Debt Talk CIC strongly supports the Bill Discount Scheme as a fair and practical way of ensuring that communities hosting nationally significant electricity infrastructure receive tangible benefits.
However, we believe the scheme should be viewed as one element of a broader strategy to tackle fuel poverty and energy affordability.
Alongside successful implementation of the Bill Discount Scheme, we encourage Ofgem and Government to:
- introduce a permanent social tariff for households receiving means-tested benefits;
- ensure energy affordability support is delivered automatically wherever possible;
- improve accessibility through multilingual communications and partnerships with trusted community organisations;
- strengthen protections for vulnerable consumers experiencing debt; and
- recognise electricity as an essential public service by ending disconnection solely because of financial hardship and adopting protections comparable to those already applied to domestic water services.
Taken together, these measures would reduce fuel poverty, improve financial resilience, protect public health and ensure that no household is left behind during the transition to a cleaner and more resilient energy system.
Debt Talk CIC looks forward to continuing to work with Ofgem, Government and industry partners to ensure energy policy delivers fair outcomes for all consumers, particularly those facing financial hardship and social exclusion.
