NEA NI’s Response to the Draft Budget 2025-26 Consultation Questionnaire

NEA NI calls for the final Climate Action Plan to integrate efforts to reduce carbon emissions with measures to end fuel poverty.

We’ve compiled fact sheets for each of Northern Ireland’s 11 Local Government Districts.

NEA NI believes this draft Anti-Poverty Strategy is not fit for purpose, as it fails to outline the necessary steps to meaningfully address poverty in Northern Ireland.

Fuel poverty ought to be specifically mentioned in Section 7.6viii as an adverse impact of the Department’s constrained Capital allocation for Housing and Affordable Warmth.

We wish to stress again, that fuel poor households cannot end up being disproportionate sponsors of hitting the renewable electricity target. It is imperative that there is a fair distribution of the cost of decarbonisation with those on the lowest...

It is our view that increased socialisation of network reinforcement costs could risk vulnerable and low-income households being disadvantaged and placed at a greater risk of fuel poverty.

NEA NI welcomes the opportunity to respond to the Consumer Council’s Draft 2024-2025 Forward Work Progamme. We work closely with the CCNI across many aspects of this work, but especially in relation to energy issues including consumer protection, empowering consumers,...

The Fuel Poverty Coalition (FPC) Northern Ireland is united by our ambition to highlight the need for urgent action to eradicate fuel poverty in Northern Ireland. There is clear need for a strategic, cross-departmental, and cross-sectoral approach to tackle NI’s...

NEA NI remains deeply concerned about the recent policy changes to the Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment Scheme (WFP), as the revised eligibility criteria is too restrictive.

We warmly welcome the draft Corporate Plan’s commitment to partnership and evidence-based practice. NEA NI is pleased to work in partnership with the PHA through its Northern Exposure Programme, to deliver initiates like the Belfast Warm and Well Project.

The proposed projects clearly appear to contribute to protecting and empowering consumers in Northern Ireland.

NEA NI has long advocated for an updated Fuel Poverty Strategy, as there is a clear need for a strategic, cross-departmental, and cross-sectoral approach to tackle Northern Ireland’s fuel poverty crisis.

NEA NI welcomes the opportunity to respond to this consultation on the establishment of a Just Transition Commission.

We support the Department’s focus on reducing carbon emissions and improving the energy performance of homes.

NEA has a long-standing interest in smart meters and their roll-out in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, particularly with regard to their impact for vulnerable and fuel poor consumers.

NEA NI commends that the NI Executive has published a draft Programme for Government and we welcome the opportunity to respond to this public consultation.

We welcome the opportunity to provide comment on this draft Equality Impact Assessment of the initial decisions taken by the Minister for Communities in relation to the 2024-25 Budget.

We welcome the opportunity to respond to this Equality Impact Assessment. Our comments are informed by our research, expertise and extensive experience supporting fuel-poor households and vulnerable energy consumers in Northern Ireland.

We welcome the opportunity to respond to this Call for Evidence on developing biomethane production in Northern Ireland.

We welcome the opportunity to respond to this consultation. Our comments are informed by our research, expertise and extensive experience supporting fuel-poor households and vulnerable energy consumers in Northern Ireland.

We are pleased that the Utility Regulator (UR) is continuing to look at ways the standards of customer service in the energy supply sector can be improved.