Time-of-use tariffs that allow customers to optimise the benefits of low carbon technologies such as heat pumps, electric vehicles and solar panels are welcome additions to the retail market, rewarding customers with low energy prices and supporting flexibility of the energy system. However, they are mostly designed for affluent consumers, and those with smart meters and high levels of digital literacy. Without measures to protect vulnerable consumers, such as a social tariff and improved ado...

Time-of-use tariffs that allow customers to optimise the benefits of low carbon technologies such as heat pumps, electric vehicles and solar panels are welcome additions to the retail market, rewarding customers with low energy prices and supporting flexibility of the energy system. However, they are mostly designed for affluent consumers, and those with smart meters and high levels of digital literacy. Without measures to protect vulnerable consumers, such as a social tariff and improved adoption of technology including smart meters, this threatens to create a retail market that deepens societal inequalities. Such tariffs must not be a subst Type: conclusion | Number: 16 | Response status: not_addressed Government response: The Government believes that all consumers should pay a fair price for their energy. The Energy Price Cap was introduced in January 2019 to protect households on standard variable (default) tariffs from excessive prices. This followed findings published by the Co