Select Committee · Energy Security and Net Zero Committee

The cost of energy

Status: Open Opened: 18 Feb 2025 9 recommendations 26 conclusions 1 report

In October last year the Committee published its i nterim report on the high costs of energy in the UK making recommendations on how costs fall on consumers in the retail side of the sector. In the second part of this inquiry, the Committee is looking at where costs arise in the system that result … Show more

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
5th Report - Tackling the energy cost crisis HC 736 29 Oct 2025 35 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

2 items
10 Conclusion 5th Report - Tackling the energy cost c… Rejected

Cold Weather Payment criteria are too high and payments inadequate for vulnerable households.

The criteria for triggering the Cold Weather Payment is set too high and does not reflect the impact that extreme cold can have on vulnerable households. Inadequate and unpredictable payments, sometimes made weeks after a period of cold weather, do not give vulnerable households confidence to use their heating. This … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government states it keeps policies under review but defends the current Cold Weather Payment criteria, explaining that the seven consecutive day period for below-freezing temperatures is considered a clear and reasonable measure of sustained cold.
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Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
34 Recommendation 5th Report - Tackling the energy cost c… Rejected

Introduce caps on business energy out-of-contract rates, deposits, and a 14-day cooling-off period.

We recommend that Ofgem introduce a cap on out-of-contract rates and deposits that can be charged by suppliers to agree or renew business energy contracts. It should also introduce a mandatory 14-day cooling off period following a business energy bill first being issued by a supplier, where a business can … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government supports Ofgem exploring options for caps on out-of-contract rates and deposits. However, it effectively rejects the mandatory 14-day cooling-off period, citing its complexity and potential for increased costs, suggesting dispute resolution as the appropriate alternative.
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Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

Oral evidence sessions

8 sessions
Date Witnesses
17 Mar 2026 Jonathan Mills CB · Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Michael Shanks MP · Department for Energy Security and Net Zero View ↗
4 Mar 2026 Akshay Kaul · Ofgem, Claire Dykta · National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO), Fintan Slye · National Energy System Operator (NESO), Jonathan Brearley · Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Jonathan Brearley · Ofgem View ↗
21 Jan 2026 Dr Alastair Martin · Flexitricity, Dr Waqquas Bukhsh · University of Strathclyde, Katrina Young · Energy Systems Catapult, Lawrence Slade · Energy Networks Association (ENA), Professor Jacopo Torriti · University of Reading, Sarah Honan · The Association for Decentralised Energy View ↗
10 Dec 2025 Adam Bell · Stonehaven, Ana Musat · RenewableUK, Professor Michael Grubb · UCL, Susie Elks · E3G, Tom Edwards · Cornwall Insight, Tom Glover · RWE View ↗
15 Oct 2025 Andrew Ward · Scottish Power Customer Business, Chris Norbury · E.ON UK, Chris O'Shea · Centrica, David Buttress · OVO Energy, Rachel Fletcher · Octopus Energy, Simone Rossi · EDF View ↗
9 Jul 2025 Arjan Geveke · Energy Intensive Users Group, Beth Barker · Aldersgate Group, David Mitchell · Chemical Industries Association, David Wigham · Admiral Taverns; and representing British Beer and Pub Association, Paul Wilson · Federation of Small Business, Verity Davidge · Make UK View ↗
25 Jun 2025 Alex Belsham-Harris · Citizens Advice, Beth Martin · Ofgem, Dr Raj Roy · Centrica, Ed Dodman · Ombudsman Services, Jonathan Brearley · Ofgem, Jonathan Lenton · Energy Ombudsman, Katie Watts · MoneySavingExpert View ↗
4 Jun 2025 Angus McCarey · Uswitch, Caroline Abrahams · Age UK, Dhara Vyas · Energy UK, Maria Booker · Fair By Design, Matt Copeland · National Energy Action, Merlin Hyman · Regen View ↗

Who gave evidence

43 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Jonathan Brearley · Chief Executive Ofgem 2
Adam Bell · Head of Policy Stonehaven 1
Akshay Kaul · Director of Infrastructure and Security of Supply Ofgem 1
Alex Belsham-Harris · Head of Energy Consumer Markets Citizens Advice 1
Ana Musat · Executive Director – Policy & Engagement RenewableUK 1
Andrew Ward · CEO Scottish Power Customer Business 1
Angus McCarey · Chief Executive Officer Uswitch 1
Arjan Geveke · Director Energy Intensive Users Group 1
Beth Barker · Senior Policy Officer (Industrial Decarbonisation) Aldersgate Group 1
Beth Martin · Director of Consumer Protection and Competition Ofgem 1
Caroline Abrahams · Charity Director Age UK 1
Chris Norbury · Chief Executive Officer E.ON UK 1
Chris O'Shea · Chief Executive Officer Centrica 1
Claire Dykta · Head of Markets National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO) 1
David Buttress · CEO OVO Energy 1
David Mitchell · Senior Energy and Climate Change Executive Chemical Industries Association 1
David Wigham · Commercial Director Admiral Taverns; and representing British Beer and Pub Association 1
Dhara Vyas · Chief Executive Energy UK 1
Dr Alastair Martin · Chief Strategy Officer Flexitricity 1
Dr Raj Roy · Group General Counsel & Company Secretary Centrica 1
Dr Waqquas Bukhsh · Senior Lecturer, Department of Electronic and Ele… University of Strathclyde 1
Ed Dodman · Director of Regulatory Affairs Ombudsman Services 1
Fintan Slye · Chief Executive Officer National Energy System Operator (NESO) 1
Jonathan Brearley · Permanent Secretary Department for Energy Security and Net Zero 1
Jonathan Lenton · Regulatory Director Energy Ombudsman 1
Jonathan Mills CB · Director General for Energy Markets and Supply Department for Energy Security and Net Zero 1
Katie Watts · Head of Campaigns and Policy MoneySavingExpert 1
Katrina Young · Practice Manager for Heat Policy and Local Energy Energy Systems Catapult 1
Lawrence Slade · Chief Executive Energy Networks Association (ENA) 1
Maria Booker · Head of Policy Fair By Design 1
Matt Copeland · Head of Policy and Public Affairs National Energy Action 1
Merlin Hyman · Chief Executive Regen 1
Michael Shanks MP · Minister for Energy Department for Energy Security and Net Zero 1
Paul Wilson · Policy Director Federation of Small Business 1
Professor Jacopo Torriti · Professor of Energy Economics and Policy University of Reading 1
Professor Michael Grubb · Professor of Energy and Climate Change and Direct… UCL 1
Rachel Fletcher · Director of Regulation and Economics Octopus Energy 1
Sarah Honan · Policy Manager The Association for Decentralised Energy 1
Simone Rossi · CEO EDF 1
Susie Elks · Senior Policy Advisor E3G 1
Showing 40 of 43.