Recommendation 8

The delays to introducing support schemes for customers who use alternative fuels had a greater impact on consumers in Northern Ireland because of the higher percentage of consumers that use these fuels. More than two-thirds (68%) of households in Northern Ireland heat their homes using alternative fuel, like heating oil.16 The Former Permanent Secretary explained that, in recognition that the majority of households in Northern Ireland used alternative fuels, all households in Northern Ireland would receive a payment as part of the Alternative Fuel Payment Scheme. The Federation of Small Businesses similarly told us amongst its membership in Northern Ireland, 14% use alternative fuels, twice the UK average. We therefore asked when all eligible non-domestic customers would receive their payment. HM Treasury told us it was conscious of the importance of the Alternative Fuel 12 C&AG’s Report, paras 2.4 and 2.7 13 Qq 147–148; C&AG’s Report, para 2.12, Figure 7 14 Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and Department for Business Energy & Industrial Strategy, Non- domestic Alternative Fuel Payment Scheme, Great Britain: guidance for electricity suppliers, 6 February 2023 15 C&AG’s report, para 3.7; Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and Department for Business Energy & Industrial Strategy, Apply for energy bill support for non-domestic properties, 20 March 2023 16 C&AG’s Report, para 2.13 12 Energy bills support Payment Scheme in Northern Ireland given the higher proportion of businesses that were off grid, and that payments were being processed but it could not provide a forecast for when it would be fully paid out.17