Written questions by Snell.

What recent discussions he has had with Ofgem regarding the regulation of the non-domestic energy market.

The Government and Ofgem continuously monitor the non-domestic energy market to ensure that good outcomes are being delivered for all consumers. Recently, the Secretary of State and Ofgem’s Interim CEO wrote to non-domestic supplires and Third-Party Intermediaries (TPIs) to set out their expectations on how consumers should be supported during the current energy price volatility. The Government and Ofgem have collaborated to deliver a range of interventions in response to the findings of Ofgem’s non-domestic market review and the Government plans to directly regulate TPIs, by appointing Ofgem as regulator when parliamentary time allows. This will protect non-domestic consumers from exploitative and harmful practices employed by some TPIs.

What steps his Department is taking to help micro-businesses invest in onsite renewable energy generation.

The Government recognises the importance of green finance as it is one of the fastest growing sub-sectors of a low carbon economy.The British Business Bank’s Green Growth Guarantee helps increase the supply of affordable finance for businesses investing in green technologies, by giving lenders confidence to support finance for green assets or lower the up-front cost of that finance.Small businesses across the UK benefitted from Government funding and support to help them invest in sustainability, to cut their operating costs and boost their business. A recent £2m Made Smarter Adoption Programme initiative helped SMEs lower their bills and become more energy efficient through investment in technology in areas like heating, insulation and solar power. The Government will continue to review support for business energy efficiency projects.

What steps his Department is taking to help protect small businesses from aggressive debt recovery practices by energy suppliers.

The government’s primary focus is on ensuring energy is affordable for all businesses, and that the right protections are in place for them in the energy market. Suppliers and their representatives must follow strict rules regarding debt recovery practices and meet expectations to treat their customers fairly, as per Ofgem’s supplier licence conditions. In 2023, Ofgem reaffirmed their expectations in a letter to all suppliers on the treatment of non-domestic customers during debt management and disconnection.

What steps his Department is taking to improve the application process for energy efficiency grants.

The Department is improving the application process for energy efficiency grants by simplifying access and providing clearer guidance across schemes. Under the Government’s £15 billion Warm Homes Plan, we are streamlining delivery of the Warm Homes: Local Grant and the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund, including plans to integrate low‑income schemes into a single capital offer, reducing complexity for applicants. For owner‑occupiers, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme provides upfront capital grant funding to reduce the cost of installing low‑carbon heating systems, and is administered by Ofgem through an installer‑led application process designed to minimise administrative burden for households. The Department has launched the ‘Find ways to save energy in your home’ service, providing impartial, tailored advice and information on government energy efficiency schemes through an easy to use online platform.

What estimate his Department has made of the potential energy savings for the hospitality sector through the adoption of heat recovery systems.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) does not hold an estimation of heat recovery potential specific to the hospitality sector, though in 2014 the Department of Energy and Climate Change published research on the potential for recovering and using surplus heat from industry.DESNZ also incentivises Combined Heat and Power (CHP) across many sectors, an efficient process that captures and utilises the heat that is a by-product of the electricity generation process, via the voluntary Combined Heat and Power Quality Assurance (CHPQA) Programme. Sites with CHP typically see savings of around 20% on their energy costs. In 2024, there were 206 CHP installations in buildings classified as hotels in the UK (Digest of UK Energy Statistics 2025), the closest approximation to hospitality in the data.

What support is available to the food and drink sector to transition to low-carbon refrigeration.

Improving the energy efficiency of energy‑related products is an important part of the Government’s journey to Net Zero. The Energy Technology List is a government‑backed scheme featuring around 8,000 independently verified and accredited energy‑efficient products across 65 sub‑technology groups, including a wide range of refrigeration technologies used in the food and drink sector, and provides free, impartial information to support business procurement decisions. Additionally, between 2020 and 2024, the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (IETF) offered the food and drinks sector more than £55m in grant funding to decarbonise and improve energy efficiency. This includes more than £7.7m for low-carbon refrigeration solutions. These projects will continue to be delivered until 2028 and are expected to make a lasting positive contribution to reducing energy bills and emissions.

What plans he has to increase funding for the Industrial Decarbonisation and Energy Efficiency Roadmaps.

The government is providing significant funding to catalyse progress on industrial decarbonisation, including £9.4 billion in capital funding for carbon capture, usage and storage and £500 million to support hydrogen infrastructure. We are also continuing to develop policies to bring down electricity costs relative to gas for the non-domestic sector, including industry, and intend to consult on options. Further details will be set out in our new forthcoming plan for industrial decarbonisation in due course.

What steps he is taking to encourage more competition in the commercial energy supply market.

We are building on the outcomes of Ofgem’s 2024 report into the non-domestic market, and subsequent actions to improve practices: Non-domestic market review: decision | Ofgem The Government and Ofgem continuously monitor the non-domestic energy market to ensure that there is a competitive market that is able to drive good outcomes for all consumers. The Government also plans to directly regulate Third-Party Intermediaries (TPIs), by appointing Ofgem as the regulator when parliamentary time allows. A regulated TPI market will drive pro-consumer competition between energy brokers and deliver better outcomes for energy consumers.

What recent discussions he has had with the Energy Ombudsman regarding the volume of business energy complaints.

The Secretary of State meets regularly with a wide range of stakeholders, where they discuss a variety of issues. Small businesses have been able to access the Energy Ombudsman since December 2024. Ofgem’s Complaints Handling Standards require energy suppliers to have suitable complaints processes for small business consumers and to signpost the Energy Ombudsman when matters have not been resolved. To further ensure that consumers are protected when things go wrong, we are proposing to strengthen the position of the Energy Ombudsman. This will allow consumers to have access to fairer and faster redress and will ensure that decisions made by the Ombudsman are implemented on time and in full.

What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Microbusiness Protection Rules implemented by Ofgem.

Consumer protection rules are a matter for Ofgem, as the independent regulator. The Department continues to work closely with them to take forward the recommendations from the 2024 Non-Domestic Market Review, such as expanding access to the Energy Ombudsman and the development of a new regulatory regime for Third Party Intermediaries, such as energy brokers. As part of its Consumer Confidence programme, Ofgem has developed consumer outcomes for all consumers, both domestic and non-domestic. These clarify the consumer outcomes Ofgem wants the sector to deliver and how they will be embedded into its regulatory framework.

What steps he is taking to improve transparency in the wholesale energy costs passed on to commercial tenants.

Energy re-sold to non-domestic tenants is a commercial matter between those two businesses dependent on their contract terms. Landlords in these situations have a legal duty to regularly inform their tenants of how much energy they have used and the price they have been charged for that energy.

Whether he plans to introduce a statutory Business Energy Consumer Code.

Ofgem is the independent regulator for gas and electricity markets in Great Britain. Ofgem’s regulatory regime sets out the requirements which non-domestic energy suppliers are required to adhere to. This includes a requirement that non-domestic consumers are treated fairly and set standards around billing and customer protection. These are further underpinned by the Retail Energy Code, which licenced suppliers are required to comply with. In addition, the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero and Ofgem’s interim CEO recently wrote to non-domestic suppliers and energy third party intermediaries to set out their expectations as to how non-domestic customers should be supported during this period of price volatility.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of security deposit requirements on the cash flow of new start-up businesses.

Security deposits are common in commercial leases. Contractual terms, such as security deposits, are a private matter to be negotiated between parties. However, we would always advise that, where possible, parties seek advice before agreeing to any terms. The Government has commissioned the Law Commission to review key aspects of commercial leasing to ensure they are fit for a modern day context. This work is underway and further detail will be provided in due course.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the take-up of the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund.

DESNZ has assessed the adequacy of take-up of the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (IETF) through the Evaluation of the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (alongside the IETF Benefit Report), published on 29th of January 2026. The evaluation found that the IETF was viewed by the majority of beneficiaries as an attractive offer by grant recipients and has supported the deployment of mature industrial decarbonisation technologies at scale. It found that most projects delivered by grant recipients would not have proceeded in the absence of IETF support, and that the fund filled a gap in capital expenditure support for these types of initiatives, allowing companies to take on more risk with feasibility studies and non-core technology projects.

What assessment he has made of the impact of standing charges on the total energy costs of small businesses.

The Government recognises that standing charges can be a significant concern for some businesses. Ofgem is conducting a holistic review of how energy system costs, including network costs, should be paid for in the future, as part of its Cost Allocation and Recovery Review (CARR). The most recent update as to progress with this review can be found here: Energy system cost allocation and recovery review - Ofgem - Citizen Space. Alongside this, Ofgem’s work on the non-domestic market has highlighted the need to improve pricing transparency, and the Government has acted to strengthen protections for business consumers—such as measures to improve how businesses are supported in the market, including through action on third‑party intermediaries—so businesses can better understand what they are being charged and access better value contracts.

What steps his Department is taking to support the glass manufacturing industry with gas energy prices.

I recognise the pressure that gas prices place on glass manufacturers. While there is no dedicated scheme for industrial gas price relief, my Department keeps support for energy-intensive industries under review. Many glass manufacturers are eligible for our electricity price support schemes like the British Industry Supercharger. My officials regularly engage with British Glass and individual businesses to discuss how the Government can support the sector and ensure any concerns are heard.

What meetings and discussions his Department has had with the ceramics industry regarding energy cost relief.

I recognise the pressure that energy costs place on ceramics manufacturers. A small number of ceramic firms are currently eligible for the British Industry Supercharger, which provides electricity cost relief and these companies are benefiting from the recent uplift to the Network Charging Compensation Scheme. I encourage the ceramics sector to engage with the upcoming review of the Supercharger. There is no equivalent scheme for industrial gas price relief, but my department always keeps industrial energy support under review. My officials, other ministers, and I engage regularly with the ceramics sector, including with Ceramics UK and individual businesses to discuss how the Government can support the sector.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of energy costs on the retention of manufacturing jobs in the West Midlands.

The Government recognises that energy costs are an important factor in the competitiveness of manufacturing businesses and in the retention of skilled jobs, including in the West Midlands. From April 2027, the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme will reduce electricity costs for eligible manufacturing businesses in Industrial Strategy growth sectors and their foundational supply chains. In addition, the British Industry Supercharger is already reducing electricity costs for eligible energy- intensive industries in the West Midlands, including in sectors such as brick production, glass production, plastic manufacturing and paper manufacturing. The Government continues to engage closely with businesses to monitor cost pressures, including those arising from the situation in the Middle East.

What estimate his Department has made of the value of exemptions from green levies provided to energy-intensive industries in 2025-26.

The Department has not published an estimate of the value of “exemptions from green levies” provided to energy‑intensive industries in 2025–26. However, the published impact assessment for the British Industry Supercharger—which includes reliefs from certain renewable policy costs, such as the Renewables Obligation, Contracts for Difference and Feed-in Tariffs—indicates that, when taken together with the other Supercharger measures, eligible energy-intensive industries could receive overall electricity bill reductions of around £65 to £87 per MWh.

What assessment he has made of the cumulative impact of network charges on industrial energy users.

Network charges are set by the independent energy regulator, Ofgem. As part of setting price controls under its RIIO‑3 Final Determinations, Ofgem carried out an impact assessment considering the overall effect of its decisions on consumers, including industrial users. Details of Ofgem's impact assessment can be found through the following link: RIIO-3 Final Determinations – Impact Assessment