Social tariff for domestic energy use

That this House believes in protections for low income, vulnerable and fuel poor households; notes that even with the current price cap in place there has been a 139 per cent increase in a year on the average bill; recognises that as a result there are now 6.7 million households in fuel poverty and many more grappling with soaring energy prices; further notes with alarm the possibility that a further 3 million households could slip into fuel poverty in April 2023, bringing the total number to the highest levels since records began; notes with concern that there has been a significant increase in the number of households being involuntarily moved onto prepayment meters and that Citizens Advice report a truly unprecedented number of people who can’t afford to top up their prepayment energy meter; calls on the Government to introduce a social tariff into the energy market of the kind advocated by Fair By Design and National Energy Action, but which at a minimum must: be priced below the default tariff price cap, capped against significant increases, targeted at those most in need and reduce the energy costs of vulnerable consumers; and further calls for such a tariff to be additional to the Warm Home Discount and Default Tariff Price Cap, mandated across all suppliers to guarantee equality of access, and that all eligible consumers must be automatically enrolled onto the tariff using suppliers’ existing customer data and/or via data-sharing with the Department of Work and Pensions and HMRC.