On Wednesday 4 June the ESNZ Committee opens the oral evidence
phase in a major new inquiry on the cost of energy for UK
consumers, business and industry. This first session will
consider the affordability of energy for poorer households,
including developing issues around the Winter Fuel Payment.
Well over a third of UK households have to spend more than 10% of
their income after housing costs on domestic energy – up from one
fifth of households in 2021, before the gas price shock sent the
cost of living spiralling upwards.
With evidence from leading charities working in the sector, the
Committee will look at ways to support financially vulnerable
consumers this coming winter and beyond, including through the
Winter Fuel Payment and Warm Home Grant. It will also consider if
there is a case for an energy social tariff and how to support
consumers that have fallen into energy debt.
The UK's energy regulator Ofgem has faced serious questions about
structure and competition in UK retail markets, after a series of
high-profile company failures as energy prices rocketed after the
Russian invasion of Ukraine affected millions of households, and
added further bailout costs onto their bills.
The Committee will question key stakeholders in the energy market
on the current state of the retail market in the UK and possible
reforms. Its recent report on warm homes retrofit called for a
reduction in the policy costs levied on electricity to bring its
cost to consumers down relative to gas, as a driver for
electrification and the clean energy transition.
How else could our energy bills be restructured - replacing the
Energy Price Cap, or the way standing charges are levied - to
drive transparency and affordability in the clean, secure energy
transition?
On Wednesday 4 June from
3pm:
- Caroline Abrahams, Charity
Director at Age UK
- Maria Booker, Head of Policy
at Fair By Design
- Matt Copeland, Head of Policy
and Public Affairs at National Energy Action
At approximately 4:00pm:
- Merlin Hyman, Chief Executive
at Regen
- Angus McCarey, Chief Executive
Officer at Uswitch,
- Dhara Vyas, Chief Executive
Officer at Energy UK
