NEA’s response to the Ofgem VCMA Governance Drafting Consultation. NEA is supportive of the vulnerability and carbon monoxide allowance for gas networks. We believe for the allowance to create best value, it should have sufficient focus on supporting vulnerable customers, both in the make up of project portfolios and through addressing carbon monoxide. Additionally, we believe that all delivery partners must meet licence obligations to treat customers fairly.

NEA’s Response to the Ofgem FPNES Governance Drafting Consultation. NEA fully supports the Fuel Poverty Network Extension Scheme, and is pleased that it will continue until 2026. In order for the scheme to reach its full potential, Ofgem must require installers to adhere to licence obligations around treating customers fairly, and give adequate advice to households.

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.

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.

NEA has four main recommendations for BEIS in their work to replace the RHI with a new mechanism after it ends in 2022.

NEA agrees with the proposals to extend the scheme, as is, for a further year. This process must be expedited. We broadly agree with many of the proposed changes to Industry Initiatives, but warn that increases to fuel voucher provision will result in reductions in valuable provision of energy advice, income maximisation and energy efficiency measures, which NEA believes is an undesirable outcome.