Asked by: Sally-Ann Hart (Conservative - Hastings and Rye)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether hybrid heat pumps count towards the target of 600,000 heat pump installations per year by 2028.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Government response to the Improving Boiler Standards and Efficiency consultation confirmed that we remain of the view that hybrid heat pumps can play an important role in heat decarbonisation up to 2028 as part of the target to reach 600,000 heat pump installations a year by 2028.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds North West)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of (a) including additional reconciliation windows until 2027 and (b) other alternative proposals to the proposed Energy Bill Relief Scheme final reconciliation date of May 2024.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Department understands the concerns raised by both industry trade bodies and individual energy suppliers, on the potential impact of the proposed reconciliation date for the Energy Bill Relief Scheme. To that end, the Department has been working closely with the concerned parties to develop a reconciliation proposal for the £7.5 billion scheme, that strikes the right balance of addressing suppliers concerns and protecting public funds, including potentially adding additional reconciliation windows.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds North West)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will make an assessment of the potential (a) merits of introducing a standing charge relief for electric vehicle charge point operators and (b) impact of such a relief on the deployment of electric vehicle charge points in rural areas.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The setting of standing charges associated with tariffs is a commercial matter for suppliers, and suppliers have the flexibility in how they structure their tariffs. Ofgem regulates standing charges, as they do with other elements of billing.
The Government is pleased that Ofgem is considering the issue of standing charges through their recent Call for Input and looks forward to hearing its findings and future proposals. The Government expects bills to be fair and affordable for all consumers (including for electric vehicle charging), that standing charges are kept as low as possible, and that the right costs are recovered.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds North West)
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 help increase the deployment of electric vehicle charge points in rural areas.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government wants people across the country to have the opportunity to make the move to electric vehicles wherever they live and work.
Our £381 million Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund aims to address regional charging inequality and transform the availability of EV charging for drivers. The data-led allocation model to award funding considers the level of rurality with local authorities in rural areas allocated additional funding compared to urban ones.
In addition, the Workplace Charging Scheme supports businesses including charities, small accommodation businesses, public sector organisations, and state-funded education institutions with grants for chargepoints.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds North West)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the Ofgem Targeted Charging Review on the rollout of electric vehicle charge points.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Targeted Charging Review is a matter for Ofgem. The 2019 Targeted Charging Review reviewed network charging arrangements, including the allocation of standing charges.
Ofgem is considering the issue of standing charges through their recent Call for Input and we look forward to hearing its findings and future proposals. We expect bills to be fair and affordable for all consumers (including for electric vehicle charging), that standing charges are kept as low as possible, and that the right costs are recovered.
Asked by: Alan Brown (Scottish National Party - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment her Department has made of trends in the levels of standing charges for electric vehicle chargers.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The setting of standing charges is a commercial matter for suppliers, and suppliers have the flexibility in how they structure their tariffs. Ofgem regulates standing charges, as they do with other elements of billing.
The Government is pleased that Ofgem is considering the issue of standing charges through their recent Call for Input and looks forward to hearing its findings and future proposals. The Government expects bills to be fair and affordable for all consumers (including for electric vehicle charging), that standing charges are kept as low as possible, and that the right costs are recovered.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of expanding eligibility for the Warm Home Discount in the next scheme year.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
From winter 2022 the Government extended the Warm Home Discount to support more households in fuel poverty, who have low incomes and live in homes that are costly to heat. For winter 2023/24 we lowered the threshold for a property to be considered costly to heat and we expect over 3 million households to have received the rebate. The official WHD statistics for 2023/24 will be published on 20th June.
As the scheme is funded by participating energy suppliers, we have struck a balance between supporting as many households as possible, providing meaningful support, and limiting the impact on wider consumer bills.
Energy prices have significantly fallen in the past year. We are continuing to monitor the situation and will keep options under review, including with respect to the most vulnerable households.
In addition, the Government produced impact assessments for the consultation in 2021 on expanding and reforming the Warm Home Discount scheme in England and Wales and for the publication of the Government Response in 2022, which are available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/warm-home-discount-better-targeted-support-from-2022
Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)
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 20 May 2024 to Question 26615 on Energy: Debts, what is the (a) sum, (b) quantum and (c) value of the element of the Default Tariff Cap allocated by Ofgem for consumer debt held by suppliers.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Ofgem includes an ‘adjustment allowance’ in the price cap calculation to account for elements such as consumer debt. In the April-June 2024 price cap, the amount is £28 per typical domestic customer bill per year.
Ofgem publishes price cap calculations on its website: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/energy-policy-and-regulation/policy-and-regulatory-programmes/energy-price-cap-default-tariff-policy/energy-price-cap-default-tariff-levels
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds North West)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the proposed Energy Bill Relief Scheme final reconciliation date of May 2024 on the non-domestic energy sector in the (a) medium- and (b) long-term.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Department has met with energy suppliers and their trade bodies to develop the Energy Bill Relief Scheme (EBRS) reconciliation arrangements. To that end, the Department has been working closely with suppliers to develop an evidence base, needed to enact any effective change to the policy that met the concerns of industry whilst also ensuring the return of any public money owed.
Notably, the Department issued a Request for Information (RFI), in March, in order to gather the necessary evidence and data that would inform any effective policy change. Whilst the returns were not as detailed as expected, this did allow the Department to develop an amended approach that struck a balance between industry concerns and the need to return taxpayer funds if owed.
Details of the proposed amended approach have been shared with both industry bodies, the I&C Shippers and Suppliers (ICoSS) and Energy UK, in early May. This was presented to all suppliers and trade bodies at a roundtable chaired by the Department on 22 May.
Asked by: Sally-Ann Hart (Conservative - Hastings and Rye)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether her Department has made an assessment of the effectiveness of hybrid heat pumps in reducing household emissions.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The emission reduction potential of hybrid heat pumps is dependent on several factors, including the proportion of heating delivered by the heat pump.
The Electrification of Heat Demonstration Project, delivered by Energy Systems Catapult, showed that, for hybrid heat pumps installed under the project, the median proportion of space heating delivered by the heat pump was around 40%.
The Government will continue to gather further evidence and monitor technological and market developments.