National Energy Action (NEA) Cymru welcomes the Committee’s follow-up inquiry into fuel poverty and the Warm Homes Programme.

LucidTalk – NEA NI: September 2024 – Northern Ireland (NI) Attitudinal Poll

NEA welcomes the intentions of this call for evidence and the proposal to introduce automated DWP data-matching for evidencing eligibility. However, it is crucial that the impacts of either the proposal to introduce new data-matching evidencing routes or to remove existing evidencing routes on vulnerable households and those with protected characteristics are understood at a granular level.

National Energy Action hopes that the update to this strategy will result in alleviation of pressure on the most vulnerable consumers. To do this, the strategy will need to influence how suppliers, networks and Ofgem approach the identification and treatment of vulnerable consumers over the coming years.

National Energy Action’s Impact Report 2023-24 highlights the work we’ve done and the challenges we’ve faced over the last year as the national fuel poverty and energy efficiency charity.

This newsletter is sponsored by the Public Health Agency through our Northern Exposure project. It will provide you with current programmes of work aimed at providing advice or support to householders as well as up to date fuel poverty policy information.

The upcoming General Election provides a vital opportunity for policymakers to address the fuel poverty crisis and ensure vulnerable people are warm, safe and healthy at home. NEA NI is calling on all Northern Ireland candidates and parties to commit to 3 key actions at Westminster to tackle fuel poverty in Northern Ireland.

National Energy Action (NEA) has been involved in policy work to maintain and reform the Default Tariff price cap for several years. This has included working with Ofgem to initially create the Safeguard Tariff cap for prepayment and other vulnerable customers. Subsequently, NEA helped to design the Default Tariff price cap to ensure it offers as much protection for low-income and vulnerable customers as possible.

Research conducted by Public First explored public attitudes on the impact of the price cap. More than half of surveyed households believe that the price cap is the only thing stopping energy suppliers from charging more, that it protects vulnerable and low-income households and that the price cap means that consumers are not charged unfair prices.