Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland news from 2023
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- December 2023
Scottish Government publishes update to Building Standards Technical Handbook implementing New Build Heat Standard
The Scottish Government has published a Building Standards Technical Handbook update implementing the New Build Heat Standard, banning gas and oil boilers in new homes from April 2024 but leaving the notional house specification unchanged.
Scottish Fuel Poverty Advisory Panel notes planned closure of Fuel Insecurity Fund in 2024/25 Budget
The Scottish Fuel Poverty Advisory Panel has told ministers it is extremely disappointed by plans to close the Fuel Insecurity Fund and cut housing and buildings budgets from April 2024.
Scottish Government publishes easy read consultation on Heat in Buildings Bill
The Scottish Government has published an easy read version of its Heat in Buildings Bill consultation, setting out proposed dates for ending polluting heating and for minimum energy efficiency standards.
- November 2023
Heat in Buildings Bill consultation opens
The Scottish Government has opened a consultation on proposals for a Heat in Buildings Bill, setting out plans to regulate the heating systems and energy efficiency of homes and other buildings.
Consumer Scotland publishes briefing on winter energy bill support options ahead of the Autumn Statement
Consumer Scotland has published a briefing on options for targeted winter energy bill support, arguing for help through the prepayment meter Energy Price Guarantee and setting out drawbacks of the Warm Home Discount in Scotland.
Cold Weather Payment scheme for 2023 to 2024 opens
The Cold Weather Payment scheme for 2023 to 2024 opened in November 2023, paying £25 for each seven-day period of very cold weather in England and Wales until 31 March 2024.
Scottish government delays fossil fuel boiler phase-out by at least three years
The Scottish government has postponed the start of its phase-out of fossil fuel boilers by at least three years, announcing the change alongside a consultation on a new heating bill.
- October 2023
Scottish Government publishes Heat in Buildings progress report 2023
The Scottish Government's 2023 Heat in Buildings progress report records £170 million of capital investment through delivery schemes and confirms a consultation on a Heat in Buildings Bill.
National Insulation Association submits response to Scottish Government EPC reform consultation
The National Insulation Association has told the Scottish Government it backs a separate fabric rating on reformed EPCs, a five-year validity period and wider installer choice for Home Energy Scotland funding.
NIE Networks announces change to design standard for new domestic connections
NIE Networks will introduce a higher-capacity design standard for new domestic connections from 1 November 2023, after a consultation on accommodating electric vehicle chargers and heat pumps.
Energy debt question first asked in tracker at 8%
Consumer Scotland's energy tracker shows the share of Scottish households in energy debt rose from 8% in October 2023 to 19% in winter 2026, with total GB debt and arrears reaching £4.55bn.
Warm Homes Discount Scheme reopens
The Warm Home Discount reopens in October 2023, with eligibility checks available from that month and payments made automatically to eligible households.
- August 2023
Welsh Government publishes consultation on the Heat Strategy for Wales
The Welsh Government has published a consultation on its heat strategy for Wales, setting out plans to move homes and businesses away from fossil fuel heating towards electrification.
Mobile heat pump training facility launched at South Lanarkshire College
A Scottish Government funded mobile heat pump training centre, certified by BPEC, was launched at South Lanarkshire College on 2 August to train installers across Scotland.
Consumer Council research estimates 51% of Northern Ireland households in fuel poverty
Consumer Council research estimates 51 per cent of Northern Ireland households were in fuel poverty in early 2023, up from 34 per cent in 2022, with 48 per cent unable to afford to heat their homes.
Scottish Government limited solar funding to homes with renewable heating systems
The Scottish Government restricted Home Energy Scotland solar funding to homes with renewable heating from August 2023, before solar and battery support was withdrawn entirely in June 2024.
Welsh Government publishes draft Heat Strategy for Wales for consultation
The Welsh Government has published a draft Heat Strategy for Wales, setting out its path to net zero heat by 2050 and opening the document to consultation.
- July 2023
Scottish Government publishes EPC reform consultation
The Scottish Government has opened a consultation on reforming domestic and non-domestic Energy Performance Certificates, proposing new metrics, a shorter validity period and a move to a webpage format.
Draft Heat Strategy for Wales published for consultation
The Welsh Government published its Draft Heat Strategy for Wales for consultation in summer 2023, setting out long term requirements for decarbonising heat across all sectors by 2050.
Northern Ireland announces plan for electricity smart meter implementation
Northern Ireland's Department for the Economy is developing a plan for electricity smart meters, with analysis recommending a six-year roll-out beginning in 2027.
Revised EPC regulations planned for Winter 2023-24
The Scottish Government has consulted on reforming Energy Performance Certificates, proposing a shorter validity period and new metrics, with revised regulations planned for the Scottish Parliament in Winter 2023-24.
Scottish Government launches EPC reform consultation
The Scottish Government consulted on reforming Energy Performance Certificates between July and October 2023, and its analysis of the 323 responses was published on 23 January 2025.
- June 2023
Scottish Government withdraws standalone solar PV and storage eligibility from Home Energy Scotland loans
The Scottish Government has stopped Home Energy Scotland loans for standalone solar panels and energy storage, with applications now accepted only when bundled with a heat pump or high heat retention storage heaters.
Publication of analysis on impact of energy and cost of living support measures across UK nations
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has published estimates of the cost of UK government energy and cost of living support in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and its effect on household incomes.
Summary of response published for Warm Homes Programme consultation
The Welsh Government has published a summary of responses, a policy statement and a review and recommendations report for the next iteration of the Warm Homes Programme, two years after the consultation closed.
New Build Heat Standard regulations laid in the Scottish Parliament
Scottish ministers have laid regulations for the New Build Heat Standard, which from 1 April 2024 will bar direct emissions heating in new buildings in Scotland.
NBHS regulations laid in the Scottish Parliament
Scottish ministers have laid regulations for the New Build Heat Standard, prohibiting direct emissions heating in new buildings from 1 April 2024, after a consultation that drew 112 responses.
Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan opened
The Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan opened in June 2023, offering homeowners up to £7,500 in grant funding plus an optional interest-free loan of the same amount.
Home Energy Scotland withdraws stand-alone solar loans without warning
Home Energy Scotland withdrew stand-alone loans for solar energy systems on homes in summer 2023 without warning, and stopped loans for solar panels and batteries altogether a year later.
Rural uplift set at 20% for Scotland and Wales only
The government has confirmed that its new Great British Insulation Scheme will carry a 20% rural off-gas uplift in Scotland and Wales for low-income households, below the 35% uplift under ECO4.
Scottish Government publishes analysis of New Build Heat Standard Part II consultation responses
The Scottish Government has published its analysis of responses to the second New Build Heat Standard consultation, showing broad support for banning direct emissions heating in new homes from April 2024 alongside concerns about grid capacity and costs.
Warmer Homes Scotland contract due to expire
Scottish Government screening assessment confirms the Warmer Homes Scotland contract expires on 30 June 2023, with a successor national scheme due to start three days later on 3 July 2023.
- May 2023
Scottish Government announces £10m extension of Fuel Insecurity Fund
The Scottish Government has extended its Fuel Insecurity Fund by £10m, a scheme that has written off millions in household energy debt and issued thousands of fuel vouchers.
VAT ESM relief extended to Northern Ireland on 1 May 2023
The temporary VAT zero rate on installing energy-saving materials was extended to Northern Ireland on 1 May 2023 under the Windsor Framework, aligning its VAT treatment with Great Britain.
Zero rate for air source heat pumps extended to Northern Ireland
From 1 May 2023 the temporary zero rate of VAT on air source heat pumps and other qualifying energy-saving materials applies across the whole United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland.
- April 2023
Next iteration of Warm Homes Programme to start
The Welsh Government has confirmed that the next iteration of its Warm Homes Programme will begin in April 2023, continuing advice and efficiency support for lower income households in Wales.
Scenario modelling projects 920,000 fuel poor households from April 2023
Scottish Government modelling published on 30 May 2023 projects 920,000 fuel poor households in Scotland, 37 per cent of all households, from April 2023 once the £400 Energy Bills Support Scheme ends.
- March 2023
Welsh Government statement on energy cost of living crisis
Jane Hutt MS has set out Welsh Government concerns over the energy market, the end of the £400 Energy Bill Support Scheme payment and the treatment of prepayment meter customers in Wales.
Welsh Government published the Keep Warm Keep Well Pembrokeshire press release
The Welsh Government has published details of the Keep Warm Keep Well programme in Pembrokeshire, part of a £1.6 billion cost-of-living support package, after a ministerial visit to a Tenby warm space.
First Minister backed £10 million uplift to the Fuel Insecurity Fund
The First Minister marked his first month in office with a £10 million uplift to the Fuel Insecurity Fund, a commitment the Scottish Fuel Poverty Advisory Panel later cited when it criticised plans to close the fund.
New Warmer Homes Scotland scheme launches
A new version of Warmer Homes Scotland, built on a whole house retrofit approach, replaced the previous scheme in early 2023, targeting lower-income and vulnerable households in fuel poverty.
Welsh Government plans to start next Part L review in 2023
The Welsh Government has said it will begin the next review of Part L of the Building Regulations in 2023, with a minimum expectation of a 75% carbon improvement option for 2025.
- February 2023
Welsh Government Fuel Support Scheme application window closes
The Welsh Government Fuel Support Scheme stopped taking applications on 28 February 2023, closing a £200 payment that was open to households regardless of how they paid for energy.
CCC publishes research on domestic EPC metric reform
The Climate Change Committee published research and recommendations on reforming domestic Energy Performance Certificates across Scotland and the rest of the UK in February 2023.
First Winter Heating Payments due to be made
The Scottish Government has confirmed that the first payments of its new £50 Winter Heating Payment, which replaces the UK Cold Weather Payment in Scotland, will be made in February 2023.
Winter Heating Payment launched in Scotland
Scotland's Winter Heating Payment replaced the Cold Weather Payment in February 2023, giving low-income households a guaranteed annual payment instead of one triggered by sustained cold weather.
- January 2023
SSEN commits additional £3.5 million for Storm Arwen affected communities
SSEN Distribution has committed an additional £3.5 million for communities worst hit by Storm Arwen, covering local authority funding, its Resilient Communities Fund and network investment in north east Scotland.
Plan to implement Passivhaus standard in Scotland announced
The Scottish Government announced plans on 10 January 2023 to introduce minimum environmental design standards for all newbuild housing, meeting a Scottish equivalent to the Passivhaus standard.
Cashback scheme to be replaced by grant scheme in 2022/23
The Scottish Government has confirmed that the Home Energy Scotland loan and cashback arrangements will be replaced in 2022/23 by a grant scheme for energy efficiency and zero emissions heat improvements.
Draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan published for consultation
The Scottish Government published its draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan for consultation in January 2023, setting out ambitions to transform how Scotland heats its homes and buildings.
Review of energy standards commences to investigate a Scottish equivalent to the Passivhaus standard
The Scottish Government began a review of building energy standards at the start of 2023 to investigate what a Scottish equivalent to the Passivhaus standard might be.
Scottish government launches EPC reform consultation
The Scottish government has consulted on the design and content of Energy Performance Certificates, with findings from that consultation expected towards the end of 2024.
Welsh Government published consultation reviewing renewable energy targets
The Welsh Government has confirmed it consulted in January 2023 on renewable energy targets including 100% of annual electricity consumption from renewables by 2035 and 5.5GW of heat pump capacity.