Powering Homes News: page 17
- December 2025
GB Energy publishes its 5-year strategic plan
Great British Energy has published a five-year strategic plan setting three priorities to 2030, alongside an Ofgem investment package worth £28 billion for the gas and electricity networks.
Ofgem confirms £28 billion grid investment
Ofgem has confirmed a £28 billion network investment package, with £17.8 billion for gas reinforcement and £10.3 billion for electricity transmission across 80 projects over five years.
Ofgem publishes RIIO-3 Final Determination
Ofgem published its RIIO-3 Final Determination for gas and electricity transmission companies and gas distribution networks on 4 December 2025, setting network revenues that feed through to household bills.
Toyota to expand EV charging ecosystem across the UK
Toyota Motor Europe will launch demand side response charging in the UK in 2026 with British Gas, and plans vehicle-to-grid integration as part of a wider European charging ecosystem.
Citizens Advice published its ED3 consultation response
Citizens Advice has published its detailed response to Ofgem's consultation on the Sector-Specific Methodology for the ED3 price control, which will set network charges from 2028 to 2033.
Extra £1.5 billion announced at Autumn Budget for the switch to electric
The government has added four electric models to the top band of the Electric Car Grant and confirmed an extra £1.5 billion at the Autumn Budget, including £1.3 billion for the grant and £200 million for chargepoints.
Four more EV models qualify for maximum £3,750 Electric Car Grant discount
Four more electric car models now qualify for the maximum £3,750 Electric Car Grant discount, doubling the number of vehicles in the top band to eight.
North East Mayor launches free energy advice service for the region
North East Mayor Kim McGuinness has launched North East Warm Homes, a free energy advice service funded by the North East Combined Authority as part of a £4m initiative.
Over 3,076,000 safety issues identified during smart meter installations
Smart Energy GB says installers carrying out free visual safety checks during smart meter visits identified more than 3,076,000 unrelated safety issues in Great Britain between 2017 and December 2025.
BEV registrations exceed ZEV mandate target for the first time in 2025
Battery electric vehicles took 32.2% of UK new car registrations in December 2025, the only month of the year in which the 28% zero emission vehicle mandate target was met.
Binding annual installation targets conclude
Ofgem has confirmed the end of the four-year framework that required energy suppliers to meet binding annual targets for installing smart and advanced meters, with a new phase now under way.
Citizens Advice, IPPR and Policy in Practice publish blueprint for targeted bill support
Citizens Advice, IPPR and Policy in Practice have published a blueprint for targeted bill support across water, motor insurance, energy and broadband, which they say could give an eligible household discounts of over £950 a year.
Draft NPPF consultation published proposing to prevent local authorities from setting local energy standards
A draft National Planning Policy Framework consultation published in December 2025 proposes to stop local authorities setting their own energy efficiency standards in planning policy, with responses due by 10 March.
Environmental Improvement Plan 2025 released
Labour released the Environmental Improvement Plan 2025 on 1 December 2025, completing a rapid review announced in July 2024 and setting out a revised statutory plan for environmental targets.
Fleet to Aldershot 132kV network upgrade completed ahead of schedule
SSEN Distribution has completed an £8.7m upgrade of the 132kV overhead line between Fleet and Aldershot in east Hampshire, finished ahead of schedule and benefiting more than 60,000 customers.
GB energy debt and arrears reach £4.55bn
Ofgem data cited by Consumer Scotland shows household energy debt and arrears in Great Britain reached £4.55bn in the fourth quarter of 2025, up £700 million in a year.
UK Government publishes environmental improvement plan including consultation on domestic burning emissions
The UK Government published its environmental improvement plan in December 2025, including a consultation on cutting emissions from burning in homes in England, with the effect on wood burners not yet clear.
Hackney consolidated 27 SCAs into one borough-wide zone
Hackney combined its 27 separate smoke control areas into a single borough-wide zone from 1 December 2025, part of a wider pattern of English councils consolidating older designations.
Scottish Parliament approved the 2025 Regulations
The Scottish Parliament approved the remainder of the Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Regulations 2025 in December 2025, but the new-style EPC certificates they introduce will not now come into force until 30 April 2028.
Suppliers required to be able to offer Time of Use tariffs by 2025
Ofgem has said it is requiring energy suppliers to be able to offer Time of Use tariffs by 2025, a commitment set out in its September 2021 electric vehicle strategy.
Targets Framework for domestic meters concluded at end of 2025
The four-year Targets Framework that set energy suppliers annual domestic smart meter installation targets ended on 31 December 2025, with a 2030 completion obligation proposed to replace it.
Welsh Government committed £1.5 million to warm hubs
The Welsh Government has committed £1.5 million in its 2025 to 2026 budget to support more than 400 warm hubs across Wales, building on £4 million of investment since 2022.
Grants and SchemesYour Type of HomeScotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Welsh Government publishes summary of responses and next steps
The Welsh Government has published its response to a consultation on permitted development rights, backing most air source heat pump proposals and putting off-street EV charging changes into a second phase.
Rules and RegulationScotland, Wales and Northern IrelandEV Charging
Winter Heating Payment payments begin from December 2025
Social Security Scotland is to begin making Winter Heating Payments of £59.75 for winter 2025/26 from December 2025, with most payments made automatically to eligible households in Scotland.
- November 2025
Consultation on alternative clean heating solutions to be launched
The government has expanded the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to cover air-to-air heat pumps and heat batteries, and will consult on alternative clean heating solutions including renewable liquid fuels.
ECIU analysis finds second-hand EVs save drivers around £1,450 a year despite planned 3p per mile tax
ECIU analysis of ten years of second-hand electric car ownership finds average annual savings of around £1,450 for the most-viewed used EVs on Autotrader, even after a planned 3p per mile tax.
ChargeUK publishes 2025 Budget analysis on EV and charging measures
ChargeUK has published its analysis of the 2025 Budget, setting out a tripled Electric Car Grant pot, ten years of business rates relief for charging bays and £200m of extra charging infrastructure funding.
NAPIT responds to Chancellor's Budget
NAPIT has criticised the Chancellor's Budget for mixed messages on electric vehicles and household bills, welcoming the electric car grant extension but noting a missed chance to cut the link between electricity and gas prices.
Autumn Budget announces ECO4 will end on 31 March 2026
The Autumn Budget confirmed that the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) will close on 31 March 2026, while the Boiler Upgrade Scheme was left untouched despite speculation about cuts.
Chancellor delivers Autumn Budget 2025
The Chancellor's autumn budget of 26 November 2025 shifts £154 a year off average energy bills by funding the Renewables Obligation directly and closing the Energy Company Obligation in April 2026.