoring the contract prices paid by heat network operators since the Middle Eastern crisis began and considering all options available to mitigate higher prices.

While price rises for heat network consumers have been limited to date, they will be more likely if wholesale energy prices remain higher into the winter.