21 April (London): Responding to a speech today by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Garry Felgate, CEO of The MCS Foundation, said, “Accelerating the transition to renewables is absolutely the right step to help cut bills and tackle the UK’s dependence on fossil fuels. Today’s announcement of an uplift to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, meaning households reliant on heating oil or LPG can get £9,000 to upgrade to a heat pump, is a welcome move to support households who are particularly exposed to fossil fuel price shocks.  

“The relaxing of planning restrictions on heat pumps and speeding up of grid connections will also help ensure more households benefit from being carbon free.  

“The Government’s ambition to reduce the influence of gas on wholesale electricity prices is a step in the right direction. However, more must be done to ensure that renewable heating is always cheaper than fossil fuels. Permanently moving all remaining social and environmental levies off electricity bills and into general taxation will be critical in cutting the cost of electricity for good. Our research found this would particularly benefit those on low incomes and cut bills for households with a heat pump by more than £500 a year. 

“To end reliance on burning fossil fuels in our homes once and for all, the Government should commit to clean heat and ensure that no new fossil fuel boilers are installed from 2035 – a policy which our polling has shown is supported by a majority of both the public and MPs.”