Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will hold discussions with Ofgem on the process for reviewing customer credit balances every six months and avoiding large build-ups of credit.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
DESNZ Ministers and officials regularly meet with Ofgem to discuss a range of issues relating to GB energy markets. The regulation of energy supply in Northern Ireland, including the avoidance of large credit balances on customer energy accounts is a devolved matter.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will make an estimate of the number of gas boilers that have been taken out of service since the launch of the heat pump subsidy scheme.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) operates in England and Wales. Up until the end of July 2023, there had been 6,378 grants paid towards the installations of heat pumps that were replacing gas systems.
Source: Boiler Upgrade Scheme statistics: July 2023
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to encourage households to install energy efficiency measures before winter 2023.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Government is investing £6.6 billion over this Parliament on clean heat and improving energy efficiency in buildings, reducing reliance on fossil fuel heating.
The recently announced Great British Insulation Scheme will upgrade around 300,000 of the country’s least energy efficient homes. Households could save £300-£400 each year as part of a £1 billion energy efficiency programme by March 2026.
Consumers can also access the Government’s home retrofit tool ‘Find ways to save energy in your home’ on GOV.UK’. Users can get tailored recommendations for home improvements that could make their property cheaper to heat and keep warm.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what data his Department holds on the number of Microgeneration Certification Scheme certified installers who have been found not to meet the required installation standards since the commencement of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
Answered by Graham Stuart
To be eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme installers must be Microgeneration Certification Scheme certified and members of a Consumer Code to provide assurances and protections to consumers.
79 installer accounts are currently suspended by Ofgem, some of which are under investigation and may be reinstated later. Accounts can be suspended for a variety of reasons in relation to potential scheme non-compliance and not all are related to issues with standards.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department plans to launch publicity campaigns on the take up of energy efficient insulation measures.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Government’s consumer facing energy efficiency campaign It All Adds Up, targeted all UK adults with advice on energy saving measures. The Great British Insulation Scheme will also run until 2026 and support around 300,000 households to insulate their homes. Whilst the marketing and delivering of the scheme is industry led, the Government is looking to improve its energy advice and information service to make it easier for people to see if they are eligible for schemes like the Great British Insulation Scheme. The Government will support industries' promotion of the scheme and communicate improvements to the advice service when ready.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will take steps to extend the expiry deadline of 30 June 2023 by which existing electricity vouchers issued to pre-payment customers were due to be used.
Answered by Graham Stuart
In Northern Ireland, electricity suppliers have been providing a £600 payment to domestic contract customers since January, with this Scheme closing on 30 June. The design of the scheme and the nature of the electricity market has meant that voucher redemption has been very successful. Redemption rates rapidly rose to in excess of 90% shortly after launch.
The Department worked with suppliers, consumer groups and charities in Northern Ireland to publicise and raise awareness of the voucher deadline to ensure all eligible households redeemed their vouchers, right up until the end of the Scheme.