Powering Homes news, page 104
- May 2022
Energy Bills Support Scheme vouchers announced
The government's Energy Bills Support Scheme, announced in May 2022, gave every household in Great Britain a £400 discount on energy bills, paid in six instalments from October 2022.
Energy Profits Levy introduced on UK oil and gas companies
The government levied an Energy Profits Levy on UK oil and gas companies in May 2022, after record industry profits and rising household energy costs that followed the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Government announced intention to legislate to extend price cap beyond 2023
The government said in May 2022 that it intended to legislate to allow the default tariff price cap to continue beyond 2023, as the National Audit Office counted 29 supplier failures since July 2021.
Government publishes response to market-based mechanism consultation
The Government has published its response to the consultation on the market-based mechanism for low-carbon heat, a scheme obliging fossil fuel heating manufacturers to meet rising low-carbon sales targets.
Green Home Finance Accelerator funding doubled to £20 million
A parliamentary committee report confirms the British Energy Security Strategy doubled funding for the Green Home Finance Accelerator from £10 million to £20 million, alongside wider heat decarbonisation measures.
UK inflation reaches 9.1%, highest in 40 years, driven largely by energy prices
UK inflation reached 9.1% in the year to May 2022, the highest for 40 years, with energy prices contributing 3.2 percentage points for fossil fuel households and 2.3 for all-electric homes.
Nesta decides not to pursue group purchasing for heat pumps
Nesta has decided not to run its own group buying scheme for heat pumps, saying the model has real potential but that the 2022 market is not ready.
Ofgem announces plans for quarterly price cap review
Ofgem has announced plans to move the price cap to a quarterly review, so that changes in wholesale gas and electricity costs, including falls, reach customer bills sooner.
Ofgem consults on wholesale cost adjustment design for cap periods eight and nine
Ofgem has opened a consultation on whether suppliers need an extra wholesale cost adjustment in the default tariff cap for periods eight and nine, with a decision due in August 2022.
Sale of traditional house coal banned in England
The sale of traditional house coal has been banned in England since 1 May 2022, under air quality rules that also cover wood moisture and stove emissions.
Scottish government proposes Passivhaus standard for all new-build housing
The Scottish government has proposed that all new-build housing in Scotland meet the Passivhaus standard or a Scottish equivalent, under a Member's Bill lodged in May 2022.
Rules and RegulationInsulation and GlazingScotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Scottish Government publishes quality assurance policy statement for heat in buildings
The Scottish Government has published a quality assurance policy statement for heat in buildings, setting TrustMark and MCS supplier requirements for its schemes and a timetable of actions through 2022.
Third support package against rising energy prices announced
A GBP 650 one-off Cost of Living Payment for 8 million low-income households formed part of a third support package against rising energy prices announced in May 2022.
UW Standard SEG tariff takes effect at 2 pence per kWh
The Utility Warehouse's Smart Export Guarantee Standard tariff, a Standard Variable rate paying 2 pence per kWh for exported electricity, took effect on 01 May 2022.
Wales published changes to Part L
Wales published changes to Part L, the building regulation covering the conservation of fuel and power, in May 2022, according to a UK government research report updated in December 2022.
Rules and RegulationInsulation and GlazingScotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
- April 2022
Ready to Burn deadline ends for small wood suppliers
Small wood suppliers in England selling under 600 cubic metres a year must meet Ready to Burn certification from 1 May 2022, ending the extra year given to them to prepare.
Product recall issued for the Smart Energy Saver UK
The Office for Product Safety and Standards has required the recall of a plug-in energy saving device sold as the Smart Energy Saver UK after tests found a serious risk of fire and electric shock.
Panasonic adds three-phase option to Aquarea T-CAP Mono-bloc J Generation R32 heat pumps
Panasonic has added a three-phase power supply option to its Aquarea T-CAP Mono-bloc J Generation R32 heat pumps, covering heating and cooling capacities between 9 and 16kW.
Panasonic launches Aquarea Hybrid Eco+ Heat Pump
Panasonic has launched the Aquarea Hybrid Eco+ heat pump, a unit that works alongside an existing fossil fuelled boiler and which the company says can cut carbon emissions by up to 80%.
Nesta publishes discovery phase findings on boiler flow temperature and emissions
Nesta has published discovery phase findings on boiler flow temperature, reporting that optimising condensing combi boilers could cut household energy use, costs and emissions by 6 to 8 per cent.
UK Government consulted on clean heating market mandate earlier in 2022
The UK Government consulted earlier in 2022 on a policy to obligate boiler manufacturers to match fossil fuel boiler sales with heat pump installations, Nesta reported on 20 April 2022.
Nesta and BIT publish report assessing the UK Government's boiler manufacturer mandate for heat pumps
Nesta and the Behavioural Insights Team have published a report assessing the UK Government's proposed mandate requiring boiler manufacturers to match fossil fuel boiler sales with heat pump installations.
New Welsh Government estimates show up to 45% of Welsh households in fuel poverty
New official Welsh Government estimates show up to 45% of households in Wales are likely to be in fuel poverty, with 115,000 households in severe fuel poverty, according to National Energy Action.
StatisticsScotland, Wales and Northern IrelandYour Type of Home
Winter Fuel Support Scheme payment widened and planned for later in 2022
National Energy Action says the Welsh Government will make a further Winter Fuel Support Scheme payment later in 2022, widened to reach more low-income households including pensioners eligible for Pension Credit.
Grants and SchemesEnergy Bills and the Price CapScotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Ofgem publishes decision on ECO4 scoring methodology consultation
Ofgem has confirmed how ECO4 energy efficiency measures will be scored, keeping intermediate SAP bands, four floor area segments and a 10% correction factor in its final decision.
BEIS to publish proposals on rebalancing energy bill costs in 2022
The government's Energy Security Strategy commits to rebalancing costs on energy bills away from electricity, with BEIS to publish proposals in 2022, alongside VAT-free home energy saving measures for five years.
Cross-industry letter calls on Government to expand ECO eligibility
The National Insulation Association has signed a cross-industry letter to HM Treasury, issued by the Sustainable Energy Association, calling for wider eligibility under the Energy Company Obligation.
Heat Pump Investment Accelerator Competition announced for 2022
The government has announced a Heat Pump Investment Accelerator Competition worth up to £30 million in 2022 to expand British heat pump manufacturing, as part of its Energy Security Strategy.
SSEN completes £1.7 million Portsmouth infrastructure upgrade
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks has completed a £1.7 million upgrade to part of Portsmouth's electricity network, replacing grid transformers and equipment serving thousands of customers.
CCC responds to UK Government's Energy Security Strategy
The Climate Change Committee welcomed the British Energy Security Strategy's offshore wind, nuclear and hydrogen commitments but said the absence of household energy efficiency measures was disappointing.