The chartered institute of environmental health has expressed disappointment that "the UK government have missed yet another opportunity to prioritise energy efficiency measures as a means of supporting households with their energy bills.".

The organisation was responding to the department of business, energy and industrial strategy (BEIS) announcement of the scheme which provides households with a £400 non refundable discount towards their energy costs through the winter this year. Whilst welcoming the scheme the CIEH said that with the predicted rise in the energy price cap set to reach £3,500 (a "staggering" 78% increase) millions of households face huge cost increases, fuel poverty and financial hardship this coming winter but the support scheme does not include any proposals to reduce bills via additional energy efficiency measures.

CIEH head of policy and public affairs, Ross Matthewman, said "While this scheme will provide short term relief for households ...... sadly [it] does not go far enough to mitigate against this impending crisis."