To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what research his Department has (a) evaluated and (b) commissioned on the effect on progress towards energy consumption reduction targets of the structure of energy (i) bills and (ii) tariffs. (280903)

DECC considers analysis from a range of sources on factors affecting energy use, in order to inform policy development.

DECC is co-funding the Energy Demand Research Project, which is enabling the Government, energy suppliers and others to test through a variety of interventions how electricity and gas customers respond to better information about their consumption. Interventions include smart metering, real-time display devices, additional billing information, energy efficiency information and community engagement, along with combinations of these interventions.

Ofgem has recently held a public consultation on proposals for new obligations on suppliers relating to consumer information and engagement. We look forward to seeing Ofgem's further proposals in order to get the best results in terms of providing consumers with the information they need and can use.

Ofgem is also undertaking exploratory work on potential interactions between tariff structures and the incentives for energy efficiency.