Reopening of Energy Bill Support Scheme Alternative Funding

That this House recognises with great concern the pressure many households are due to face this winter as a result of high energy bills; notes that the Energy Bill Support Scheme Alternative Funding aimed to reached 900,000 households that do not have a direct relationship with their electricity supplier; regrets that only 16% of eligible households successfully applied for the scheme before it closed on 31 May 2023 and that 759,000 households have been left without support from the scheme, returning over £300 million to the Treasury; and urges the Government to follow the recommendations of the Energy Security and Net Zero Committee’s Preparing for the winter Report including that all households that missed out should receive support with immediate effect.