I have been raising residents' concerns about the Sutton Decentralised Energy Network Limited (SDEN) with government.
SDEN is a company wholly owned by Lib Dem-run Sutton Council, which we are told uses energy created by the incinerator to heat water, transport it along pipes to the New Mill Quarter (NMQ) development to provide them with heating and hot water. However, it is understood that this is currently being provided by back-up generators at NMQ itself while completions are being made to the incinerator.
After being elected, I received a lot of correspondence from residents of NMQ about, amongst other issues, SDEN and their bills.
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy recently launched a consultation into District Heat Networks like SDEN about how they should be regulated in the future. I submitted a response to that consultation, detailing the concerns that residents had raised with me about SDEN.
I am delighted to have received a very positive reply from the Minister, outlining about how new regulations should address many of the issues that NMQ residents face. I have attached both letters below.
I will continue to work with NMQ residents and government to ensure that they are not ripped off.