Energy Bill Support Heat Network Customers 2023-02-28
2023-02-28
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The energy bill relief scheme intended to limit commercial gas prices to 7.5p per kilowatt-hour but has not succeeded in doing so, with many customers receiving inadequate financial support.
What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of energy bill support for heat network customers? The Minister will know that the energy bill relief scheme has failed to limit commercial gas prices as intended and that most heat network customers are receiving woefully inadequate financial support, with some not receiving any support at all. Can I urge the Government to look again at how we might properly protect half a million customers served by communal and district heating systems?
Heat network consumers have been supported throughout the winter through the energy bill relief scheme, with discounts on their heating and hot water bills, and the energy bill support scheme. From April, under the successor to the energy bill relief scheme, the Government are committed to providing support in line with other domestic consumers. The Government are working on the successor to that scheme.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific inadequacy of current financial support and the need for immediate re-evaluation was not addressed with a direct commitment or timeline.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The energy bill relief scheme intended to limit commercial gas prices to 7.5p per kilowatt-hour but has not succeeded in doing so, with many customers receiving inadequate financial support.
The Minister will know that the energy bill relief scheme has not succeeded in limiting commercial gas prices to 7.5p per kilowatt-hour as intended, and that the energy bill support scheme alternative fund only went live last week. The result is that faced with staggeringly high energy bills, most heat network customers are receiving woefully inadequate financial support, and some have yet to receive any support at all. Can I urge the Government in the strongest possible terms to look again at how we might properly protect the half a million customers served by communal and district heating systems?
From April, under the successor to the energy bill relief scheme, the Government are committed to providing support in line with other domestic consumers. The Government are working on the successor to that scheme.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific inadequacy of current financial support and the need for immediate re-evaluation was not addressed with a direct commitment or timeline.
Response accuracy