Asked by: Stephanie Peacock (Labour - Barnsley East)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the £200 Alternative Fuel Payment, what method the Department is using to (a) identify eligible households and (b) ensure the payment is administered to all those who need it.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Government has confirmed that the Alternative Fuel Payment will be made to all households in Northern Ireland. In Great Britain, the Government is working to identify the best route to ensure the payment reaches households who use alternative fuels.
The vast majority of Alternative Fuel Payment eligible households throughout the UK will receive payment through their electricity supplier with no need to take any action. There will be a small number of customers who are unable to receive the funding automatically, for instance households without a direct relationship with an electricity supplier, and the Government will ensure there is a route for those households to apply for and receive the £200 support. This support will be delivered as soon as possible this year.
Asked by: Stephanie Peacock (Labour - Barnsley East)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the £200 Alternative Fuel Payment, when his Department will issue guidance to energy companies on administering the payment.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Alternative Fuel Payment of £200 will provide support for those in properties using fuels such as heating oil, liquified petroleum gas, coal or biomass for heating. Officials are working very closely with energy companies on its implementation, which will include issuing formal written guidance to them very soon.
Asked by: Stephanie Peacock (Labour - Barnsley East)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with regards to the £200 Alternative Fuel Payment, when will it be administered.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The vast majority of Alternative Fuel Payments eligible households in Great Britain will receive payment automatically via their electricity supplier with no need to take any action. There will be a small number of customers who are unable to receive the funding automatically, for instance households without a direct relationship with an electricity supplier, and the Government will ensure there is a route for those households to apply for and receive the £200 support. This support will be delivered in Great Britain as soon as possible after 1st February.
The Government has decided to pay the Alternative Fuel Payment to all households in Northern Ireland. This will make sure households in Northern Ireland receive their Alternative Fuel Payment this winter. Suppliers will be able to begin payments in Northern Ireland from the beginning of January.
Asked by: Stephanie Peacock (Labour - Barnsley East)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what support his Department provides to energy customers who receive incorrect bills due to faulty readings caused by signal loss on an in-home energy smart meter.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The vast majority of smart meters in homes and small businesses across Great Britain are operating as intended, with consumers benefitting from automatic, remote meter readings and near-real time cost and usage information via their In-Home Display. The Government does not hold separate data on the number of households experiencing problems with their In-Home Display.
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy works closely with Ofgem to monitor suppliers' performance and share good practice to drive operational improvements.
Energy suppliers are required by licence conditions to take all reasonable steps to ensure their customers’ smart meters are functional. Ofgem is responsible for regulating energy suppliers against their licence obligations, and has a range of enforcement tools at its disposal.
Asked by: Stephanie Peacock (Labour - Barnsley East)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he has made an estimate of the number of energy customers experiencing problems with signal to their in-home energy smart meters.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The vast majority of smart meters in homes and small businesses across Great Britain are operating as intended, with consumers benefitting from automatic, remote meter readings and near-real time cost and usage information via their In-Home Display. The Government does not hold separate data on the number of households experiencing problems with their In-Home Display.
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy works closely with Ofgem to monitor suppliers' performance and share good practice to drive operational improvements.
Energy suppliers are required by licence conditions to take all reasonable steps to ensure their customers’ smart meters are functional. Ofgem is responsible for regulating energy suppliers against their licence obligations, and has a range of enforcement tools at its disposal.
Asked by: Stephanie Peacock (Labour - Barnsley East)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he is taking steps with energy companies to ensure customers do not experience issues with signal to smart meters.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The vast majority of smart meters in homes and small businesses across Great Britain are operating as intended, with consumers benefitting from automatic, remote meter readings and near-real time cost and usage information via their In-Home Display. The Government does not hold separate data on the number of households experiencing problems with their In-Home Display.
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy works closely with Ofgem to monitor suppliers' performance and share good practice to drive operational improvements.
Energy suppliers are required by licence conditions to take all reasonable steps to ensure their customers’ smart meters are functional. Ofgem is responsible for regulating energy suppliers against their licence obligations, and has a range of enforcement tools at its disposal.