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Energy: VAT

Asked by Graham LeadbitterScottish National PartyDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled Answered 22 April 2025UIN 44286

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions he has had with (a) OFGEM and (b) energy companies on VAT inclusion in (i) energy billing documents and (ii) online quotes for consumers.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh

My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I have regular meetings with Ofgem on a range of issues.

Quotes on energy pricing and how those quotes are broken down for customers are a matter for energy suppliers. However, the Government takes the issue of accurate billing very seriously. All suppliers must take all reasonable steps to reflect accurate meter readings in bills or statements sent to customers where these have been provided by a customer or obtained by the supplier. This is laid out in the Supplier Licence Conditions (SLCs) for both electricity and gas.

Under 31E.10 of both sets of SLCs where the licensee provides a Domestic Customer with any information about the Charges for the Supply of Electricity, gas or any other type of charge or fee (the “Applicable Charges”), the licensee must inform the Domestic Customer of whether the Applicable Charges include or exclude value added tax.

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