Citizens Advice Response to BEIS’s Clean Growth: transforming heating - overview of current evidence
We broadly agree with the key issues and strategic inferences made in Transforming Heat. When producing the policy roadmap for heat decarbonisation, we recommend the government consider how it can further develop this thinking in three key areas:
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Consumer protection
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Distributional impacts and fairness issues
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Building the evidence base for decarbonising on-gas properties
Engagement with consumers and insight into consumer attitudes and behaviour are vital to the success of the policy roadmap. The government needs to engage with consumers and consumer bodies to ensure that new policies reflect and plan for the changes that consumers will experience as we decarbonise the heating of our homes and businesses. The road map should address the practicalities around consumer information, advice support and engagement, as well as the impact that any new policies will have on consumers in vulnerable circumstances.
Ultimately, consumers will pay for the implementation of these new policies. It is essential that the financial impact on all consumers is considered at all stages of planning for the decarbonisation of heat.