by Janet Wood
Financial issues could be the “killer” of the government’s Green Deal energy efficiency scheme, Richard Lloyd, executive director of Which? told MPs this week.
MPs on the Energy and Climate Change Select Committee discussed the Green Deal during a session on consumer engagement with the energy market.
Lloyd and director of energy policy at Consumer Focus Audrey Gallacher, backed Alan Whitehead MP’s claim that there was a “deep structural problem” in the measure around house sales.
Gallacher said there was a “real worry that in any house sale there will be a need to clear the debt” incurred under the Green Deal, in order to satisfy mortgage lenders. That would mean householders incurring early repayment charges.
All the witnesses agreed that consumer engagement was essential for the Green Deal and the Department of Energy and Climate Change’s other flagship
policy, smart meters, to succeed.
Ann Robinson, director of consumer policy at Uswitch, said the Green Deal “needs very high profile customer engagement… if aren’t doing that, what are
they for?”
John Swinney, public sector business development director at Carillion, said the support of local councils and businesses was as important as that of government. As with photovoltaics, he said: “Once you have half a dozen in the street, everyone will want it.”
Publicity boost needed to avoid smart chaos
Faye Scott, head of research at Green Alliance, warned that there was “no-one geared to address consumer concerns about smart meters in a consistent way”. She echoed shadow energy minister Tom Greatrex, who told a legislative committee last week that ministers needed to be careful to prevent “a project that could have a big impact up a mess and in chaos”. He said that without a high profile public awareness campaign on the benefits of smart meters, the rollout could be undermined.
This article first appeared in Utility Week’s print edition of 21st September 2012.
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