New Energy policies unveiled by Lib Dems

1.21.25pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 17th Jul 2003

New LibDem policies unveiled today would let homeowners sell electricity back to power generating companies, and reduce tax on good energy-saving products.

Homes with solar panels generating more energy than they use could sell surplus electricity back to power generating companies using two-way meters. The Liberal Democrats would also reduce VAT on energy-saving products from 17.5% to 5% making it cheaper for people to buy more energy-efficient products - saving money and the environment.

Liberal Democrat Energy Spokesman Andrew Stunell MP, launching the new policy paper Conserving the Future, said:

"Our policies will give people a real incentive to save energy in their homes. They will pay less for energy-saving products; save money on heating bills; and will even be able to sell electricity back to power companies if they produce more energy than they can use."

"Labour's record on fuel poverty is shameful. There are 35,000 winter deaths in England every year. Quite simply people are dying because they cannot stay warm. This is a shocking indictment of past Governments of all parties. Yet the Government has cut 22% off their funding for fuel poverty measures over the last three years."

"We would also bring in new measures to help the most vulnerable - especially pensioners. All pensioner households would be offered a subsidised package of energy-saving measures as an alternative to receiving the annual winter fuel bonus. The retail value of the package would be higher than the cash bonus, with the advantage of actually making their homes permanently warmer, with long-term savings on fuel bills year after year."

Other Liberal Democrat policies include:

• Requiring manufacturers to declare how energy-efficient their products are;

• Require all new/replacement electricity meters to be capable of two-way operation to allow people to sell electricity back to the power companies if they can;

• Provide grants to homeowners installing innovative energy-saving products;

• Pressing the EU to introduce zero-rated VAT on all energy-saving materials;

• Setting up a single Department of Environment, Energy and Transport, including a Sustainable Energy Policy Unit to coordinate the Government's work.

ends

Notes for Editors

The Liberal Democrat policy paper Conserving the Future will be presented to the Party's annual autumn conference in Brighton (21-25 September 2003).