NEA’s response to Ofwat’s consultation on the role of customer engagement in the next price review, PR24.

NEA supports the smart meter rollout, and broadly the mechanism for attributing targets to suppliers for the next phase. However NEA believes this could be improved through the addition of targets specifically to upgrade legacy prepayment meters, as well as introducing broader incentives to accelerate the upgrade of legacy prepayment meters.

The alarming increase in Excess Winter Deaths last year was before the impact of Covid-19 struck. Covid-19 is likely to have left many households more exposed to the risks of living in a cold home than ever before

Cold, damp and unsafe homes continue to cause shocking levels of unnecessary hardship and premature mortality. Across the UK, NEA estimates that on average more than 10,000 people die each year due to living in a cold home[i]. In England Wales where the proposals within this consultation will apply, excess winter deaths have risen by nearly 20% last winter.

NEA’s Response to the CCW Call for Evidence for the Water Affordability Review. NEA considers all aspects of the current affordability support in water, highlighting areas of best practice, possible improvements and learnings from other sectors to help develop a suite of support measures which are sustainable, fair, and accessible for all.

Despite positive attempts to end fuel poverty in Wales, the statutory targets that were in place to eradicate the scourge of cold homes were missed and fuel poverty continues to be a devastating problem. Here, we respond to the Welsh Government’s new plans to tackle fuel poverty in Wales between now and 2035.

Overall, NEA is pleased that Ofgem is seeking to extend protections for domestic customers who may have prepayment meters installed under warrant (Electricity and Gas Supply Standard Licence Condition 28B). We fully support this approach and it will be necessary until at least mid-2025 when the smart meter rollout should finally largely complete.

Responding to the devastating threat of climate change, Parliament has now declared a climate emergency and the UK Government has legislated to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. This target can only be achieved with a major reduction in energy demand.

This guide is designed to be a practical and easy-to-use document that will help you identify the best solutions for householders in fuel poverty who are worried about keeping their homes warm and safe and paying their energy bills.