Consultation on the Revised Energy Poverty Action Plan

Open13 Mar, 2024, 11:00am - 15 May, 2024, 6:00pm

Summary of Consultation

The aim of this consultation is to gather feedback on the existing Energy Poverty Action Plan and seek views to assist in the development of a revised Action Plan. Submissions can be made using our online platform.

Please register to complete the online survey by 8 May 2024.

Background

The Energy Poverty Action Plan, approved by Government in December 2022, set out the range of measures implemented, as well as key longer-term measures, to ensure that those least able to afford increased energy costs were supported and protected to adequately heat and power their homes over winter 2022/23. The implementation of the Action Plan has been monitored by a cross-departmental Steering Group, chaired by the Department of the Environment, Climate & Communications and including representatives from the Departments of Social Protection, Housing, Finance, Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, Health and Rural & Community Development, along with the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and the HSE.

The measures contained in the Action Plan fall into two overarching categories – near term, where the focus was on supporting people to get through winter 2022/23 and medium term with the focus on using energy efficiency upgrades to help tackle the root causes of energy poverty and ensure an inclusive and just transition to net zero.

While significant progress has been made against these actions, the continued high cost of energy resulted in additional cost-of-living measures introduced in February 2023 and in Budget 2024. As a result, it is timely that the existing Action Plan is reviewed and revised.

We are proposing to develop a revised Energy Poverty Action Plan, the purpose of which is to once again set out a range of clear, timebound actions aimed at tackling energy poverty with appropriate governance and evaluation. It is intended that the Plan will build on and continue the policies and actions that have been driven to date by the existing Plan, informed by stakeholder input, where appropriate

In addition, on 23 October 2023, the EU Commission published 25 Recommendations to tackle Energy Poverty across the EU. These recommendations focus on a number of key areas including a legal framework, affordability and access to energy, governance, communications, energy efficiency, access to renewables, skills and financing to tackle energy poverty.

We intend to incorporate these recommendations into the revised Action Plan and to utilise these as a measurement framework going forward.

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/159cb-energy-poverty-action-plan/

Consultation

As committed in the Energy Poverty Action Plan, a central work of the Steering Group is to provide structured, whole of Government engagement with stakeholders.

The Steering Group have developed a set of questions which aim to capture information from stakeholders to assist with the development of a revised Action Plan.

The closing date for submission is 5.30pm on Friday, 8 May 2024.

If you would like to complete the consultation in hard copy format, please contact us by email at repr@decc.gov.ie or by post at

Retail Energy Policy and Regulation Division
Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications
29 – 31 Adelaide Road,
Dublin,
D02 X285

Data Protection

We are committed to engaging with stakeholders in a clear, open and transparent manner. Any person or organisation can make a submission in relation to this consultation. We will consider all submissions and feedback before we publish the final version of the revised Energy Poverty Action Plan.

Your response to this consultation is subject to:

the Freedom of Information Act 2014 (FOI)
the Access to Information on the Environment Regulations 2007-2018 (AIE)
the Data Protection Act 2018

Publishing of responses

We intend to publish the contents of all submissions received to our consultations on our website. We will redact (remove) personal data before publication.

Please indicate any sensitive information

In responding to this consultation, clearly indicate where your response contains any information which you would not wish to be released under FOI, AIE or otherwise published. This can include:

personal information
commercially sensitive information
confidential information

In addition, by responding to this consultation, you will receive an invitation to our upcoming Energy Poverty Stakeholder Forum, where a draft of the revised Action Plan will be previewed and discussed. This event is due to be held in June 2024.

Read our Data Privacy Notice

We would like to draw your attention to our Data Privacy Notice which explains:

how and when we collect personal data
why we do so
how we treat this information
your rights in relation to the collection of personal information
how you can exercise those rights

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Targeted Questions for Individuals/Households

1. What new measures could we introduce to support households in, or at risk of, energy poverty?

2. What existing measures could we improve or update to support households in, or at risk of, energy poverty?

3. What measures could we take to encourage customers to engage with their suppliers early on, to reduce the possibility of disconnection and energy debt increasing?

4.How can we more effectively promote supports for customers in or at risk of energy poverty (e.g. vulnerable customer registration, nominated representatives, level-pay plans)?

5. How can we more effectively promote price comparison options and information for customers, so they can obtain the cheapest energy prices to meet their needs (e.g. Price Comparison Websites)?

6. Would you be willing to share your personal experience in dealing with energy poverty/high energy costs?

Implementation of Legal Framework

1. Energy poverty has been defined at the EU level. What other factors would you include in a national definition? Which of these do you think is the most important to include in a national definition?

Energy poverty has been defined at the EU level, identifying low income, low energy efficiency and high energy expenditures as the main factors. What other factors would you include in a national definition? Which of these do you think is the most important to include in a national definition?

Meeting the Cost of Energy

2. What barriers do you believe are preventing customers from accessing affordable and reliable energy services?

3. Which groups do you consider have not received enough support, up to now?

4. In the areas of energy prices, meeting the cost of energy and consumer protection, what further actions do you think could be taken to alleviate energy poverty? Please provide any relevant analysis or research to support your suggestions.

5. What gaps do you see in the current Energy Poverty Action Plan? How could we address those gaps in a revised Action Plan?

6. Are there specific programs or initiatives from other countries that you think could be effective in reducing energy poverty in Ireland?

7. How can smart energy solutions be integrated into the Energy Poverty Action Plan in a way which supports sustainability and environmental considerations?

Energy Efficiency

8. How can renewable energy solutions be integrated into the Energy Poverty Action Plan in a way which supports sustainability and environmental considerations?

9. Government is acutely aware of the need to balance support available under the Warmer Homes scheme and the waiting times for that support. Do you think the scheme could be adapted in way to better target the support so we can achieve this balance?

10. The Government has put in place several supports for landlords, to upgrade the efficiency of their rented properties. Are there other measuresthat the Government could take that you think would further support upgrades in the private rented sector?

The Government has put in place several supports for landlords (including a range of grants, a tax incentive, and the forthcoming home energy upgrade loan scheme) to upgrade the efficiency of their rented properties. Are there other measures (acknowledging the challenges facing the housing sector) that the Government could take that you think would further support upgrades in the private rented sector? Please provide references to any relevant material that would support your response.

Research

11. What best practice regarding research on energy poverty (e.g. dissemination, public engagement, mechanisms for continuity) should we consider?

12. Besides the Economic Social Research Institute’s (ESRI) research programme into Energy Poverty, which generally covers measurement and targeting, what other areas do you think should be investigated/researched?

13. The ESRI will provide metrics to measure the number of people experiencing energy poverty and the impact of it on them. In your view, what specific indicators will be helpful in monitoring the success of the Energy Poverty Action Plan over time?

Communications and Governance

14. How can we better communicate our work in the area of Energy Poverty to all stakeholders?

15. What suggestions do you have for ensuring the inclusion and representation of diverse voices in the development and implementation of the Energy Poverty Action Plan?

Policy design

16. In your view, how can we integrate other policies (e.g. housing, energy market regulation, income tax and income support) in our Plan to tackle Energy Poverty?

Closing Question

17. Are there any other matters you wish to raise in relation to Energy Poverty?

Your information

If you are happy to do so, please provide your email address, and we can then invite you to our Energy Poverty Stakeholder Forum, which will be held in June 2024.

Please note that any personal information, including email addresses, will not be published when we publish the consultation responses on gov.ie . We will collect and process personal data only for the purposes for which it is collected.

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