Explanatory note

These Regulations amend the list of fuel poverty measures in section 36(3) of the Digital Economy Act 2017 (c. 30) (“the Act”) to include arrangements that are put in place pursuant to requirements imposed by the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority that relate to domestic customers who are in debt in respect of their gas or electricity supply.

Information cannot be disclosed to licensed gas and electricity suppliers under section 36 of the Act unless it is for use by them in connection with one of the fuel poverty measures listed.

They also amend the Schedule to the Digital Government (Disclosure of Information) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/912) in order to specify persons in relation to certain objectives included in that Schedule, to include the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero and the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology. This provision is necessary owing to an error made in the preparation of S.I. 2023/424 and is being issued free of charge to all known recipients of that Statutory Instrument.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sectors is foreseen.