In its third assessment of the impact of carbon budgets on energy bills, the Committee on Climate Change finds that policies to support cleaner low-carbon electricity made up £45 of energy bills in 2013. As a result, emission reductions have been achieved equivalent to the annual emissions of 10 million cars.
The report, Energy prices and bills – impacts of meeting carbon budgets, finds that out of a typical energy bill costing £1140 in 2013, householders paid around £55 per year to support energy efficiency schemes and £45 per year to support low-carbon electricity.
The £55 contributed towards energy efficiency schemes in 2013 and helped to pay for 200,000 new boilers and heating controls to be installed in low-income homes and /or fuel poor families. The money also supported the insulation of almost 200,000 homes (cavity walls, solid walls and lofts). These actions have reduced energy costs and saved carbon. A high proportion (40%) of these insulation measures benefitted low-income and/or fuel poor families.
Lord Deben, Chairman of the Committee on Climate Change said:
“Last year, as energy consumers we all helped hundreds of thousands of poorer people to have warmer homes and contributed to real reductions in our emissions in the fight against climate change – all for around £100 a year on the average bill. Many people saved more than that by taking simple energy saving measures that didn’t interfere with their life-style.”
Download the report here CCC-Energy-Prices-and-Bills-report
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