MSE News: An energy social tariff could save vulnerable households up to £1,500/year on their bills

MSE_Petar

An energy social tariff is the best way to stop millions of vulnerable people overpaying for energy, according to a new report from Citizens Advice published today. The consumer charity says eligible households could save up to £1,500 a year on their bills under the proposals. A social tariff is something MoneySavingExpert.com founder, Martin Lewis, has also long argued for.

Read the full story:
'Energy social tariff could save vulnerable households up to £1,500 a year – here's how it could work'

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Mstty

In a word...no

SaverRate

Why should they bring out a social energy tariff? Once again the working class get penalised! Unfair at the highest degree if this goes ahead

Alnat1

Making landlords bring properties to EPC C before being allowed to rent them out would also help stop millions of vulnerable people overpaying for energy.

There's little point in funding a social tariff if the housing stock is not improved.

MattMattMattUK

Absolutely not, awful idea, all it means is a cross subsidy outside of the scope of the OBR or NAO to be able to evaluate, with means testing and additional costs to other taxpayers. 

FreeBear

Alnat1 said:

Making landlords bring properties to EPC C before being allowed to rent them out would also help stop millions of vulnerable people overpaying for energy.

There's little point in funding a social tariff if the housing stock is not improved.

Some of the vulnerable own their own homes - These also need improving. A national programme to improve housing stock across the board is needed. And it needs to be properly thought out and administered.

MattMattMattUK

FreeBear said:

Alnat1 said:

Making landlords bring properties to EPC C before being allowed to rent them out would also help stop millions of vulnerable people overpaying for energy.

There's little point in funding a social tariff if the housing stock is not improved.

Some of the vulnerable own their own homes - These also need improving. A national programme to improve housing stock across the board is needed. And it needs to be properly thought out and administered.

Taxpayers in general should also not have to pay to improve the value of other people's homes, hosing benefit is already a huge market distortion that negatively impacts net taxpayers. Further, making people who cannot afford to live in expensive parts of the country pay for other people to improve the value of their expensive homes in expensive parts get even more expensive would be inherently wrong. 

Scot_39

Dangerous nonsense - to publish in that way - as an absolute saving - without quoting the rates / costs it is based on.

Especially in context of the forecast drop in cap to £2100.

Are we really saying £600 annual bills for that level of usage.

Was that normal pre Ukraine - No - of course it wasn't.

And if cap drops to £1500 - does that mean free for some etc.

This may be accepted by politicians though - as yet another way of govts further shifting cross subsidy from taxation and benefits to private firms. 

And the rest of us picking up the tab regardless - just in our prices, not taxes.

This reeks of the growing state dependency / handout culture - ironically being amplified by years of Covid and Cost of Living grants from a Cons govt.

KxMx

I'm disabled on a low income, I qualify with my water company for a 25% discount on my bill, several companies offer social broadband tariffs, I don't see why the energy companies can't offer something similar. 

Scot_39

FreeBear said:

Alnat1 said:

Making landlords bring properties to EPC C before being allowed to rent them out would also help stop millions of vulnerable people overpaying for energy.

There's little point in funding a social tariff if the housing stock is not improved.

Some of the vulnerable own their own homes - These also need improving. A national programme to improve housing stock across the board is needed. And it needs to be properly thought out and administered.

Tenants will pay in rent - even the social housing sector is running on a far lower subsidised basis than old council housing used to.

Look at the claims for unfit housing - dampness, major repairs, many of the them are not private but former council / council HA properties.

Private will pay immediately - just as they do when landlords mortgages rise.

Past green grant schemes have been to some extent a chancers paradise. Albeit hopefully a minority of ROGUE firms installing cavity wall insulation when shouldn't, installing roof insulation when shouldnt - leading to dampness issues etc.  And when the money dried up - they simply folded - and so no legal recourse for victims.

michaels

Surely it makes more sense to make benefits at the correct level and then let adults choose how they distribute their income based on their own priorities.  Energy is a great example - make it artificially cheap and people will be wasteful rather than improving insulation or putting on another sweater.