The Renewable Energy Consumer Code (RECC) published its winter newsletter on 27 February 20251. The newsletter carries articles on the outcome of RECC's monitoring work in 2024, survey results from consumers who took part in the Electrification of Heat Demonstration Project, and changes to MCS 031, the heat pump pre-sale information and performance calculation standard1. It also covers a RECC membership milestone and the trade shows the organisation plans to attend1.
RECC is the consumer protection code for businesses selling or leasing renewable energy generation systems to domestic consumers1. It is approved by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute under the Consumer Codes Approval Scheme and is a TrustMark Scheme Operator1. Members agree to abide by the standards in the Consumer Code and the Bye-Laws, which RECC says cover the consumer journey from start to finish and dovetail with Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) installer standards1.
The technologies covered by RECC members include solar photovoltaic systems, solar water heating, ground and air source heat pumps, and boilers fuelled by wood chips or pellets1. Members also work with add-ons such as battery storage systems, voltage optimisers and i-boost systems1.
In a separate news item on its site, dated 28 April 2026, RECC said its membership remained strong as MCS requirements evolved1:
"RECC reinforces its position as a trusted consumer protection provider, with strong membership reflecting sustained industry confidence amid evolving MCS requirements."
That item also states that RECC is investing in the Green Homes Dispute Resolution Service and aligning with schemes including the Boiler Upgrade Scheme1. The specific membership figure behind the milestone mentioned in the newsletter has not been reported1. The newsletter's findings on RECC's 2024 monitoring and the Electrification of Heat survey results are not set out in the pages available1.
Why it matters for households
Households buying or leasing a renewable generation system, such as solar panels or a heat pump, deal with installers whose conduct sits under two separate layers of rules. MCS covers the technical standard of the installation; RECC covers the commercial side, including sales, contracts, deposits and dispute resolution1. For a household, that split matters because a problem with a deposit or a contract term is not a technical fault and would not be addressed by installer certification alone.
The newsletter's reference to MCS 031 concerns the information a household should receive before a heat pump is sold, and the calculation of its expected performance1. Pre-sale information of that kind shapes what a household understands about running costs and likely output before committing money, which bears directly on how far a home can rely on its own generation and heating rather than on imported energy.
The mention of the Green Homes Dispute Resolution Service indicates a route for resolving problems that arise after an installation1. Details of how that service operates, and of the 2024 monitoring results, have not been reported in the pages available1.
What happens next
The newsletter states that RECC will attend upcoming shows, without naming dates in the pages available1. No further dated steps are given1.
Sources1 cited
- Renewable Energy Consumer Code (RECC), recc.org.uk