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[holding answer 10 November 2008]: Ofgem published its first Review of Suppliers’ Voluntary Initiatives to Help Vulnerable Customers on 6 August 2007, which covered the period to July 2007. Ofgem updated this report in October 2007. Both reports can be found online at:"http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Sustainability/SocAction/Suppliers/CSR/Documents1/Review%20of%20suppliers%20voluntary %20initiatives.pdf.""http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Sustainability/SocAction/Suppliers/CSR/Documents1/CSR_update%20open%20letter%2023507.pdf"The reports show that, at that time, the savings to customers from being on a social tariff was estimated to be just under £25 million. Annex 1 of the update shows suppliers’ own estimates on their spend on social tariffs which totals just over £26 million.Following the announcement in Budget 2008, energy suppliers agreed in April, to increase how much they are spending on social programmes. This year they will be spending collectively £100 million, rising to £125 million in 2009-10 and £150 million in 2010-11.Expenditure on social tariffs during the first year of the voluntary agreement will be published in Ofgem's next reporting cycle in 2009. However, early indications from suppliers show that since this time last year the numbers of customer accounts on social tariffs have at least doubled.Ofgem will shortly be publishing a report on suppliers’ social programmes, including their social tariffs, for the period to the end of March 2008. |