Beginning in autumn 2021, energy bills began to increase significantly due to factors including increased global demand for gas post-pandemic, and the impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on energy markets. Average annual household bills for gas and electricity increased from £1,277 in winter 2021/22 to over £4,000 by the start of 2023.The Government acted to provide financial support to reduce the impact of these increases on consumers.
In its June 2023 report on the Government’s energy bills support scheme, the Committee found that support took too long to get to those most in need, with approximately 1.7m people left waiting months for help due to Government’s lack of bandwidth. It also raised serious concerns around a lack of urgency from Government in addressing energy market failures that were leading to high energy bills for consumers. As at February 2023, Government’s estimated total cost of its various schemes was £69bn, though such estimates are inherently uncertain.
The National Audit Office (NAO) followed up on its own report in 2024. The report looked at subjects including the extent to which the support schemes protected consumers and boosted the economy, their total cost, and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s (DESNZ) management of the schemes’ closure and risks around fraud and error. It also explored DESNZ’s approach to protecting consumers against future volatility in energy prices.
Based on the NAO report, the Committee will hear from senior DESNZ officials on subjects including lessons learned from the support provided, and what approach is being taken to protect consumers against future volatility in energy prices.
Please note the Committee is unable to help with individual cases.
Please look at the requirements for written evidence submissions and note that the Committee cannot accept material as evidence that is published elsewhere.
The deadline date for submitting evidence will be updated on this page once confirmed.