Asked by: Rachel Gilmour (Liberal Democrat - Tiverton and Minehead)
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 potential merits of introducing a direct-payment mechanism under the Warm Homes: Local Grant scheme to enable grant funding to be paid directly to a TrustMark-registered and MCS-certified installer where a local authority confirms that it is unable to provide a nationally eligible measure through its local delivery arrangements.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Warm Homes: Local Grant scheme provides grant funding to local authorities to deliver energy performance upgrades and low carbon heating to low-income privately owned homes in England below EPC Band C. This includes homes both on and off the gas grid.
The scheme is locally administered and delivered by local authorities. They provide oversight of upgrades in their area, ensuring high quality and monitoring compliance with the required rules and standards of the scheme.
There are no current plans to allow a direct to installer route.
Asked by: Rachel Gilmour (Liberal Democrat - Tiverton and Minehead)
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 ensure that households deemed financially eligible under the Warm Homes Local Grant are able to receive measures where local delivery agents are unable to provide them through supply chains; and how that scheme ensures that households in rural and non-standard properties are not disadvantaged.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Warm Homes: Local Grant supports low-income households in England by funding energy efficiency improvements - including insulation, heat pumps, and solar PV.
Eligible households in privately owned EPC band D–G homes, both on and off the gas grid, can benefit where they meet the scheme criteria.
Delivery is managed locally, with local authorities responsible for procuring the supply chain capacity and capability needed to deliver upgrades in their areas.
All installations must comply with PAS 2030/2035, which requires retrofit professionals to consider traditionally constructed buildings and any potential unintended consequences, helping to support rural and non-standard properties.
Asked by: Rachel Gilmour (Liberal Democrat - Tiverton and Minehead)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what plans he has to support households in off‑gas‑grid homes where heat pumps are not a viable option; and whether he plans to introduce grant funding for alternative low‑carbon heating technologies, including electric boiler systems, to assist households seeking to transition away from oil heating.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
To provide additional support for off-gas-grid households the Boiler Upgrade Scheme will begin to provide grants of £9,000 for hydronic heat pumps replacing oil or LPG boilers in off-grid homes from 21 July, in addition to the £7,500 grants that are available for most homeowners.
The Government believes most off-grid homes are suitable to install hydronic heat pumps. To provide additional consumer choice the scheme also offers grants of £5,000 for biomass boilers in rural homes, and will begin to provide grants of £2,500 for air-to-air heat pumps and heat batteries once appropriate product and installation standards are in place.
Asked by: Rachel Gilmour (Liberal Democrat - Tiverton and Minehead)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if his Department will make an assessment of the viability of tidal range power projects in the Severn Estuary.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The National Energy System Operator (NESO) has launched a research innovation project to model the impacts and value of tidal range, we are expecting the report from this work soon and will consider its findings alongside the recently published Severn Estuary Commission report.
Asked by: Rachel Gilmour (Liberal Democrat - Tiverton and Minehead)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if his Department will meet with Ofgem to discuss poor practice in the recouping of (a) missed and (b) underpaid payments in the energy sector.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
The Department has regular meetings with Ofgem on a number of issues.
The Government takes the issue of accurate billing very seriously. All suppliers must take all reasonable steps to reflect accurate meter readings in bills or statements sent to customers where these have been provided by a customer or obtained by the supplier. This is also laid out in the Ofgem’s licence conditions. Specifically,
All energy suppliers must follow Ofgem’s enforceable overarching principles of the Standard Licence Conditions 0 and 0A. These are a set of broad and enforceable ‘standards of conduct’ principles that set fundamental expectations on how suppliers must ensure fair treatment of each customer. These principles guide supplier behaviour, information provision, and customer service processes.
Asked by: Rachel Gilmour (Liberal Democrat - Tiverton and Minehead)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to deliver a consultation on technical issues associated with renewable liquid heating fuel under Section 159 of the Energy Act 2023.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
As sustainable biomass is a limited resource, the Government expects to prioritise its use in sectors like aviation which have fewest options to decarbonise. Renewable liquid heating fuels (RLHF) are also much more expensive to use than other heating solutions.
Before taking decisions on whether to support the use of RLHFs, like hydrotreated vegetable oil, in heating, the Government would require stronger evidence on their affordability for consumers, and the availability of sustainable feedstocks.
Asked by: Rachel Gilmour (Liberal Democrat - Tiverton and Minehead)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if his Department will make an assessment of the effectiveness of the use of heat pumps in (a) uninsulated and (b) improperly insulated homes.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
Evidence shows that heat pumps are suitable for a diverse range of housing archetypes in the UK and the clear majority of properties.
Modern heat pumps, capable of running efficiently at similar temperatures to an existing boiler, can increasingly be used in homes previously considered unsuitable for electrification. Other low-carbon heating solutions are available for properties that are not suited to a heat pump, and the government will continue to assess and support the options for all properties to decarbonise and reduce their energy use.
Asked by: Rachel Gilmour (Liberal Democrat - Tiverton and Minehead)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Energy Performance Certificate on the ability of households to manage heating bills.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
Currently, Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) produce an energy efficiency rating (EER) based on the estimated running costs of the property. Basing the rating and recommendations of the EPC on cost is done with the aim of generating improvement which will lead to a reduction in energy costs.
Last week, the Government published the consultation on EPC Reform, developed through close collaboration between DESNZ and MHCLG. The Government proposes using four key metrics for domestic EPCs: "fabric performance," "heating system," "smart readiness," and "energy cost." The Government is reviewing the methodology underpinning EPCs to make it fit for purpose to support net zero. The department is also reviewing consultation responses for the new building physics model, the Home Energy Model.
Asked by: Rachel Gilmour (Liberal Democrat - Tiverton and Minehead)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of (a) PeakSave and (b) other energy tariff rates for communities without the signal needed to install a smart meter.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
The Government has made no such specific assessment, as tariffs and energy contracts are a commercial matter for suppliers. However, the Government does want consumers to have access to a range of tariffs, so they can choose the contract that best suits their needs and can help to reduce energy bills. In circumstances where a supplier may not currently be able to offer a smart meter, Ofgem has been clear that suppliers are obligated under their licence conditions to ensure that a suitable metering system is installed.