Decorative - Tennessee Witney via iStock
Decorative - Tennessee Witney via iStock A social tariff providing a 30% discount on the cost of energy for vulnerable households would lower bills by £450 for those in fuel poverty, minimising the need for large-scale government expenditure as seen last winter, finds a report by UCL, on behalf of the Aldersgate Group. The new report, The Case for a Social Tariff: Reducing Bills and Emissions, and Delivering for the Fuel Poor outlines a pathway to decarbonise home heating and cooling while ensuring that energy bills are affordable for all. These measures can support households, lower the need for public financial outlay to subsidise energy bills, and release capital for consumers to spend on energy efficiency and decarbonisation measures. The report calls for the government to work with energy suppliers to offer "Time of Use" tariffs for consumers that want them. This option can provide a valuable system-balancing service and lower bills for those able to effectively shift their power consumption. Lead author Phil McNally (UCL Bartlett School Environment, Energy & Resources) said: "While energy costs are finally falling, bills this winter will still be 78% higher than the pre-crisis average. The Government should take ambitious steps to deliver affordable change in both the near and long-term, in a way that avoids the huge sums of money spent on temporary solutions.
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