Household energy supplier obligations
This page deals with obligations the Government has placed on energy suppliers, to help householders reduce their carbon footprint. By law, they must provide practical help to reduce the amount of energy people use at home, including subsidies for energy saving measures and advice on how to reduce your fuel bill.
To find out how suppliers can help lower your emissions and your fuel bill, visit www.est.org.uk or call the ACT ON CO2 advice line, Mon-Fri 8am – 7pm, on: 0800 512012
Save Money, Save Energy, ACT ON CO2
The Government has announced a package of long term assistance to households to help them tackle rising energy prices and save up to £300 every year on energy bills, through improved energy efficiency and other measures (see Defra news release). For further details contact the ACT ON CO2 advice line - call 0800 512 012 (Mon-Fri 8am – 7pm), go to the Directgov ACT ON CO2 site, or read more on Defra's website.
Under this package, additional funding amounting to some £560 million will add to the existing CERT supplier obligation to improve household energy efficiency. The information in this section of the website will be updated shortly to reflect the changes which have now been announced.
The Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT)
The Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) - which came into effect on 1 April 2008 and will run until 2011 - is an obligation on energy suppliers to achieve targets for promoting reductions in carbon emissions in the household sector.
It is the principal driver of energy efficiency improvements in existing homes in Great Britain. It marks a significant strengthening of our efforts to reduce household carbon emissions – with a doubling of the level of activity of its predecessor Energy Efficiency Commitment (EEC).
Suppliers must direct at least 40% of carbon savings to a priority group of low-income and elderly consumers. By extending the priority group to include the over 70s we are ensuring that a large number of fuel poor households, who are not eligible under the current criteria, become eligible for support.
The ACT ON CO2 advice line will help customers take advantage of suppliers' offers under CERT.
Further information:
- Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) - in detail
- The previous Energy Efficiency Commitment
- The future of supplier obligations
Page last modified: 17 September 2008
Page published: 15 January 2007