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- Ministers not focused on handing out free batteries, despite reports
- DESNZ’s priority is plug-in solar panels
- VAT on electricity has already been cut
The government is still a long way from deciding to give out free plug-in batteries to low-income households and prime minister Andy Burnham is focused on plug-in solar panels.
That’s according to an insider at the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), who told The Eco Experts that there are still “questions to answer” about the cost and safety of plug-in batteries.
Reports last week, predominantly in The i Newspaper, said that the government was considering buying plug-in batteries in bulk and hand them out to lower-income households to bring down energy bills.
This would be on top of making plug-in solar panels more accessible. Earlier in July, the government announced that it had updated plug and electricity laws to allow for power generation up to 800MW.
This followed news that new Prime Minister Andy Burnham was cutting VAT on electricity from 1st October in a bid to bring down bills.
These laws are set to come into place on 27th August, at which point it will be possible to plug solar panels into your wall sockets and run your home on solar, cutting bills by about £200.
Speaking to The Eco Experts, a spokesperson from the DESNZ said that new Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh was committed to brining down the bills.
“We’ve cut VAT on electricity to give families breathing space. The Energy Secretary’s focus is working to bring bills down for good.
“And we are rolling out plug-in solar, which will be quickest to reach the market – helping to bring bills down for good.”
