Source · Select Committees · Work and Pensions Committee
Recommendation 16
16
Deferred
Consult urgently on new social tariff for wider, more generous energy bill support.
Conclusion
As a matter of urgency, DWP and DESNZ should consult on a new long-term targeted energy bill support scheme (a ‘social tariff’) able to provide more generous support than the existing Warm Homes Discount scheme and also to reach a wider group of pensioners in fuel poverty but not in receipt of means-tested benefits. (Recommendation, Paragraph 95)
Government Response Summary
The government responds by announcing the expansion of the Warm Home Discount and acknowledges the issue of supporting those not on means-tested benefits. It states a new Fuel Poverty Strategy, due later this year, will set out details of its approach to data and targeting future bill support, without committing to a consultation on a new social tariff.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
The Government recently announced the expansion of the Warm Home Discount this winter to bring around 2.7 million additional households on qualifying means-tested benefits into the scheme. We anticipate that the total number of households that will receive the discount in the upcoming winter will increase to around 6 million. We know more needs to be done to support households struggling with their bills and that data availability is a key barrier. The Committee rightly points to the issue that those who are not on means-tested benefits are missing out on support. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero continues to work with other key departments – including the Department for Work and Pensions, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, Cabinet Office, HM Revenue and Customs and the Department for Health and Social Care on the matter of data matching. We plan to set out more details of our approach to data and the targeting of future bill support and energy efficiency support schemes in the new Fuel Poverty Strategy which is due to be published later this year. The energy regulator, Ofgem, have also recently published their Call for Input on their Cost Allocation Review which is looking at different approaches to paying for energy.