Energy Prices Bill doesn't provide certainty when needed most

The Association for Decentralised Energy (ADE) is pleased to see heat network customers among those that will be given an extra £100 in energy bill support. The ADE will continue to monitor the market carefully over the coming months to assess its impact in ensuring equivalence for domestic households.The trade association also welcomes the Bill’s introduction of new powers to ensure that heat networks benefiting from the Energy Bill Relief Scheme pass cost savings onto their customers, with the appointment of an Alternative Dispute Resolution body to handle complaints raised by consumers if this does not happen. It highlights that it is critical that consumers are made fully aware of their rights in this area and know how to take the complaint process forwards if necessary.Kieran Sinclair, Heat Policy Manager at the ADE, said:Despite some additional assistance for heat network customers, unfortunately there have been no further provisions for long-term support, leaving them with an uncertain future after the six-month window of protection has passed – this is highly disappointing.The ADE anticipates the ‘Cost-Plus-Revenue Limit’ to be wider than previously announced and awaits this to be outlined in further detail.Caroline Bragg, Director of Policy and Research at the ADE, said:The Bill also includes powers to stop volatile gas prices pushing up the cost of renewable energy, but how this will be carried out remains unclear - the tax on generation revenues is extremely broad as currently drafted, offering very little clarity to energy generators as to the tax implications of government intervention moving forwards. Our industry has not been adequately engaged with, and more uncertainty is exactly what is not needed at this critical time.