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<p><del class="ministerial">We are supporting older and vulnerable people to keep
warm through support including the Energy Company Obligation and the Warm Home Discount.
Over 1.6 million measures have been installed in around 1.3 million households through
the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) alone.</del></p><br /><p><del class="ministerial">This
year, over 2 million households will get help under the Warm Home Discount scheme–
including an automatic electricity bill discount of £140 for over 1.3 million of the
poorest pensioners. In winter 2014/15, Winter Fuel Payments were made to around 12.5million
older people in around 9 million households. The Cold Weather Plan, published by Public
Health England, helps to raise awareness of the harm to health from cold, and provides
guidance on how to prepare for and respond to cold weather.</del></p><br /><p><del
class="ministerial">The Government has also provided around £3 million to fund the
creation of the ‘Big Energy Saving Network’ which focuses on helping consumers understand
tariffs and switching options as well as how they could benefit from energy efficiency
programmes available to them. As we approach winter, DECC officials will continue
to maximise awareness of the Energy Saving Advice Service (ESAS –contact number 0300
123 1234), which also provides a referral service for ECO Affordable Warmth.</del></p><br
/><p><ins class="ministerial">DECC’s most recent Impact Assessment for the roll-out
of smart metering, published in January 2014, estimates a positive net present benefit
of £6.2 billion over the period to 2030, with total benefits of £17.1 billion and
costs of £10.9 billion.</ins></p><br /><p><ins class="ministerial">Of the £17.1 billion
of overall benefits around one third stems from energy savings, for which the In Home
Displays (IHDs) are a critical enabler. They are an important first step in wider
consumer engagement and behaviour change that can unlock additional economic benefit,
for example through the development of a smart grid and more flexible and resilient
future energy system.</ins></p><br /><p><ins class="ministerial">Smart metering also
enables significant operational efficiency savings within the energy industry, so
even without the energy savings benefits the Smart Metering Implementation Programme
has the potential to deliver overall economic benefit for UK customers and energy
providers.</ins></p>
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