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Reposted by Alex Belsham-Harrris

Electrify Britain @electrifygb.bsky.social · 13d

⚡ First findings are in:

🚗 1 in 5 new cars sold is electric
🌞 1.8M homes have solar - on track for 9M by 2030
💬 Just 3% of EV owners would go back to petrol/diesel
🔥 Heat pumps? Still way off target - 59k installed vs 600k/yr goal

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Nesta @nestauk.bsky.social · 14d

Is removing VAT the best way to cut energy bills?

Our new blog looks at the alternatives, from targeting electricity to a one-off debt forgiveness scheme. Is there a better way to spend £2.5 billion?

⤵️ https://bit.ly/42ElFDV

Is removing VAT really the best way to cut energy bills?

Targeting electricity bills, subsidising bill-funded schemes, or a one-off debt forgiveness program offer more effective, fair, and sustainable solutions

www.nesta.org.uk

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Alex Belsham-Harrris @alexbelsham-harris.bsky.social · Jul 22

The challenge of energy affordability is very real, but rising block tariffs aren’t the answer. People on low incomes with poorly insulated homes or who need more energy for health reasons could see rising bills, while those with multiple homes or can install solar panels avoid paying a fair share

Jessica Elgot @jessicaelgot.bsky.social · Jul 22

Ed Miliband has been urged by more than 100 Labour MPs to explore overhauling UK energy bills.

He is understood to be considering a number of options for progressive energy pricing, inc discounts for the least intensive consumers – known as rising block tariffs

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

More than 100 Labour MPs urge Ed Miliband to explore radical energy bills overhaul

Living Standards Coalition writes to energy secretary calling on him to do more to help struggling households

www.theguardian.com

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Anne Pardoe @annepardoe.bsky.social · Jul 14

New paper from Citizens Advice on how to deliver tangible growth - which puts money in people’s pockets - in consumer markets.

TLDR: Consumer confidence is key & slashing hard won consumer protections without adequate safeguards isn’t the answer.

How to deliver tangible growth in consumer markets

UK households need tangible economic growth which puts money in their pocket. Consumer confidence is critical - cutting consumer protection is not the answer

www.citizensadvice.org.uk

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Citizens Advice @citizensadvice.bsky.social · Jul 7

Heat network customers are being hit with high prices, unfair billing and aggressive debt collection practices banned across most of the energy industry.

As the official consumer champion for heat networks we interviewed 50 people on heat networks from across the country.

Here’s what we found… 🧵

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Tom MacInnes @tommacinnes.bsky.social · Jun 10

A blog by @lauralhutch.bsky.social & me, pulling together some of the strands from recent work by our colleagues @craigpberry.bsky.social @julia-rt.bsky.social and @maddyirose.bsky.social. Link here - it’s an 8 minute read apparently wearecitizensadvice.org.uk/short-sighte... (1/6)

Short sighted policy making: Why does history keep repeating itself?

This government, like many before them, is offering extreme prescriptions before being certain of the diagnosis.

wearecitizensadvice.org.uk

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Alex Belsham-Harrris @alexbelsham-harris.bsky.social · Jun 5

A better option is to reduce levies on electricity for everyone, so that all technologies are equally supported. This should come with targeted support for those who may struggle if some levies are moved onto gas bills, plus ambitious energy efficiency and green heat schemes (2/2)

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Alex Belsham-Harrris @alexbelsham-harris.bsky.social · Jun 5

A targeted exemption from energy bill levies does nothing to help millions of people with traditional electric heating, who are often in the deepest fuel poverty. They also face barriers to switching to heat pumps as they’re more likely to be in flats and rent their homes (1/2)

Jan Rosenow @janrosenow.bsky.social · Jun 5

Rebalancing so-called green levies is one of the most important policy levers to drive electrification.

UK government is considering options—including exempting those who switch from fossil fuels to electricity from levies or taxes.

Good idea?

Read this 🧵

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Citizens Advice @citizensadvice.bsky.social · May 12

Eileen spoke on BBC Breakfast this morning at the help she got from Citizens Advice Brighton and Hove when she was struggling to pay her energy bills.

Watch back on BBC iplayer (40 mins in) ⤵️
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...

Breakfast - 12/05/2025

The latest news, sport, business and weather from the BBC's Breakfast team.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Citizens Advice @citizensadvice.bsky.social · May 8

If you’re struggling to pay your heat network bills, you should:

✔️ Check if there are ways to save money on your bills
✔️ Check if your bill is correct
✔️ Contact the company or person you pay your bills to and discuss ways to pay what you owe

Our advice can help ⤵️
bit.ly/4jLcF6H

Image of a man holding a phone whilst looking at a bill. Text reads: 'What should I do if I'm struggling to pay my heat network bills?'

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Craig Berry @craigpberry.bsky.social · May 2

Important (and excellent) paper from @julia-rt.bsky.social for @citizensadvice.bsky.social on the Household Support Fund and what crisis support should look like in the future

julia-rt.bsky.social @julia-rt.bsky.social · May 2

1️⃣ we're in the 7th cycle of the Household Support Fund
2️⃣ its future is still uncertain
3️⃣ and we still see record demand for crisis support
... so what should come next?
New Citizens Advice paper on the future of crisis support + how to realise an approach that’s more than a sticking plaster🩹👇

The future of crisis support: a discussion paper

The future of crisis support: a discussion paper - paper by Julia Ruddick-Trentmann on the future of crisis support and the Household Support Fund

www.citizensadvice.org.uk

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Alex Belsham-Harrris @alexbelsham-harris.bsky.social · Feb 25

Providing Warm Home Discount to millions more low income households will make a real difference - particularly for people with children who are struggling most - but we also need to increase the level of support for those with the highest energy needs www.citizensadvice.org.uk/policy/publi...

Frozen in place: Why the Government needs to move quicker to address energy affordability

Energy prices remain high, and households are experiencing record levels of energy debt. The government must introduce targeted bill support to recover living standards for those on low-incomes, and i...

www.citizensadvice.org.uk

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Alex Belsham-Harrris @alexbelsham-harris.bsky.social · Feb 25

Awful news for struggling households today that the price cap will rise by over £100 from April - as new research by Citizens Advice shows almost 7 million people now live in households affected by energy debt. It’s welcome that the govt has brought forward proposals to tackle these issues 1/2

side.to

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David Watson @davidawatson.bsky.social · Feb 21

If this sort of mitigation is going to be needed, you have to question whether the reform is a good idea.

Screenshot via @utilityweek.

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Adam Bell @adambell.bsky.social · Feb 20

Every little change Ofgem makes, every failure to properly manage the price control framework 'only adds a few pounds to bills'. No-one is responsible for adding up all the 'few pounds' Ofgem's failures add on. This glib statement encapsulates all that is wrong with the regulator. Change is needed.

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National Energy Action @nea.org.uk · Jan 28

Will Johnstone, Principal Policy Manager at @citizensadvice.bsky.social says their modelling shows 5 million people are in a negative budget, while 2.35 million are living on empty. #FuelPovertyConf

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Alex Belsham-Harrris @alexbelsham-harris.bsky.social · Jan 21

🚨 last few days to apply for this unique role leading @citizensadvice.bsky.social work on the retail energy market, tackling issues like affordability, service standards and innovation on the journey to clean power - reach out if interested! www.linkedin.com/posts/alex-b...

Alex Belsham-Harris on LinkedIn: Principal Policy Manager - Energy Retail Markets:Blended between office…

🆕 Looking for a unique challenge in 2025? Join Citizens Advice to lead our work on the energy retail market! 📢 Leading a large policy team and acting as a…

www.linkedin.com

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Citizens Advice @citizensadvice.bsky.social · Jan 10

"Consumers simply can’t afford to pick up the tab when something goes wrong, and the onus shouldn’t be on them to make up for companies’ billing errors"
- @alexbelsham-harris.bsky.social

Read more ⤵️
www.theguardian.com/money/2025/j...

Number of people seeking help with energy bills up by 20% last year

Citizens Advice says it assisted 60,000 households in England and Wales with cost of gas and electricity in 2024

www.theguardian.com

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Citizens Advice @citizensadvice.bsky.social · Jan 6

Do you want to be more financially savvy in 2025?

Check out our top tips ⤵️
wearecitizensadvice.org.uk/how-to-be-fi...

How to be financially savvy in 2025

Black Friday, the festive season and Boxing Day sales can leave you entering the new year feeling financially a bit worse for wear… but it…

wearecitizensadvice.org.uk

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Alex Belsham-Harrris @alexbelsham-harris.bsky.social · Dec 12

It's now down to the Government to ensure we pay for energy in a fair and affordable way. This includes targeted bill support (supported by data matching), improved access to energy efficiency, and enabling proper resourcing for advice so that debt relief leads to sustainable outcomes (3/3)

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Alex Belsham-Harrris @alexbelsham-harris.bsky.social · Dec 12

It's getting less press attention, but the new debt strategy is much better news for consumers. Debt standards should close the protection gaps we @citizensadvice.bsky.social have highlighted, and an ambitious debt relief scheme could tackle the large arrears built up in the energy crisis (2/3)

Ofgem @ofgem.gov.uk · Dec 12

We’re proposing a new debt strategy which aims to tackle the growing impact of rising debt in the energy system & to create lasting change in the way debt is managed and customers are supported

Follow the link for more on how we're protecting vulnerable consumers
➡️ www.ofgem.gov.uk/consultation...

We’re proposing a new debt strategy which aims to tackle the growing impacts of rising debt

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Alex Belsham-Harrris @alexbelsham-harris.bsky.social · Dec 12

After Ofgem opened Pandora's box with its review of standing charges, they've decided against the worst options, which pushed up costs for people on low incomes with high energy needs. Its new proposals offer more choice - but doing this via the price cap may add complexity for little benefit (1/3)

Ofgem @ofgem.gov.uk · Dec 12

We are proposing suppliers introduce zero standing charge tariffs

Follow the link for more on how we plan to mandate suppliers to offer zero standing charge tariffs alongside the price cap as well as reforms to reduce energy debts for next winter www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications...

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Laura Hutchinson 🌸 @lauralhutch.bsky.social · Dec 5

Throughout the general election @citizensadvice.bsky.social
repeatedly said the number 1 issue was living standards. Pleased this is now recognised in govt milestones.

In June 2019, our average debt client had £20 left after essentials. Now, on average, they're in the red every month.

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Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · Dec 4

OK, time for a proper thread on levies on energy bills, based on our report out today.

Topline: the levies are unfair, and a huge barrier to reaching net zero. To reform them, we should rebalance levies on to gas while targeting support to low income households.

www.nesta.org.uk/report/cheap...

Column chart showing annual gas and electricity levies as a share of net income for Ofgem consumer archetypes. Shares vary by main fuel type: gas, electricity, electricity/other, and other. Levies are highest as a share of income for lower-income archetypes. Overall they range between 0.5 and 1.5%.

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National Energy Action @nea.org.uk · Nov 27

We spoke to three people who are struggling to pay their energy bills. Millions across the UK share these struggles of being in fuel debt and feeling afraid to receive an energy bill: buff.ly/4g75cga

#FuelPovertyAwarenessDay

Voices from the frontline: Elisha, Raymond and Patricia on impossible energy bills

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

buff.ly

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