Investing in insulation would have paid off now, minister admits

A minister has admitted that the huge support payments the government is providing to help households keep on top of their energy bills could have been spent more efficiently if it had not previously cut insulation budgets. Junior energy minister Lord Callanan also said the government expects energy efficiency upgrades undertaken as part the fourth phase of the Energy Company Obligation scheme to initially lower the annual energy bills of benefitting households by an average of £600 due to high energy prices over the coming winter.