Speeches by Collinge.

“Would you indulge me, Chair? My rural constituents have real problems with smart meter; they just do not work. So how can we make sure that smart meters actually work for the whole population, not just in urban centres?”

“There are a couple of things I want to raise from a consumer point of view. Sarah, you mentioned the percentage of network costs. Have we lost the link between usage and costs almost entirely? Does that make it more difficult to incentivise?”

“I mean the consumer use of energy. Is it because so much of the percentage is not about the wholesale cost? Have we essentially broken that link between, “Use this much and it will cost that much”?”

“Following on about control and giving customers a seat at the table, in the last panel I followed up on Polly’s point that people do not want to think about their electric. We certainly do not want them to be in a position where they have to, as a lot of people currently do. What likelihood, or ability, does the consum…”

“From the ordinary British householder’s point of view, when they sign up for their tariff or plug in a heat pump, are we anywhere near them saying, “Count me in” because that is all they have to think about? If we are still relying on people being energy nerds, I do not think we are going to get there. In practical ter…”

“That feels like the story of our lives.”

“Thank you, that is very helpful. Are there any further comments on that?”

“That is great. If we accept that is the right thing to do, do we have the policies in place? Is there a business case for that to work? If not, what needs to happen?”

“That is because if you are on a prepayment meter, you do not have any money by definition, but you are paying more.”

“Just to be clear, so that I understand, you say it might work where there is heavy industry using hydrogen through electrolysis, or where Arctic wagons are powered by hydrogen, but otherwise, economically, it does not quite make sense yet.”

“I am really pleased to see this warm homes plan, as a warm home for everyone was one of my key election pledges. In my constituency of Morecambe and Lunesdale, Green Rose CIC has been helping people for years with energy efficiency and making their homes warmer. Can the Secretary of State tell me how local experts such…”

“Very quickly, just to make sure I have understood this correctly, we are talking in this context about interconnectors only being used to import energy; but my understanding is that they can be used to export energy as well. Just to get back to your point about the energy mix, would strengthening our interconnector sys…”

“I just wanted to get back to Polly’s point about demand-side flexibility at a consumer level; I am interested in automation because I agree with her that it is too much to ask people to do it themselves in a meaningful way. Do we currently have systems where, if people have an EV solar battery and a tariff, those can t…”

“If that was to be developed in a way where a consumer did not have to do anything—the tariff is there, the technology is there, and they all talk to each other and all people have to do is give their preferences—who do you think would be best placed to deliver that? Is it the network operators? Is it the Government mak…”

“Kat, do you have any other comments on that issue?”

“There is no interoperability standard for energy?”

“I absolutely agree that for any issue, fireworks or otherwise, it needs to be clear to people who is responsible and who they can go to. Unfortunately, too many of our constituents, whatever their situation, get passed between different organisations, and that is unfair. By placing some sensible regulations on noise le…”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Pritchard. I thank the hon. Member for Keighley and Ilkley (Robbie Moore) for presenting this debate on behalf of the Petitions Committee. My constituents were fourth on the list for signatures to these petitions, which call for controls on the decibel levels of firewo…”

“I absolutely agree that the impact on all groups, including businesses, must be considered. As time moves on, I hope that more organised displays use moving drones, which are quiet and absolutely spectacular.”

“I must confess that I love fireworks—I absolutely adore them—and I want people to be able to experience that joy, but not at the cost of other people’s safety and security.”