10
Acknowledged
Current limited support schemes insufficient to shield households from future energy crises.
Conclusion
The Department said it was frustrated that the results of the evaluations would not be available to it sooner.19 Even so, it told us it was confident that it was “ready to deal with whatever happens in international energy markets”, but stressed that “there is no evidence that there will be a further price spike”. It pointed to schemes like the Winter Support Commitment, which offers some households an extra £25 to support them with their energy bills, as a way of keeping bills affordable. However, these schemes would not be sufficient to shield households from the full impact of price rises should there be another energy crisis.20 Targeting support
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the committee's observation, stating it has conducted lessons learned activities and will share evaluation reports, including domestic and non-domestic energy affordability scheme evaluations, by Q3 2025. It will also write to the Committee with learnings that can be applied to any future energy price crisis.
Government Response
Acknowledged
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
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