Warm Home Discount: Flexibility for higher spending

This consultation is on a proposal to allow participating energy suppliers to spend more money on the Warm Home Discount this scheme year (2013/14) than they are currently required to spend. We are proposing to change the scheme Regulations to give these suppliers the flexibility of spending up to 34% more this year on their non-core spending than the £100m they have been instructed to spend in total and, by spending more, to reduce their non-core spending obligation for 2014/15.

This simple measure is intended to result in more fuel poor households receiving assistance under the scheme this year. It does not introduce new requirements but allows suppliers to help more low income and vulnerable households while also helping to reduce delivery risks.