NEA response to Ofgem’s call for evidence on levelising payment method cost differentials

NEA response to Ofgem’s call for input on the allowance for debt-related costs (price cap)

NEA’s Response to the the Ofgem Statutory Consultation on short term changes to the price cap in April 2022.. NEA believes that the best option for fuel poor households is to “do nothing” and strongly disagrees with the proposals to allow suppliers to charge an exit fee for standard variable tariffs. NEA would support requiring suppliers to make all new tariffs available to existing customers.

NEA’s Response to the Ofgem Consultation on adapting the price cap methodology in the long term. NEA believes that Ofgem should investigate the viability of a parallel price cap for vulnerable households that has a lower cost base than the broader cap. We support the option to enhance the current price cap, but believe a move to fixed term standard variable tariffs would be an unacceptable option.

NEA believes that any changes to the price cap should not reduce the protections that are in place for fuel poor and vulnerable households during a significant increase in prices. Further protections could be put in place to provide deeper price protection for some; identify those with financial vulnerability; raise awareness of available support and directly address energy debt.

Our Budget and CSR submissions recommend ways to support struggling households to keep warm this winter at a time when energy prices are increasing, incomes are reducing, and there are other financial pressures on households like rising inflation. It also recommends longer term actions to end fuel poverty through increased spending on energy efficiency and making the uplift to Universal Credit permanent.

NEA’s Response to the BEIS Consultation on Improving home energy performance through lenders. While NEA agrees with the need to move towards Green Mortgages, there are significant risks to fuel poor households that need to be fully understood. These can be mitigated by a generous exemption mechanism.

NEA’s Response to the BEIS Consultation on a Green Gas Levy. NEA disagrees with the introduction of a new levy on gas bills to pay for green gas projects, and believes that this should be paid for out of general taxation. If the proposals were to be taken ahead for a new levy, NEA believes that this should be constructed in distributionally fair way instead of the proposed flat rate for all users.