Asked by: Harriet Harman (Labour - Camberwell and Peckham)
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 estimated the average annual savings to users of the Heat Network Efficiency Scheme (HNES); and when he expects HNES users to receive a reduction in their bills.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Government has not estimated the average annual savings to consumers – these will be project specific and dependent on the heat network optimisation measures for which grant support is awarded. The point at which bill reductions and/or other benefits are delivered will also be project specific, and dependent on a) the heat network optimisation measures for which grant funding is awarded and b) each projects delivery timescales. The Government does expect to see benefits being delivered to some networks that are awarded grants in early funding rounds in advance of the next heating season.
Asked by: Harriet Harman (Labour - Camberwell and Peckham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make it his policy to provide a £200 one-off payment to users of communal heat networks.
Answered by Graham Stuart
My Rt. Hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer confirmed in the Autumn Statement that the Energy Bill Relief Scheme, which was intended to support businesses, will be reformed from April and targeted at the most affected businesses. It has been decided that heat network consumers will not receive the Domestic Alternative Fuel Payment of £200, which was designed to support households using fuels such as oil, LPG or coal. Instead, the Government will bring forward a more appropriate route to deliver support, beyond April 2023, that is in line with support provided by other domestic consumers.
Asked by: Harriet Harman (Labour - Camberwell and Peckham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make it his policy to provide energy bill support for communal heat network users on a parity basis with any further support provided to domestic gas users.
Answered by Graham Stuart
Some domestic heat network customers are already receiving energy bill support through the Energy Bill Relief Scheme. The Government is developing options to ensure domestic consumers on a non-domestic meter continue to benefit from support in line with other domestic users after April.
Further information on the scheme will be made publicly available in the near future.
Asked by: Harriet Harman (Labour - Camberwell and Peckham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether financial support will be made available for users of communal heat networks from April 2023; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Graham Stuart
Domestic heat network customers currently receive support on their heating and hot water bills via the Energy Bill Relief Scheme. The Government is developing options to ensure these domestic consumers benefit from support in line with other domestic users after April 2023. Further information on a successor scheme will be available in the near future.
Asked by: Harriet Harman (Labour - Camberwell and Peckham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, on what dates Ministers in his Department have met with Housing Associations that administer communal heat networks to discuss the government financial support they have received and pass on to customers.
Answered by Graham Stuart
Ministers have not met with housing associations which administer communal networks to discuss the heat network specific support provided under the Energy Bill Relief Scheme, however officials have been meeting with these organisations over the past year to discuss the design of the scheme and continue to do so to understand its effectiveness.
Asked by: Harriet Harman (Labour - Camberwell and Peckham)
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 require Housing Associations that administer communal heat networks to provide accounts to their customers of all deductions and costs that form their bill.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Energy Prices Act requires eligible heat network operators to pass on discounts they receive from the EBRS to their consumers. They will not be required to provide full accounts but they must explain to the customer how the discount amount that they have passed on is just and reasonable and the areas that they can consider are specified in accompanying regulations. We have appointed the Energy Ombudsman as a body that heat network customers in Great Britain can go to this winter if they are concerned that their heat network operator is not meeting the requirements of legislation.
Asked by: Harriet Harman (Labour - Camberwell and Peckham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the average percentage of the financial support provided to organisations that administer heat networks through the Energy Bill Relief Scheme that has been passed onto their customers.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Energy Prices Act requires eligible heat network operators to pass on discounts from the Energy Bill Relief Scheme to their consumers. Evaluation of the average discount provided to heat network customers is ongoing and we will update the house in due course on when details of the evaluation can be expected.