Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps the Government has taken to ensure that people who receive their energy supply through a third party can receive the £400 energy grant announced by the Government.
Answered by Greg Hands
The Government knows that there will be different considerations for consumers depending on their circumstances and the way in which they pay their energy bills.
All domestic electricity customers who have a direct relationship with a licensed electricity supplier will be automatically eligible for this Scheme. The Government continues to work closely with consumer groups and suppliers to deliver the Scheme in a convenient way to domestic energy customers, including those who receive their energy supply through a third party.
Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how individuals residing in residential barges can receive the £400 energy grant announced by the Government; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Greg Hands
The Government is aware that not all households have electricity provided through a domestic electricity supply contract, such as houseboat residents. This was raised in the government’s technical consultation (Energy Bills Support Scheme – Managing the impact of the energy price shock on consumer bills) which closed on 23 May. Households without a domestic electricity supply contract are not eligible for the Scheme and the Government is exploring options for other ways in which they might receive similar support. Responses to the consultation are being analysed and the Government response will be published later in the summer.
Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he has taken to ensure residents who receive their energy supply through a mooring management company can receive the £400 energy grant recently announced by the Government.
Answered by Greg Hands
The Government is aware that not all households have electricity provided through a domestic electricity supply contract, such as houseboat residents. This was raised in the government’s technical consultation (Energy Bills Support Scheme – Managing the impact of the energy price shock on consumer bills) which closed on 23 May. Households without a domestic electricity supply contract are not eligible for the Scheme and the Government is exploring options for other ways in which they might receive similar support. Responses to the consultation are being analysed and the Government response will be published later in the summer.
Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department has made an assessment of the compatibility of the Energy Charter Treaty with the UK's commitments under the Paris Climate Agreement; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Greg Hands
The Energy Charter Treaty already calls on Contracting Parties to minimise the environmental impacts of energy operations.
Contracting Parties to the Energy Charter Treaty are negotiating the modernisation of the Treaty to ensure it is aligned with common climate objectives. The Government supports the process to modernise the Treaty in a way that advances the global energy transition, such as the right for States to regulate to reach emissions reduction targets and ensuring a stronger focus on climate security.
Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment has she made of the adequacy of the energy charter treaty in relation to the UK's net zero policy; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Greg Hands
The Energy Charter Treaty already calls on Contracting Parties to minimise the environmental impacts of energy operations.
Contracting Parties to the Energy Charter Treaty are negotiating the modernisation of the Treaty to ensure it is aligned with common climate objectives. The Government supports the process to modernise the Treaty in a way that advances the global energy transition, such as the right for States to regulate to reach emissions reduction targets and ensuring a stronger focus on climate security.
Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department has plans to cap the cost charged to residents who wish to remove the gas supply from their residential property.
Answered by Greg Hands
The Government regularly engages with energy suppliers and Meter Asset Providers to understand the costs incurred by suppliers associated with meter provision, rental and removal.
Suppliers are responsible for removing a gas meter and capping the incoming gas supply when this is requested by the customer, and may choose to charge for providing this service. The costs suppliers incur from a Meter Asset Provider for removing a gas meter will differ according to their individual contractual arrangements. Customers are normally required to pay a separate charge to their gas distribution company to disconnect their gas supply from the network.
Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate his Department has made of the number of households which have removed their gas supply.
Answered by Greg Hands
The Department publishes data on the number of operational gas meters.
Growth in the electrification of heat is likely to see an increasing number of households opt to remove their gas supply. Evidence from the Electrification of Heat Demonstration Project suggests that removing their gas supply was a motivating factor for some people when adopting a heat pump.
Asked by: Ruth Cadbury (Labour - Brentford and Isleworth)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the cost to households of removing gas meters.
Answered by Greg Hands
The cost to households of removing a gas meter will vary depending on the type of property, the location of the meter and its service pipe and where they connect to the mains gas infrastructure situated underground on public land outside the property. On safety grounds, the service pipe will be cut as close as possible to the mains gas, meaning the Local Authority may charge to allow the excavation of any pavement and/or road.