Powering Homes news, page 100
- July 2022
Energy price crisis drives record UK solar deployment in first half of 2022
Solar Energy UK reports 556MW of solar capacity connected across all scales in the first half of 2022, with residential rooftop installations in six months already exceeding the whole of 2021.
Nesta launches beta web tool to help households lower boiler flow temperature
Nesta has published a beta web tool that gives households tailored instructions on changing boiler settings, saying lower flow temperatures could cut household energy use by 6 to 8 per cent.
CREDS publishes report on distributional effects of net-zero pathways
CREDS research finds that all modelled net-zero pathways hit vulnerable UK households hardest on energy and motor fuel costs, with low-income groups spending over twice the share of income that high earners do.
NEA publishes Impact Report for April 2021 to March 2022
National Energy Action has published an impact report for April 2021 to March 2022, saying more than 6.5 million UK households were in fuel poverty after the 1 April price cap rise.
Grand Committee considers the Electricity and Gas (Energy Company Obligation) Order 2022
The House of Lords Grand Committee approved the draft Electricity and Gas (Energy Company Obligation) Order 2022 on 12 July 2022, extending and expanding the ECO4 scheme in Great Britain until March 2026.
Energy-saving materials VAT rate cut to 0% in Great Britain
VAT on energy-saving materials installed in residential buildings in Great Britain is now 0%, HM Revenue and Customs guidance states, with the relief running until 31 March 2027.
Ofgem CEO tells MPs October cap rise will exceed previous prediction
Ofgem's chief executive told MPs the October price cap will rise by more than the £800 previously predicted, as forecasters put winter bills near £3,300.
Citizens Advice publishes research on consumer impact of energy supplier failures
Citizens Advice research published on 10 July 2022 finds 28 energy supplier failures since August 2021 affected over 4 million customers and calls for reform of failure and Special Administration processes.
UK Energy Incubator Hub closes and its customers move to Octopus Energy
UK Energy Incubator Hub closed on 9 July 2022 and Ofgem appointed Octopus Energy to take on its customers under the Supplier of Last Resort process.
Cornwall Insight raises price cap forecast to average £3,304
Cornwall Insight raised its forecast for the October 2022 and January 2023 price caps to £3,245 and £3,634, an average of £3,304, as gas costs drive the increase.
WMCA launches two major retrofit schemes in the West Midlands
The West Midlands Combined Authority has launched two retrofit schemes, one covering 600 social homes and another opening in Elmdon and Foleshill, as a Birmingham couple report £1,000 annual fuel savings.
Nesta report warns of heat pump installer shortage
Nesta's report finds only 3,000 trained heat pump engineers in the UK against a need for at least 27,000 within six years, warning that installer shortages could hold back net zero targets.
Ofgem launches review of arrangements for recovering the costs of supplier failure
Ofgem has closed its review of how the costs of supplier failure are recovered, deciding to keep the existing methodology rather than move recovery onto unit rates.
UK renewables auction secures 11 GW at record low prices
The UK's seventh contracts for difference auction on 7 July 2022 secured 11 GW of renewable capacity at the lowest wind and solar prices recorded, according to the energy think tank Ember.
Warm Home Discount (England and Wales) Regulations 2022 come into force
The Warm Home Discount (England and Wales) Regulations 2022 were made on 6 July 2022 and came into force the following day, continuing the scheme in England and Wales until 31 March 2026.
Energy Bill [HL] 2022-23 introduced in the House of Lords
The Energy Bill was introduced in the House of Lords on 6 July 2022, with measures on heat networks, smart appliances, building energy performance and business energy audits.
Octopus Electric Vehicles launches bundled EV package with Ohme charger and Intelligent Octopus tariff
Octopus Electric Vehicles has launched a bundled package giving drivers a new car, an Ohme Home Pro charger, an EV energy tariff and 5000 miles of free charging.
ECIU analysis finds electric households saving £1,180 a year over fossil fuel households
Analysis by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit finds households with heat pumps and electric cars saved an average £1,180 a year by avoiding gas and petrol, with the gap set to widen.
NEA publishes report calling for a new social tariff in the energy market
National Energy Action has published a report arguing that the government must create a social tariff, a discounted energy deal for low income households, to cut bills during the cost of living crisis.
Ofgem published ECO4 New Measures and Products draft guidance
Ofgem has published draft guidance for comment on how it will administer the new measures and products routes under ECO4, with responses due by 18 July 2022.
BEIS publishes Energy Bill summary impact assessment
BEIS has published a July 2022 summary impact assessment for the Energy Bill, setting out net present values, business costs and consumer bill impacts across 30 measures.
Central Switching Service introduced
The Central Switching Service began operating in July 2022, cutting the time a household needs to change energy supplier to five working days, according to the body that runs the national smart meter network.
Consortium secures £7.5M from Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund
A West Midlands consortium has secured £7.5M from the government's Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund to retrofit 600 social homes with low carbon heating and solar panels.
ECO scheme entered its fourth phase ECO4
The Energy Company Obligation entered its fourth phase, ECO4, in July 2022, obliging energy companies to fund insulation and heating upgrades in lower income homes until 31 March 2026.
ECO4 legislation comes into place and SWIGA publishes funding feature
SWIGA has published a feature listing grant funding streams for solid wall insulation after ECO4 legislation came into force, setting out eligibility and timescales for schemes running to 2027.
ECO4 Order comes into force
The ECO4 Order came into force in July 2022, opening the fourth phase of the Energy Company Obligation to measures installed from 1 April 2022 under a scheme administered by Ofgem.
ECO4 policy guidance published
The government published policy guidance for the Energy Company Obligation 2022 to 2026 in July 2022, setting out how suppliers, manufacturers and installers can apply for innovation and alternative measure routes.
Essex tower block ground source heat pump retrofit begins
Thurrock Council and Kensa began work in July 2022 on a networked ground source heat pump retrofit across 273 flats in three Essex tower blocks, replacing night storage heaters.
First instalment of Cost of Living Payment paid in July 2022
The first instalment of a GBP 650 Cost of Living Payment reached around 8 million low-income households in July 2022, with a second instalment due in November 2022.
Flexi variable costs updated for the quarter from 1 July 2022
ScottishPower has published the variable cost components of its Flexi tariff for the quarter beginning 1 July 2022, with Balancing Services Use of System falling and several regional distribution standing charges changing.