Powering Homes News: page 16
- January 2026
UK public charger count exceeds 115,000
Zapmap data for January 2026 puts the UK public charging network above 115,000 devices, including 26,557 rapid and ultra-rapid chargers spread across 6,673 locations.
SMMT says gap between EV demand and ZEV mandate ambition is increasing
The SMMT said in its January 2026 release on 2025 car sales that the gap between electric vehicle demand and the ambition of the UK's zero emission vehicle mandate is increasing rather than diminishing.
UKERC publishes Review of Energy Policy 2025
UKERC's Review of Energy Policy 2025 attributes most of a £169 real-terms rise in typical electricity bills to wholesale gas prices, and backs the decision against zonal pricing.
Unexpectedly high bills increase to 26%
Ofgem's Energy Consumer Satisfaction Survey for January 2026 shows the share of households reporting an unexpectedly high bill rose to 26 per cent, from 24 per cent in July and August 2025.
Which? publishes 2026 energy supplier survey results
Which? published its 2026 energy company survey results in January 2026, naming four Which? Recommended Providers from a survey of nearly 12,000 customers and its own assessment of supplier practices.
- December 2025
Boiler Upgrade Scheme closes to applicants
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme closed to new applicants in England and Wales on 31 December 2025, ending a grant worth up to £7,500 towards a heat pump.
SSEN activates Weather Warning level of preparedness in northern Scotland
SSEN has moved to its first level of heightened preparedness across northern Scotland ahead of forecast snow, ice and wind gusts of up to 65mph, with extra teams deployed.
Scotland, Wales and Northern IrelandWhere Our Energy Comes From
Switch 4 Business Ltd listed as inactive on Energy Ombudsman dispute page
The Energy Ombudsman's dispute page lists the energy broker Switch 4 Business Ltd as inactive, with a membership period that ended on 31 December 2025.
NGN reports Centres for Warmth supporting thousands across the North of England this winter
Northern Gas Networks has marked a second winter of its Centres for Warmth programme, saying 20 funded community hubs have given thousands of people across the North of England warm space and energy advice.
London Congestion Charge exemption for electric vehicles due to end
The London Congestion Charge exemption for electric vehicles ends on 25 December 2025, after which electric cars entering central London will pay a discounted daily charge rather than nothing.
E.ON Next announces partnership with Allume to bring shared solar to flats
E.ON Next has announced a partnership with Australian cleantech firm Allume to offer SolShare shared rooftop solar to blocks of flats, targeting social housing providers and new build developers.
Fire safety roof insulation report published
The Building Safety Regulator has published research into spray foam roof insulation, finding that combustible retrofit insulation can still meet the highest roof classification despite increasing fire load.
Government launches consultation on the future of heating for oil heated homes
The government has opened a consultation on how oil heated homes should be heated in future, proposing a switch to heat pumps or heat networks, with responses due by 10 February 2026.
Committee on Fuel Poverty response to Warm Home Discount consultation published
The Committee on Fuel Poverty has published its response to the government consultation on continuing the Warm Home Discount Scheme, covering England, Scotland and Wales.
Guide updated with price cap based appliance running costs
Confused.com has updated its appliance running cost guide, pricing average household use against the price cap of £1,755 that runs until 31 December 2025.
Ofgem Debt Relief Scheme statutory consultation closes
Ofgem's statutory consultation on how its Energy Debt Relief Scheme will work closed on 18 December 2025, with the scheme to be delivered in two phases during 2026.
Quarterly Energy Prices: December 2025 published
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has published the December 2025 edition of Quarterly Energy Prices, its accredited official statistics on domestic and industrial fuel prices.
SSEN Distribution announces partnership with Asthma + Lung UK
SSEN Distribution has announced a partnership with Asthma + Lung UK to raise awareness of free Priority Services support for people with lung conditions during power cuts.
MCS welcomed an opportunity to co-lead a distributed energy assets project
MCS has welcomed an opportunity to co-lead a project on improving the visibility of distributed energy assets, announced on its working groups page dated 12th December 2025.
Myson fan convectors modified for low temperature heating
Myson has modified its fan convectors so they start at lower water temperatures, widening the range of emitters that can run on low temperature heating systems such as heat pumps.
Carbon Brief reports net-zero scenario is cheapest option per NESO modelling
NESO modelling finds a net-zero pathway would be the cheapest option for Great Britain, saving £36bn a year by 2050 once climate damages are counted.
UK Power Networks launches Home Energy Saver website
UK Power Networks has launched Home Energy Saver, a website giving households personalised energy-saving plans, financial support information and two calculators for grants and appliance use.
Barcode Energy - Fuel Division trading from this date
The Energy Ombudsman lists Barcode Energy - Fuel Division as an active member from 10 December 2025, giving its customers access to dispute resolution.
MCS published updated standards for air-to-air heat pump implementation
MCS published updated heat pump standards in December 2025 covering air-to-air products and installations, the first step before the technology is fully implemented into its certification schemes.
Consumer Scotland publishes response to UK Government consultation on the energy ombudsman
Consumer Scotland has backed a four-week wait before householders can escalate an energy complaint to the Energy Ombudsman, and financial penalties for suppliers that ignore its decisions.
Consultation on moving Warm Home Discount cost recovery to the unit rate opens
The government has opened a consultation on moving recovery of Warm Home Discount costs, £39 on a typical dual fuel bill, from the standing charge to the unit rate from April 2026.
Cumberland Council reports Warm Homes initiative savings and scheme dates
Cumberland Council reports 589 households approved for free energy-saving home improvements under ECO4 Flex between August 2024 and October 2025, with 387 homes upgraded and average annual bill savings of £1,516.
ECO4 cost recovery consultation launched
The government has opened a consultation on amending the ECO4 Order so that public grant funding can pay energy suppliers for the scheme, running until 5 January 2026.
ECO4 Delivery Guidance version 3.2 published
Ofgem published version 3.2 of its ECO4 delivery guidance on 8 December 2025, clarifying when non-compliant measures are rejected and how rural areas are defined in Scotland.
SSEN moves to Yellow Alert preparedness status ahead of Storm Bram
SSEN has moved to Yellow Alert preparedness status in the north of Scotland ahead of Storm Bram, with storm-force winds forecast from Tuesday afternoon into Wednesday morning.