Citizens Advice responds to the latest government announcement on Net Zero policies

Responding to the latest government announcement on Net Zero policies, Dame Clare Moriarty, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice, said: 

“Net-zero policies are a key part of the solution to the cost-of-living crisis. Whether it's improving energy efficiency standards in our homes or phasing out gas boilers, these policies will ultimately  lower people’s energy bills and help protect us all from fluctuating gas and oil prices.

“The government's decision to row back on these policies will particularly hurt renters, leaving millions of tenants across the country facing needlessly high bills through the winters ahead. ”

Notes to editors

  1. Upgrading Great Britain’s inefficient homes to EPC band C would save consumers £24 billion on their energy bills by 2030.

  2. Private renters in England and Wales are set to spend £1.1bn more on energy bills this year compared to those in better insulated homes.

  3. More than one and a half million children in England live in cold, damp or mouldy private rented homes.

  4. Upgrading Great Britain’s 13 million inefficient homes would prevent 670,000 children from developing asthma by 2030

  5. By the end of this year, delays to implementing minimum energy efficiency standards will have cost renters £2.8 billion in wasted energy since proposals were first consulted on in 2020.

  6. Citizens Advice is made up of the national charity Citizens Advice; the network of independent local Citizens Advice charities across England and Wales; the Citizens Advice consumer service; and the Witness Service.

  7. Our network of charities offers impartial advice online, over the phone, and in person, for free.

  8. Citizens Advice helped 2.55 million people face to face, over the phone, by email and webchat in 2021-22. And we had 40.6 million visits to our website. For full service statistics see our monthly publication Advice trends.

  9. Citizens Advice service staff are supported by more than 18,500 trained volunteers, working at over 2,500 service outlets across England and Wales.

  10. You can get consumer advice from the Citizens Advice consumer service on 0808 223 1133 or 0808 223 1144 for Welsh language speakers.