Asked by: Beth Winter (Labour - Cynon Valley)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the quarterly energy price cap update announced by Ofgem on 27 February 2023, if he will make it his policy to reduce the level of the Energy Price Guarantee in line with the reduction of the energy price cap between 1 April and 30 June 2023.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
As announced in the Autumn Statement in November, the Energy Price Guarantee (EPG) will continue to limit the amount suppliers can charge per unit of energy from April.
In April the EPG will bring a typical household bill to £3,000 per year. As the Energy Price Guarantee is lower than the price cap, households will continue to pay less for their energy than they would have otherwise with no Government intervention. From April the EPG will cost the taxpayer less than planned, whilst targeting support to those most in need.
Asked by: Beth Winter (Labour - Cynon Valley)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what representation his Department has received from Hospice UK on the hospice sector's capacity to meet the cost of energy following the conclusion of the Energy Bill Relief Scheme.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Department has received 3 ministerial correspondences from Hospice UK.
The new Energy Bill Discount Scheme will run from April until March 2024, and continue to provide a discount to eligible non-domestic customers, including the hospice sector.
Asked by: Beth Winter (Labour - Cynon Valley)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answers of 11 January to Question 14828 and of 31 January to Question 130110 on Energy: Meters, if his Department will bring forward legislative proposals to require energy suppliers to demonstrate they are acting as a last resort in seeking a warrant to install a prepayment meter in a household with vulnerable residents.
Answered by Graham Stuart
My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced a five-point plan to tackle concerning behaviour by energy suppliers, including a call for suppliers voluntarily to stop forced prepayment switching. Following recent findings by the Times, Ofgem has asked suppliers to pause the installation of prepayment meters under warrant until they have assured Ofgem that they are compliant with all relevant regulations and obligations. The Secretary of State has asked domestic energy suppliers what steps they are taking to identify consumers who may have had a prepayment meter installed inappropriately, and confirm that where such customers are identified, appropriate action will be taken.
Asked by: Beth Winter (Labour - Cynon Valley)
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 31 January to Question 130106 on Energy: Meters, tabled on 23 January 2023, what the deadline is for energy suppliers to share the number of warrants that they have applied for in recent months; and when he plans to publish that information.
Answered by Graham Stuart
My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State wrote to suppliers on 21 January. I also wrote to suppliers on 27 January and confirmed that the Government expects to receive the warrant data within two weeks. The Government will examine the data carefully and publish it as soon as possible.
Asked by: Beth Winter (Labour - Cynon Valley)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to suspend the right of retail energy companies to seek warrants for pre-payment meter installations while the Ofgem market-wide review investigates the use of such meters.
Answered by Graham Stuart
Ofgem have asked energy suppliers to pause the installation of prepayment meters under warrant until they have assured Ofgem they are compliant with all relevant regulations and obligations.
The Government’s 5-point plan on PPMs includes coordination with Ofgem in ensuring they take a more robust approach to make sure suppliers are complying with rules.
My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State has asked suppliers to report back on the steps they have planned to identify customers who may have had a PPM installed inappropriately and confirm that appropriate action will be taken in these instances.
Asked by: Beth Winter (Labour - Cynon Valley)
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 9 January to Question 114831 on Powers of Entry: Meters, if his Department will request Ofgem to (a) make an estimate of how many households in which a resident is (i) over state pension age, (ii) under 18 years old, (iii) disabled and (iv) chronically sick have had a pre-payment meter force-fitted since 1 October 2022 and (b) publish that estimate.
Answered by Graham Stuart
Ofgem does not hold this data.
My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State’s recent letter to suppliers sets out that suppliers must identify where a vulnerability, such as the above mentioned, exists among prepayment customers, and take appropriate action.
Asked by: Beth Winter (Labour - Cynon Valley)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many households in which a resident is (a) a pensioner, (b) under 18 years old, (c) disabled and (d) chronically sick have had a pre-payment meter force-fitted since 1 October 2022.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Department does not hold this data. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State wrote to suppliers on 4 February setting out that suppliers must identify customers who may have had a prepayment meter inappropriately installed, and where such customers are identified, take appropriate action.
Asked by: Beth Winter (Labour - Cynon Valley)
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 24 January 2023 to Question 124129 on Energy Bills Rebate: Standards and to the Answer of 3 February 2023 to Question 135481 on Energy Bills Rebate: Park Homes, for what reason the opening of the application portal was delayed.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Government is still working through several aspects of the scheme that are vital for its successful delivery. There are significant complexities in delivering a novel scheme with a wide variety of eligible groups with different energy arrangements. In addition, the Government must always ensure consumers are protected, public money is well spent, including robust verification and anti-fraud checks, and that local authorities are suitably prepared to deliver the support. The online application portal, and accompanying contact centre helpline for those without online access, will be launched by 27 February.
Asked by: Beth Winter (Labour - Cynon Valley)
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 24 January 2023 to Question 124129 on Energy Bills Rebate: Standards and to the Answer of 3 February 2023 to Question 135481 on Energy Bills Rebate: Park Homes, what steps his Department is taking to roll-out financial programmes in a timely manner.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding (EBSS AF) is currently in its pilot phase and is accepting live applications in some pilot local authority areas, which is helping the government and local authorities to refine the end-to-end user journey before full scheme launch. The online application portal, and accompanying contact centre helpline, will be open to all eligible households by 27 February, and the Government is working closely with local authorities to ensure they are suitably prepared to provide this support by this date.
Asked by: Beth Winter (Labour - Cynon Valley)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has made a comparative assessment of disparities in retail prices for motor fuel in (a) Rhondda Cynon Taf authority and (b) South Wales.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Government is aware that motor fuel prices can vary widely between local areas. Amongst other issues, the Competition and Markets Authority was asked to look at this concern in the initial market review in 2022. The CMA is investigating this in its market study and will publish its initial findings in an update report on 6 December 2022 that prices are likely to be higher at petrol stations where there are few or no competitors nearby. The Government welcomes the CMA’s decision to investigate these issues further and will carefully consider any recommendations made when it conclude its market study by 7 July 2023.