MSE News: £200 Alternative Fuel Payment to be paid 'in the New Year'

Suffolk_lass

I had spotted Ministerial Directions had been put into force from 4th January 2023 that permits the MPAN data to be shared with electricity suppliers, may only be used for the purpose of identifying and paying AFP to their customers, and the data from BEIS (or their directed source) may only be used for this and must be deleted by the end of March.

Reed_Richards

Spoonie_Turtle said:

(So heat pump havers are eliminated, now we know for certain.)

That's not how I read the document.  You will get the payment automatically if you live in a local area identified as not having gas but not identified as predominantly using electric heating.  So if most of your neighbours heat with oil, LPG or wood then the whole neighbourhood should get the automatic payment even if you yourself have a heat pump, storage heaters or other electrical heating.  If your local area has gas or is identified as predominantly using electric heating but you don't use either then you will have to apply to get the Alternative Fuel Payment.

Spoonie_Turtle

Reed_Richards said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

(So heat pump havers are eliminated, now we know for certain.)

That's not how I read the document.  You will get the payment automatically if you live in a local area identified as not having gas but not identified as predominantly using electric heating.  So if most of your neighbours heat with oil, LPG or wood then the whole neighbourhood should get the automatic payment even if you yourself have a heat pump, storage heaters or other electrical heating.  If your local area has gas or is identified as predominantly using electric heating but you don't use either then you will have to apply to get the Alternative Fuel Payment.

Yes, rereading in the light of day after some sleep I realised it's on a neighboyrhood level rather than household level.  I shall edit my post to take that comment out. 

Jinglish

Looks like they missed a trick as they could have used the GHG and RHI databases to eliminate most that live in an oil area but switched to an ASHP.

Reed_Richards

I think the whole idea of an Alternative Fuel Payment is a bit wacky.  At current prices oil is probably the cheapest way to heat your house at present; why should oil users receive an extra subsidy?  

MattMattMattUK

Reed_Richards said:

I think the whole idea of an Alternative Fuel Payment is a bit wacky.  At current prices oil is probably the cheapest way to heat your house at present; why should oil users receive an extra subsidy?  

The main reason is that some people got free money, so the government feel that they have to give everyone free money so those who do not get free money do not have a massive tantrum. This government seems addicted to handouts and wasting taxpayers funds, far more so than any previous government, that seems to be slightly changing now, but they should be raising taxes (on everyone) more and retargeting expenditure.

Reed_Richards

Everyone with an electricity meter is getting a £400 payment.  So this extra payment of £200 seems to be targeted towards people who have no access to mains gas.  To me it's more of a "sorry-you-didn't-have-mains-gas-when-it was-cheap" payment than anything else.  

Spoonie_Turtle

Reed_Richards said:

Everyone with an electricity meter is getting a £400 payment.  So this extra payment of £200 seems to be targeted towards people who have no access to mains gas or who did have access to mains gas but stupidly chose to use electricity instead.  To me it's more of a "sorry-you-didn't-have-mains-gas-when-it was-cheap" payment than anything else.  

Huh?  Those people aren't eligible. 

Tyna

Reed_Richards said:

I think the whole idea of an Alternative Fuel Payment is a bit wacky.  At current prices oil is probably the cheapest way to heat your house at present; why should oil users receive an extra subsidy?  

It is not only gas and electricity that has gone up. I bought a pallet of eco logs in Aug for £325 and the same pallet today is £530. My log burner is my only source of heat.

Reed_Richards

Spoonie_Turtle said

Huh?  Those people aren't eligible. 

Sorry, yes, came out wrong.  I edited the original to correct it.