Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether legislation is required to implement the Government's proposed cap on household energy prices.

My Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State has written to the Chief Executive of Ofgem asking him to advise on what action the regulator intends to take to safeguard consumers on the poorest value tariffs and to consider the future of standard variable tariffs. The Secretary of State will assess whether further action is necessary once he receives Ofgem’s proposals.

Ofgem already have extensive powers which would allow them to establish a price cap on household energy prices, but new legislation would be required in order to oblige Ofgem to put such a cap in place. The Secretary of State remains prepared to legislate if necessary.