Recommendation 16

Take–up of the energy bills support schemes was lower among harder–to–reach households that did not receive a payment directly from their energy supplier; 41 and may have been affected disproportionately by energy price fluctuations.42 These households did not receive an automatic payment because, for example, they did not have a domestic electricity contract with a supplier, such as those living in park homes and on boats. They instead needed to apply for eligible support through schemes like the EBSS Alternative Funding (EBSS AF). Take–up of the EBSS AF in Great Britain was 18.2% of a provisional estimate of 798,700 potentially eligible households; and in Northern Ireland take–up of the same scheme was 19.1% of a provisional estimate of 28,000 potentially eligible households.43 34 Q 48 35 Q 46; C&AG’s Report, para 15 36 Qq 46, 48, 50 37 Q 46; C&AG’s Report, para 4.8 38 Q 48 39 C&AG’s Report, para 12 40 Q 28; C&AG’s Report, para 12 41 C&AG’s Report, paras 3.14, 3.14 42 EBS0006 43 C&AG’s Report, para 3.14, infographic on page 6 11