Asked by: Judith Cummins (Labour - Bradford South)
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 assessment of the adequacy of gas and electricity suppliers' licence obligation to inspect their customers’ meters.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
Licensing is matter for the expert independent regulator, Ofgem. Licence conditions require that a customer’s bill is based on the best available metering information, and that where a supplier visits a customer’s premises, staff are properly trained to carry out such visits safely and effectively. Suppliers must take all reasonable steps to obtain meter readings at least annually.
Asked by: Judith Cummins (Labour - Bradford South)
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 assessment of the potential merits of including receipt of PIP as a qualifying requirement for the Energy Company Obligation scheme.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
ECO4 includes flexible eligibility (ECO Flex), which allows local authorities and energy suppliers to refer households even if they do not meet the eligible benefits criteria. Households may qualify for support if they have a severe long-term health condition which could be affected by living in a cold home.
The Great British Insulation Scheme aims to drive delivery of the most cost-effective insulation to a wider pool of households.
Asked by: Judith Cummins (Labour - Bradford South)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to remove (a) electricity and (b) gas standing charges for customers on pre-payment meters.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
The standing charge is a fixed charge that suppliers pass on to their customers to cover the cost of providing a live supply. It includes the cost of using pipes and power lines carrying the supply, the maintenance and installation of meters and billing and accounting.
Ofgem has recently consulted on levelling the cost of standing charges on Prepayment Meters by socialising prices across payment types, to make standing charges more equal across different payment types. Ofgem is currently considering the responses, with an aim to implement changes in April 2024, following the end of the Energy Price Guarantee.