On the 21st July, the Chancellor launched the 2020 Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR). The Review, which will be published in the autumn, will be critical to help accelerate efforts to end cold homes during this parliament. Within this submission, NEA outlines its key priorities and vital opportunities to create warmer and healthier homes, help stimulate the economy, reduce poor air quality and reduce carbon emissions.

In 2012, NEA developed a scoping study with Ofgem to explore how well-placed network companies are to deliver social action cost-effectively and support the alleviation of fuel poverty. Throughout ED1 and GD1, NEA has worked with Ofgem and the network companies to embed many of the recommendations and cultivate several projects which support low income and vulnerable households.

NEA continues to support the agenda to eliminate the UK’s contribution to climate change by 2050 and appreciates that carbon pricing is a significant policy lever to meet this target. However, as the Government is considering the future of carbon pricing as the UK leaves the European we believe that there is an opportunity to ensure that future carbon pricing leads to fairer outcomes for domestic energy consumers and critically supports other cost effective and sustainable way to address these issues.

NEA response to Ofgem’s self-disconnection and self-rationing final proposals

In response to the NAO’s report7 in 2018 on smart meters we highlighted our concern that the smart meter roll-out was significantly back-loaded.

Respiratory and circulatory diseases are linked to living in a cold and damp home and amongst those living with fuel debt. NEA believes that given the outbreak, it’s now even more crucial to help keep people warm and well in their homes and create a living environment which gives people that are ill the best possible chance of recovery.

Improved insulation and heating standards are seen as the most rational and sustainable means of mitigating heating price increases and ensuring affordable warmth. While we must decarbonise our energy system, we must also ensure that the needs of those on lower incomes and experiencing fuel poverty should be protected. We commend both Councils for designing and developing this strategy and have also made some comments to the questions posed in the consultation.

NEA recognises that many low-income households experience affordability issues with their essential household bills, rarely struggling with one bill in isolation, and as a result is delivering a programme of work which seeks to support ‘People Living in Water Poverty and Fuel Poverty’.

In our January 2020 response to Ofwat’s forward work plan, we acknowledged that driving innovation across the water sector was vital to address the strategic challenges the industry faces. We believe the innovation competition allows an additional opportunity for companies to address these key challenges.