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Written question asked by Baroness Brown of Silvertown (Labour) on Monday, 25 April 2022, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 27 April 2022. It was answered by Greg Hands (Conservative) on Thursday, 28 April 2022 on behalf of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Heating: Regulation

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he plans to introduce a regulatory body for heat network providers with a role equivalent to that of Ofgem; and what steps he is taking to protect households reliant on heat networks from price increases in excess of the energy price cap.

Answer

Legislation will provide Ofgem regulatory powers to investigate and intervene on networks where prices for consumers appear to be disproportionate, if prices are significantly higher than those consumers would expect to pay if they were served by an alternative heating system.

All energy users are having to deal with rising energy costs, which have been caused by global factors. To help consumers, including those on heat networks, government have introduced support worth more than £9bn for vulnerable households, through initiatives such as the Energy Bill Rebate and the Household Support Fund adding to the help provided throughout winter 2021.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
158909
Session
2021-22
Subjects
Energy Households Heating Price caps Regulation
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk