Powering Homes news, page 105
- April 2022
Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive closes to new applicants
Ofgem has closed the Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive to new applicants after eight years, with existing members continuing to receive payments for up to seven years.
Ofgem publishes decision on BUS administration
Ofgem has set out its final administrative position for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, confirming installer account opening on 11 April 2022 and applications from 23 May 2022.
Technical ZEV mandate consultation opened
The Department for Transport opened a technical consultation on 7 April 2022 on how a zero emission vehicle mandate for new cars and vans should be designed, running until 10 June.
British Energy Security Strategy published with accelerated clean energy targets
The government has published the British Energy Security Strategy, setting higher targets for nuclear, offshore wind, solar and hydrogen and confirming a five-year VAT cut on energy saving materials.
Welsh Government sets out £380 million cost-of-living support package for Wales
The Welsh Government has set out a £380 million package of cost-of-living support, including a £200 winter fuel payment, a £150 council tax rebate and extra funds for local authorities.
Chameleon Technology launches IHD replacement service
Chameleon Technology has launched a replacement in-home display service that lets households buy and activate an ivie Bud remotely, without an engineer visiting the home.
£150 Council Tax Energy Rebate for England bands A-D
Households in England in Council Tax bands A to D receive a £150 Council Tax Energy Rebate from April 2022, a payment the government says does not need to be repaid.
Over 6.3 million homes to be in fuel poverty from 1 April 2022
The End Fuel Poverty Coalition estimates more than 6.3 million homes will be in fuel poverty from 1 April 2022, with 2.2 million of them households containing dependent children.
BEIS decides not to apply English Boiler Plus standard across Great Britain under ECO4
BEIS has decided not to make the English Boiler Plus standard a specific requirement throughout Great Britain under ECO4, so installations will follow each nation's building regulations instead.
BEIS publishes Warm Home Discount response and NIA submits Welsh Warm Homes Programme response
BEIS confirmed an expanded Warm Home Discount running to at least 2025/26 as the National Insulation Association set out its response to Welsh plans for the next Warm Homes Programme.
British Energy Security Strategy published
The British Energy Security Strategy, published in April 2022, set out extra support for home energy efficiency, including five years without VAT on energy saving materials.
Rules and RegulationGrants and SchemesInsulation and Glazing
Carbon Co-op launches smart meter data access independent of energy suppliers
Carbon Co-op has launched a service that lets householders see their gas and electricity smart meter data without going through their energy supplier, for £12 a year or free with membership.
Chancellor announces £9.1 billion energy bills support package
The Chancellor has announced a £9.1 billion package of support to help more than 28 million households with rising energy bills, alongside a £200 reduction in domestic electricity bills from October 2022.
Civil nuclear deployment ambition raised to up to 24GW by 2050
The government has raised its civil nuclear deployment ambition to up to 24GW by 2050, three times current capacity and up to a quarter of projected electricity demand.
Conservative government launches REMA electricity market review
The Conservative government launched a review of electricity market arrangements in April 2022, with a first consultation that July, examining the rules that set wholesale power prices.
Cost of living payment scheme opens to households
A £150 cost of living payment for households in council tax bands A to D in Wales opens in April 2022 and runs until September, administered by local authorities.
Direct debit increases far above price cap rises reported after April 2022 review
After the April 2022 price cap rise, some households saw direct debit increases far above the cap, prompting an Ofgem review that found flawed supplier processes.
Domestic energy cap rise worsens household energy bills
The Welsh Government extended its Fuel Support Scheme to more than 400,000 low-income households with £90m, citing higher bills worsened by the April domestic energy cap rise.
Electricity standing charges jumped by more than 80% in April 2022
Electricity standing charges under the price cap rose by more than 80% in April 2022, driven mainly by supplier of last resort costs added to network cost allowances.
Energy Bills and the Price CapEnergy SuppliersRules and Regulation
Energy Company Obligation expanded to £1 billion per year from 2022-2026
The Energy Company Obligation will be expanded to £1 billion a year from 2022 to 2026 under the British Energy Security Strategy, supporting 113,000 low-income households annually.
Energy Security Strategy published with home energy efficiency largely absent
The UK Green Building Council said the government's Energy Security Strategy was "deeply disappointing" on home energy efficiency, with four policy measures announced but no comprehensive plan for upgrading the country's 29 million homes.
Final impact assessment published for Wales Part L, Part F and Part O changes
The Welsh Government has published its final impact assessment for changes to Parts L, F and O of the Building Regulations for residential buildings in Wales.
Rules and RegulationScotland, Wales and Northern IrelandInsulation and GlazingCooling and Air Conditioning
Four energy efficiency policy elements announced alongside the strategy
Four home energy efficiency measures accompanied the Energy Security Strategy, including an advice service by summer, energy performance standards detail in May, £10m for green finance and a £30m heat pump competition.
GGL allowance applies from cap period eight starting 1 April 2022
Ofgem has decided to add a Green Gas Levy allowance to the default tariff cap from cap period eight, which began on 1 April 2022, at about £2.69 per gas meter.
UK Government announces energy support package for Great Britain households
The UK Government announced a package of support for almost all households in Great Britain in April 2022, including the £400 Energy Bills Support Scheme and an Energy Price Guarantee capping a typical bill at £2,500.
Energy Bills and the Price CapGrants and SchemesRules and Regulation
Government commits to 2035 phase-out of new and replacement gas boiler sales
The government has set 2035 as the date by which it intends to phase out the sale of new and replacement gas boilers, in its British Energy Security Strategy.
Government launches REMA programme
The government has launched the Review of Electricity Market Arrangements, a programme to reform Great Britain's electricity markets for a secure, low carbon system.
Government publishes response to ECO reform consultation
The government published its response to the summer 2021 consultation on reforming the Energy Company Obligation in April 2022, raising the minimum requirement for upgrading the least efficient private homes from 100,000 to 150,000.
Government renames Energy Bills Discount as the Energy Bills Support Scheme
The Government published an explainer on 1 April 2022 renaming the Energy Bills Discount as the Energy Bills Support Scheme, the £400 grant later paid to households over winter 2022-23.
Grants and SchemesRules and RegulationEnergy Bills and the Price Cap
Government response to ECO4 consultation published
The government published its response to the ECO4 consultation on 1 April 2022, setting the Energy Company Obligation's rules for April 2022 to March 2026 and confirming a £4 billion scheme across Great Britain.