NEA’s Response to the Ofgem Consultation on their Forward Work Programme 2021/23 Gas Levy. NEA believes that Ofgem should provide clarity on the actions they will take in the next year of their consumer vulnerability strategy.

NEA’s Budget submission builds on recent positive policy developments and highlights where key actions remain and must be taken within the upcoming Budget.

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 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.

The alarming increase in Excess Winter Deaths last year was before the impact of Covid-19 struck. Covid-19 is likely to have left many households more exposed to the risks of living in a cold home than ever before

Cold, damp and unsafe homes continue to cause shocking levels of unnecessary hardship and premature mortality. Across the UK, NEA estimates that on average more than 10,000 people die each year due to living in a cold home[i]. In England Wales where the proposals within this consultation will apply, excess winter deaths have risen by nearly 20% last winter.