Mentions:
1: Amanda Solloway (Con - Derby North) Of course, the price cap is an issue for Ofgem. - Speech Link
2: Amanda Solloway (Con - Derby North) One of the things that the Secretary of State and I have been doing is talking to Ofgem to make sure - Speech Link
3: Amanda Solloway (Con - Derby North) I reassure him that I have encouraged and pushed Ofgem to do more on this issue. - Speech Link
4: Amanda Solloway (Con - Derby North) This is also a matter for Ofgem. - Speech Link
5: Amanda Solloway (Con - Derby North) That is why we have encouraged Ofgem to answer our call for input. - Speech Link
Asked by: Steven Bonnar (Scottish National Party - Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of trends in the level of gas consumption on energy prices in Scotland.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
While we expect levels of gas consumption to decline in the coming years, we are working to facilitate the least-cost pathway to a secure gas system and net zero future.
The Ofgem price cap is around 60% lower now relative to its peak at the start of 2023.
We are prioritising the impact on consumer costs in developing future gas policy.
Asked by: Marion Fellows (Scottish National Party - Motherwell and Wishaw)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions she has had with Ofgem on trends in the level of consumer energy debt.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
I meet regularly with Ofgem to discuss debt, and I welcome Ofgem’s recent Call for Input on affordability and debt.
Earlier this week, I met with energy suppliers and outlined our expectation that suppliers do all they can to support customers in debt. I also meet regularly with stakeholders like Citizens Advice to work together on how consumers can be best supported.
May. 20 2024
Source Page: Smarter regulation: One year on. 45p.Found: The Connections Action Plan, published jointly with Ofgem, is overhauling the way new projects access
Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 15 May 2024 to Question 25717 and to the Answer of 10 May 2024 to Question 24573 on Energy: Debts, whether an allowance for servicing consumer debt was permitted by Ofgem in any period before April 2024.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Energy Price Guarantee (EPG) has never included an allowance for bad debt held by suppliers. All funding was used to apply a unit rate discount to household tariffs.
Ofgem have always included within the standing charges element of the Default Tariff Cap (Price Cap) some element to account for consumer debt held by suppliers.
Asked by: Rosena Allin-Khan (Labour - Tooting)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will take steps to ensure that (a) tenants and (b) leaseholders are not adversely financially impacted by communal heating schemes.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Protecting heat network consumers is a priority for Government. The Government is introducing regulation, as recommended by the Competition and Markets Authority, to protect Heat Networks consumers. From 2025, Ofgem will be appointed as the heat network regulator. The regulatory framework will include standards for fair prices as well as additional protections to ensure that all heat networks consumers receive a quality service.
Asked by: Lord Tyrie (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government in each of the past three years how many times (1) OFCOM, (2) OFGEM, (3) the Competition and Markets Authority, and (4) the Financial Reporting Council, have exercised the power to disclose the identity of persons under investigation.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Lainston - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The subject of OFCOM’s investigations are services rather than individual persons. The details of these investigations are published on OFCOM’s website.
OFGEM also publishes details of its investigations on its website.
The Competition and Markets Authority exercised the power to identify persons under investigation in seven cases in 2021; ten cases in 2022; and in five cases in 2023. In some of these cases multiple parties have been identified.
The Financial Reporting Council has not exercised the power in any of the past three years.
May. 16 2024
Source Page: Smarter regulation: one year onFound: The Connections Action Plan, published jointly with Ofgem, is overhauling the way new projects access
May. 16 2024
Source Page: CFP Response to OFGEM affordability and debt call for input 2024Found: CFP Response to OFGEM affordability and debt call for input 2024