Neidio i’r llywio Neidio i’r cynnwys Neidio i’r troedyn

Rydym yn defnyddio cwcis i wella eich profiad o'n gwefan.
Gallwch ddarganfod mwy neu ddileu allan o rai cwcis - mae'r polisïau hyn ar gael yn Saesneg.

Menu

Government action urgently needed to protect consumers during the decarbonisation of heating, says Citizens Advice

12 Gorffennaf 2019

The lack of a credible plan to decarbonise the way homes and businesses are heated risks failing consumers and undermining public confidence, according to Citizens Advice.

The charity is calling on the government to close gaps in the regulation of decarbonisation innovations such as heat networks. 

Heat networks are a significant part of the government’s efforts to reduce carbon. They are distribution systems of insulated pipes that takes heat from a central source and delivers it to a number of buildings. 

While just 2% of households currently get their heating and hot water through a heat network, this will rise to an estimated 1 in 20 homes by 2030. By 2050, more than five million homes could be heated in this way. 

In a report published today, Citizens Advice sets out the need to regulate heat networks and create a consumer advocate for heat network users.  Some of the common problems it helps people with include:

  • Billing errors - consumers don’t receive regular bills, which can lead to high ‘back-bills’ or incorrect bills

  • Standing charges - consumers are confused about standing charges and can feel unable to reduce heating costs because of high, and increasing, standing charges.

  • Lack of information - many people don’t understand how their heat network operates, how their bills are calculated, or where to turn to complain

The charity is warning that, because heat networks are not regulated, many more people risk being exposed to the same issues unless reforms are put in place. 

Citizens Advice believes that problems experienced by heat network customers demonstrate the importance of managing the decarbonisation process properly. 

Despite the immensity of the challenge, there is no credible UK-wide strategy to achieve the government’s decarbonisation targets - including how consumers will be protected as new innovations are introduced, and where the costs will fall.

With most of the costs to decarbonise the energy system currently paid for through energy bills, Citizens Advice is warning that those on low incomes could end up paying a disproportionate share of that cost.

To address this, the charity is calling on the government to:

  • Establish an independent commission to determine the fairest way to pay for the energy transition, including the shift to low-carbon heat

  • Legislate to extend Ofgem’s powers to regulate heat networks and establish an independent consumer advocate for heat networks in the forthcoming Energy White Paper

  • Consult on a strategy to decarbonise heat, which includes plans to improve energy efficiency of existing and new housing stock.

Gillian Guy, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice, said:

“The way we heat our homes needs to undergo a major transformation. How we manage that process, and fairly distribute the costs, needs the urgent attention of government.

“An independent commission is the only way to make sure the pathway to net zero is assessed in a rigorous, transparent and timely way. 

“Consumers must be at the heart of the process, with the right protections built in for them now. The Energy White Paper is the perfect opportunity to fill the regulation gap for heat networks, and set the standard for future innovations. 

“We need to get these decisions right now to prevent the bad practice of today becoming the standard practice of tomorrow.”

Notes to editors

  1. Heat networks, sometimes referred to as district heating, take heat from a central source in the form of hot water or steam and direct it to homes and businesses through a series of insulated pipes. This process results in low emissions, so heat networks are considered a low-carbon source of heat.
  2. Last year, the Consumer and Markets Authority (CMA) found that a number of people on privately-owned heat networks were getting poorer deals in terms of price and service quality. It went on to warn there was a risk this problem could grow with the rise of heat networks.
  3. 1 in 20 homes on a heat network by 2030 - Sectoral scenarios for the 5th carbon budget, Committee on Climate Change (2015).
  4. Heat network metering and billing regulations: compliance and guidance (December 2014).
  5. Citizens Advice includes the national charity; the network of independent local Citizens Advice charities across England and Wales; the Citizens Advice consumer service; and the Witness Service.
  6. Citizens Advice is the statutory consumer advocate for energy and post. We provide supplier performance information to consumers and policy analysis to decision makers.
  7. The Citizens Advice Witness Service provides free, independent support for prosecution and defence witnesses in every criminal court in England and Wales.
  8. Citizens Advice offers Pension Wise services at 500 locations in England and Wales.
  9. Citizens Advice’s services are free, independent, confidential and impartial, and available to all regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, age or nationality.
  10. To get advice online or find your local Citizens Advice, visit citizensadvice.org.uk
  11. For consumer advice, call the Citizens Advice consumer service on 03454 04 05 06 or 03454 04 05 05 to talk in Welsh.
  12. We helped 2.6 million people face to face, by phone, email and webchat in 2017-18. For service statistics see our monthly publication Advice trends.
  13. Citizens Advice staff are supported by over 23,000 trained volunteers, working at over 2,500 locations in England and Wales.