Asked by: Kim Leadbeater (Labour - Batley and Spen)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent assessment she has made of the (a) efficiency and (b) effectiveness of the (i) Energy Ombudsman and (ii) Ombudsman's complaint resolution processes; and what steps she is taking to help ensure consumers writing to the ombudsman receive comprehensive and helpful feedback and advice.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Ofgem is responsible for certifying Alternative Dispute Resolution entities and appointing the Energy Ombudsman (EO). The EO is important for ensuring good consumer outcomes and trust by investigating disputes between suppliers and consumers.
Every two years Ofgem assesses the performance of the EO to ensure they still meet the approval criteria. The latest completed assessment, covering 2019-2021 is available on Ofgem’s website.
Ministers meet regularly with the EO to understand trends in consumer complaints and ensure a high-quality service.
Asked by: Kim Leadbeater (Labour - Batley and Spen)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that temperamental smart meters are not given as reasons by energy providers to prevent customers from switching suppliers.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The energy supplier switching process will work as intended whether smart meters are operating in smart mode or not at the time of the switch request.
When consumers do request to switch they are protected through Ofgem’s Guaranteed Standards. Ofgem are responsible for regulating energy suppliers against these obligations in this area.
Asked by: Kim Leadbeater (Labour - Batley and Spen)
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 support people who are unable to access the Warm Home Discount as they do not have an electricity bill in their name.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Under the Warm Home Discount scheme, the majority of eligible households are identified through data matching and are provided the rebate on their energy bill automatically. Therefore, only the named bill payer can receive a rebate.
Energy suppliers can also provide additional support to households through the Industry Initiatives element of the scheme, through measures such as financial assistance, debt write-off, and energy efficiency. This support can be provided to households, irrespective of whether a person is named on the electricity bill.
The Government has also provided extensive help through the Energy Price Guarantee, the £400 Energy Bills Support Scheme and further cost of living payments to low-income and vulnerable households.
Asked by: Kim Leadbeater (Labour - Batley and Spen)
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 2 February 2023 to Question 135388 on Energy Bill Relief Scheme: Leisure and Swimming Pools, which Office for National Statistics data were used to assess whether swimming pools are trade intensive; and what estimate he has made of (i) the energy intensity of swimming pools and (ii) the percentile figure for (A) energy intensity and (B) trade intensity for (1) swimming pools and (2) leisure centres as part of the Government's trade and energy intensity assessment.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The organisations eligible for the Energy and Trade Intensive Industries scheme are those operating within sectors that fall above the 80th percentile for energy intensity and 60th percentile for trade intensity, as per ONS trade data, and those within sectors eligible for the existing Energy Intensive Industries compensation schemes. Both of those thresholds must be met to warrant inclusion, meaning that some energy intensive sectors, which are not significantly trade intensive like swimming pools and leisure centre, will not be eligible for support. The definition used for trade intensity is the international trade in goods in relation to the sector’s turnover percentile of the criteria set for the enhanced support for Energy and Trade Intensive Industries.