Poll finds MPs back electricity tax cuts to boost heat pump adoption

Almost half of MPs would support cutting electricity levies to help households switch to heat pumps, according to a new cross-party study that highlights both momentum for clean energy reform and a lack of awareness about existing government incentives.

The survey of 111 MPs, conducted by Savanta on behalf of clean energy tech firm Aira, found that 48 per cent of politicians backed removing levies from electricity bills to make heat pumps a more affordable alternative to gas boilers. Just 17 per cent opposed the idea, while 34 per cent said they would remain neutral or needed to learn more.

The findings come as UK households face some of the highest electricity prices in Europe. Four-fifths of levies are currently applied to electricity bills, with only a fifth on gas, leaving electricity around four times more expensive than gas despite a growing share of supply coming from renewable sources such as wind, solar and nuclear.

While the overall result suggests broad cross-party support for reform, opposition is strongest among Liberal Democrats, 58 per cent of whom rejected the idea. By contrast, just 22 per cent of Conservatives and 10 per cent of Labour MPs said they opposed removing levies.

Heat pump leaders argue the findings show growing parliamentary support for rebalancing energy costs, but stress that better education is needed – not just for the public, but also within Westminster itself.

The government’s flagship Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS), which offers households up to £7,500 towards the cost of installing a heat pump, remains poorly understood even among MPs.

Only 8 per cent said they knew a lot about the scheme, while nearly one in ten admitted they had never heard of it. Although 87 per cent of MPs were aware of the policy, detailed familiarity was low, with Labour MPs the least knowledgeable overall.

Lib Dem MPs reported the highest levels of awareness (100 per cent), while Conservatives – whose party introduced the policy in 2022 – showed the lowest awareness at 84 per cent.

When asked which measures would most help households cut carbon emissions, 71 per cent of MPs pointed to home insulation, while 54 per cent cited double or triple glazing. Almost half also highlighted installing solar panels (49 per cent) and replacing oil or gas boilers with heat pumps (45 per cent).

Support for heat pumps, however, varied sharply across party lines: 72 per cent of Lib Dem MPs and 50 per cent of Labour MPs agreed they were an effective solution, compared with just 24 per cent of Conservatives.

Matt Isherwood, Aira UK Service Operations Director, said the findings showed both progress and opportunity.

“This report shows us three things: that a strong number of MPs support heat pumps and cheaper electricity prices; that many politicians understand the role heat pumps play in reducing household carbon emissions; and that more needs to be done to educate policymakers and constituents, especially in relation to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.”

He added: “The growing support for lower electricity prices shows that it’s high time to get down to business and deliver the ‘big bang’ moment the heat pump industry, politicians, and British households have been waiting for — one that will supercharge adoption and deliver lower, more stable energy bills for everyone.”