9
Accepted
Completion of energy support scheme evaluations remains significantly delayed by several months.
Conclusion
Despite it being nearly three years since the energy crisis, the Department has yet to complete all of these evaluations. However, it told us it would be relying on the findings it does have to inform any possible future interventions.17 An interim evaluation of the domestic schemes is delayed from the initial target of August 2024 to Spring 2025, while final evaluations of both the domestic and non–domestic schemes are delayed from spring 2025 to Summer 2025, partly due to the General Election in July 2024.18
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the (implied) recommendation, committing to completing and publishing the evaluations of the domestic and non-domestic Energy Affordability schemes by Q3 2025, and to writing to the Committee within one month of publication to outline key learnings.
Government Response
Accepted
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
1.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: October 2025 1.2 The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has conducted lesson learnt activities during delivery for each individual scheme, and across the portfolio of schemes since 2023. Lessons have included changing the way that the department delivers support to the non-domestic energy market, in addition to how the department overcomes 9 barriers in providing support to ‘hard to reach’ consumers. The department has circulated overarching lessons learned reports internally and will share them with the Committee, along with the domestic and non-domestic evaluation reports upon their publication in Q3 2025. 1.3 Alongside these lessons learnt activities, the evaluations of the domestic and non-domestic Energy Affordability schemes will be fully complete and published by Q3 2025. Within one month of publication the department will write to the Committee setting out the learnings from these schemes which can be applied in responding to any future energy price crisis. 1.4 The Domestic Interim Process and Early Outcome Evaluations (for Great Britain and Northern Ireland) were completed and published in April 2025. These evaluations collected a wide range of evidence, including demonstrating successful deployment of schemes at pace to large numbers of households. It also highlights lessons relating to promoting awareness of the automatically delivered schemes; improving engagement of the application-based schemes (including households using alternative fuels and/or with complex relationships with intermediaries); the difficulties of targeting beyond those on means tested benefits. 1.5 The forthcoming non-domestic energy affordability evaluation will include lessons for delivery to this sector, as well as highlighting how the department has improved its understanding of complex energy markets.
Source
Committee
Public Accounts Committee
Inquiry
Energy Bills Support
Report
19th Report - Energy Bills Support
28 Mar 2025
HC 511
Addressee Bodies
HM Treasury
Timeline
Recommendation age
1.3 yr
Report published
28 Mar 2025