Installers News: page 4
- June 2024
CTSI warns energy-efficiency pledges undermined by lack of consumer confidence
The Chartered Trading Standards Institute has published polling showing that low awareness of funding and installers is holding back home energy-efficiency work, and has called for mandatory licensing of installers.
Solar PV and battery storage removed from HES Grant and Loan scheme eligibility
From 6 June 2024 the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan scheme stopped accepting new referrals for solar PV and battery storage, ending support even when these were installed alongside a heat pump.
- May 2024
Warranty conditions for RI-ENERGYFLOW-MIDI inverters issued
Rayleigh Instruments has published warranty conditions for its RI-ENERGYFLOW-MIDI inverters, giving a five year repair or replace term where the unit was installed by an MCS certified installer.
Lowcost Solutions Ltd recorded as inactive by Energy Ombudsman
The Energy Ombudsman has recorded the energy broker Lowcost Solutions Ltd as inactive, with a trading period that ended on 29 May 2024, and says it cannot review disputes about it.
Which? publishes policy paper calling for mandatory installer certification
Which? has called for mandatory certification of installers of low carbon heating, micro generation and insulation, plus government oversight of the schemes and a review of Trading Standards Services.
Andersen EV units purchased on or after 14 May 2024 carry a 7 year warranty
Andersen EV has set a seven year warranty on charge points bought from 14 May 2024, with earlier units keeping three years and pre-administration units having no contractual cover.
Boiler Upgrade Scheme extended to April 2028 with additional £1.5 billion
The government has extended the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to April 2028 and added £1.5 billion of funding over three years, according to Ofgem's annual report on the scheme it replaced.
- April 2024
New warranty registration system replaced old warranty form
Sunsynk has replaced its old warranty registration form with a new system, warning that registrations made on or before 24 April 2024 may not be searchable on it.
OVO launches 0% APR solar financing option
OVO has launched a 0% APR solar financing option giving households 36 months interest-free to spread the cost of a solar panel installation, subject to a £500 deposit.
E.ON pay-monthly subscription pilot to launch in April
E.ON will open a pay-monthly subscription pilot in April giving 350 North West households a heat pump, solar panels and a battery from £150 a month over 20 years.
New redeveloped MCS Scheme comes into effect
The redeveloped MCS Scheme took effect on 1 April 2024, resetting the consumer protections that sit behind certified small-scale renewable installations in UK homes.
TrustMark notifies DESNZ of suspected fraud under ECO schemes
The National Audit Office reports that TrustMark told DESNZ in April 2024 that some retrofit businesses were suspected of overclaiming for work carried out under the Energy Company Obligation.
- March 2024
Wickes launches fully installed Hypervolt EV charger service
Wickes customers can now add a fully installed Hypervolt home charger to their order for £410, using Hypervolt's Trusted Installers and Bedfordshire installer ProEV.
HPA reports 166% increase in qualified heat pump installers
The Heat Pump Association reports that the number of people completing eligible heat pump installer training rose 166 per cent in 2023, from just under 3,000 in 2022 to close to 8,000.
- February 2024
Warranty document issued for RI-ENERGYFLOW inverters
Rayleigh Instruments has published warranty conditions for its RI-ENERGYFLOW-MINI and 3P series inverters, offering a 10 year repair or replace term to end users from the date of purchase.
EDF acquires solar panel and battery installer Contact Solar
EDF has acquired Chorley-based solar panel and battery installer Contact Solar, its second installer purchase in a year, as it builds towards combined solar, battery, heat pump and EV offers.
MCS opens four-week consultation on changes to MIS 3005-D heat pump design standard
MCS has opened a four-week consultation on changes to its heat pump design standard, proposing a definition of hybrid systems, removal of the 100% heat loss sizing rule and a minimum 55% peak power contribution.
The Renewable Technology Collective achieves MCS certification
The Renewable Technology Collective, a Scottish heat pump installer working across Angus, Tayside and Aberdeenshire, became MCS-certified for air source heat pumps in February 2024, a process its founder says took two months.
Which? carries out EPC mystery shopping research
Which? sent 12 members for home energy assessments in February and March 2024 and found that eight of the 11 completed cases did not appear accurate.
- January 2024
VAT relief extended to charitable purpose buildings, water source heat pumps, battery storage and Smart diverters
From 1 February 2024 VAT relief on energy-saving materials was extended to charitable purpose buildings, water source heat pumps, electrical battery storage, smart diverters and associated groundworks.
MCS to exhibit at Everything Electric UK events for the first time
MCS will exhibit at all three Everything Electric UK events in 2024 for the first time, sharing an Energy Advice Stand with OVO to discuss small-scale renewables and certification.
Treasury makes the VAT (Installation of Energy-Saving Materials) Order 2024
The Treasury has widened the temporary zero rate of VAT on installing energy-saving materials to cover water source heat pumps, certain batteries and smart diverters from 1st February 2024.
- December 2023
£6 billion allocated to energy efficiency and low-carbon heating schemes
The government has allocated £6 billion of capital funding for 2025 to 2028 across energy efficiency and low-carbon heating schemes, including a new £400 million grant for households in England.
RECC reports Government extension of VAT relief on energy saving materials
The Renewable Energy Consumer Code has reported that VAT relief on energy saving materials will be expanded from 1 February 2024 to cover battery storage, water-source heat pumps and diverters.
New consumer standards licence conditions take effect
Ofgem's new consumer standards licence conditions for energy suppliers took effect on 14 December 2023, covering contact ease, support for customers struggling to pay and publication of customer service ratings.
Government confirms VAT relief expansion for battery storage, water-source heat pumps and diverters
The government has confirmed that electrical battery storage, water-source heat pumps and diverters will qualify for zero-rate VAT relief on installation from 1 February 2024 across the United Kingdom.
Outcome published: VAT energy saving materials relief to be expanded
HMRC has published the outcome of its call for evidence on VAT relief for energy saving materials, confirming an expanded zero rate from 1 February 2024 and a list of newly qualifying technologies.
- November 2023
MCS opens consultation on MCS 020 planning standard
MCS has opened a consultation on its MCS 020 planning standard for air source heat pumps, proposing changes to solid barrier definitions, background noise assumptions and location guidance, with comments due by 26 January 2024.
Green Heat Finance Taskforce publishes part 1 report
The independent Green Heat Finance Taskforce has published part one of its report, setting out finance options for Scottish property owners to cover the upfront cost of replacing polluting heating with clean heat.
MCS reported planned Benchmark Online and MID integration
MCS has reported that Benchmark Online and the MCS Installations Database will be integrated, giving heat pump installers a single point of data entry for commissioning and certification.