Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will reform energy market regulations to enable community-run energy schemes to sell power directly to local households and businesses.

The Local Power Plan published jointly by my Department and Great British Energy recognises the barriers community energy groups face in supplying their local energy markets and we are exploring measures to overcome these.  The department is also closely monitoring Ofgem’s forthcoming decision on BSC code modification P441, which is intended to standardise how licence-exempt suppliers, such as eligible community energy groups and their partners, can register their schemes and sell energy to local households and businesses.   Last month, GBE launched a £30 million of funding to support community groups and local authorities develop projects, including up to £2.9 million for advice services.