Introduction
The Government consulted on proposals to amend the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) through the Electricity and Gas (Carbon Emissions Reduction) Order 2008, S.I. 2008/188. This gives effect to a key element of the Prime Minister’s £1 billion Home Energy Saving Programme announcement of 11th September 2008 - see the Defra Press Notice.
In amending the Order, the Government proposed to:
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increase the overall lifetime carbon saving target on household energy suppliers by 20 per cent;
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provide new incentives to encourage the installation of loft insulation;
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encourage energy suppliers to promote Real Time Energy Display devices and provide face to face energy-related advice by giving these measures a pre-determined carbon score;
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allow suppliers to meet a greater percentage of their targets through innovative measures.
Background
CERT, which commenced in April 2008, is the Government’s flagship household sector energy and carbon saving scheme. CERT places a 3 year (to March 2011) obligation on energy suppliers to meet ambitious household carbon saving targets. Suppliers meet their targets by promoting (e.g. through subsidy) the take-up of energy saving measures, including loft and cavity wall insulation and high-efficiency lighting and appliances.
In the light of CERT’s potential to help alleviate the impact of rising energy bills, the Prime Minister announced on 11 September the Government’s intention to boost the scheme to maximise the number of households able to benefit. This was one aspect of a wider package of measures announced on 11 September, which also included a new Community Energy Saving Programme; additional resources for the Warm Front fuel poverty grant scheme; and higher levels of cold weather payments.
Consultation Documents