Asked by: Thérèse Coffey (Conservative - Suffolk Coastal)
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 with OFGEM to reduce daily standing charges for gas and electricity in Suffolk.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
In November, Ofgem announced a review into standing charges, exploring how it is applied to energy bills and potential alternatives. The review had now closed and Ofgem is currently analysing the input it has received. Ofgem will publish its response in due course.
The variance in standing charge is mainly due to regional differences in energy distribution costs. These costs reflect the expenses of maintaining a live supply in a specific area, and the number of consumers those costs are spread across.
On 30 March, I wrote to Ofgem, highlighting the importance of keeping standing charges as low as possible.
Asked by: Stephanie Peacock (Labour - Barnsley East)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what proportion of her Department’s (a) advertising and (b) marketing expenditure was on (i) local newspapers in print and online, (ii) national newspapers in print and online, (iii) social media, (iv) search engines, (v) broadcast and on-demand television and (vi) other channels in the most recent year for which data is available.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson
The Department does not yet have final figures for its 2023/24 advertising and marketing expenditure, the first full year since the Department was created. This information will be published in the Department’s annual accounts on GOV.UK.
Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent discussions she has had with the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme Trustees on the surplus sharing arrangements of that scheme.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson
Ministers and Trustees last discussed the surplus sharing arrangements in 2021. The Government has been consistent that it would consider any proposals that the Trustees bring forward.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of levels of energy (a) poverty and (b) security in (i) Newport West constituency and (ii) Wales.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Fuel poverty is devolved.
The UK has a secure and diverse energy system – including through access to our own North Sea gas reserves, the second largest Liquefied Natural Gas port infrastructure in Europe, investment in renewable energy sources and steady pipeline gas imports from reliable partners like Norway.
The annual Statutory Security of Supply Report 2023 (December 2023) concluded that Great Britain is anticipated to maintain adequate supplies of electricity and gas to meet consumers’ demands over the short- and long-term.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the use of electricity interconnectors on energy (a) security and (b) supply.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson
Government consider that interconnectors will play a key role in enabling greater security of supply by providing access to a more diverse electricity generation mix, responding to shocks in the GB system by importing electricity.
The Capacity Market (CM) is our main tool for ensuring security of electricity supply. CM auction targets are set based on advice from the Electricity System Operator’s Electricity Capacity Report which considers the contribution interconnectors make to security of supply.
With the exception of 2022, GB has historically been a net importer of electricity, though ESO forecasts suggest that GB will likely become a net exporter in future.
Asked by: Patrick Grady (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of the potential (a) environmental and (b) commercial impact of proposals for a high voltage direct current transmission line from Morocco to the UK.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson
The Government is interested in the Xlinks UK-Morocco Power Project which is a proposed large scale onshore wind, solar and battery storage site in Morocco that would exclusively supply power to the GB grid via high voltage direct current subsea cables.
The Government is currently evaluating – without commitment – how this complex project could contribute to the UK’s energy security. Our evaluation is considering a range of issues, including environmental and commercial impacts, to ensure we are comprehensively assessing the viability and merits of the proposal.
Asked by: Thérèse Coffey (Conservative - Suffolk Coastal)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many households have participated in the Boiler Upgrade Scheme in Suffolk Coastal constituency since January 2022.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme opened to applications in May 2022. Up to the end of February 2024, there were 106 grants paid for installations in properties in the constituency of Suffolk Coastal.
Asked by: Giles Watling (Conservative - Clacton)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to page 75 of her Department’s consultation entitled Review of Electricity Market Arrangements: second consultation, published on 12 March 2024, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact on the power system if there was no role for unabated gas in 2035.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson
We will need unabated gas in 2035 to play a small but important role when the wind does not blow or the sun does not shine. Our published Net Zero scenarios envisage a small but important role for unabated gas in 2035. Without a role for unabated gas, we would likely run an increased risk of blackouts.
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many households have taken part in the Boiler Upgrade Scheme in South Holland and the Deepings constituency since January 2022.
Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme opened to applications in May 2022. Up to the end of February 2024, there were 65 grants paid for installations in properties in the constituency of South Holland and the Deepings.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what proportion of electricity is forecast to be imported via interconnector by (a) 2030 and (b) 2040.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson
As set out in our net zero and power sector scenarios,[1] the UK could become a net electricity exporter in future. In 2030, net exports are 2.4% of gross generation supplied in the higher electricity demand scenario. The UK remains a net importer in the lower electricity demand scenario with net imports providing an additional 2.3% to gross generation supplied. In 2040, net exports are 8.2% of gross generation supplied in the higher electricity demand scenario and 6.6% in the lower demand scenario.
[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/energy-and-emissions-projections-2021-to-2040