Powering Homes News: page 2
- September 2026
tado° makes Multi Home available
tado° has launched Multi Home, a software feature letting customers manage several properties and both its V3+ and X product lines from one account in the tado° app.
Voco Tech Solutions Ltd joins Energy Ombudsman scheme
Voco Tech Solutions Ltd has joined the Energy Ombudsman scheme, giving its customers in Great Britain access to independent dispute resolution from 2 September 2026.
Cadent publishes 2025 gas emergency call figures for North West and East Midlands
Cadent has published figures showing more than 67,000 smell of gas calls in the North West and over 43,500 in the East Midlands during 2025, on the national gas emergency number.
EDF updates tariff terms and conditions
EDF published its latest update to its residential tariff terms and conditions on 1 September 2026, covering cancellation rights, payment rules, smart meter data and the circumstances in which supply can be transferred to another supplier.
Hive discontinues security cameras and Homeshield devices while thermostats remain supported into 2026
Which? reports that Hive will discontinue its security cameras and Homeshield devices, while its smart thermostats remain on sale and supported in the consumer group's latest testing.
InstaGen, The Solar Centre and Octopus plug-in kits due by end of September 2026
InstaGen, The Solar Centre and Octopus Energy are preparing plug-in solar kits for UK households, with InstaGen kits due by the end of September 2026 at an RRP of £549.
Inverter 12/2k5 Smart available from September
Victron Energy's Q3 2026 Euro price list marks the Inverter 12/2k5 Smart as available from September at € 650, alongside two other September inverter lines.
MVP deployment planned for Autumn/Winter 2026
Ofgem has confirmed the Retail Energy Code Company as delivery body for the Consumer Consent Solution, with a minimum viable product planned for deployment in autumn or winter 2026.
NISEP schemes for 2026/27 approved and live
The Northern Ireland Sustainable Energy Programme's schemes for 2026-2027 have been approved and are live, drawing on an £8 million fund collected from electricity customers.
Reformed EPC regulations to be brought into force in autumn 2026
Reformed Energy Performance Certificate regulations in Scotland are due to come into force in autumn 2026, introducing a new Heat Retention Rating on domestic certificates.
Scottish Government publishes Programme for Government 2026 to 2031 confirming heat in buildings legislation
The Scottish Government's Programme for Government 2026 to 2031 confirms a long-delayed heat in buildings bill, but makes no mention of fuel poverty in its plans.
Uswitch solar comparison tool launched
Uswitch has launched a solar panel comparison tool that shows personalised quotes from MCS-certified installers, alongside published cost ranges of about £4,600 to £8,000 for systems without batteries.
- August 2026
SSE Airtricity gas tariffs to rise 19.2% from 1 October 2026
SSE Airtricity will raise its regulated gas tariff by 19.2% from 1 October 2026, affecting around 204,000 domestic gas customers across the Greater Belfast and West network areas.
Amendment Regulations come into force
Amendment regulations defining plug-in microgenerators and permitting approved plugs for them came into force on 27th August 2026, setting an 800 watt output ceiling for plug-in solar devices in the UK.
Amendments to Class A made by the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) (Amendment) Order 2026 (S.I. 2026/896) come into force
Amendments to Class A permitted development rights for solar equipment in England came into force on 27 August 2026, adding separate rules for dwellinghouses and a new restriction on plug-in solar fixed to timber.
Anker SOLIX puts Solarbank 4 Pro on pre-sale in the UK
Anker SOLIX has opened UK pre-sales for its Solarbank 4 Pro at £1,699, with the BP5000 Expansion Battery priced from £1,299, as plug-in solar panels became fully legal on 27th August.
Citizens Advice publishes smart metering consumer protection paper
Citizens Advice has published a paper recommending new Guaranteed Standards for smart meters and a tighter government definition of an "operating" meter in public reporting.
Press release on heat pump applications from heating oil households under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero says thousands of households that heat with oil have applied for a heat pump using the £9,000 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant.
Wiser 2nd Generation Radiator Thermostat launched
Drayton has launched the Wiser 2nd Generation Radiator Thermostat, an upgraded smart radiator valve it says brings quieter operation, improved compatibility and a better user experience.
Citizens Advice publishes Hitting the Rationing Wall on energy affordability
Citizens Advice has published research showing households ration food and heating to absorb high energy bills, and called for policy costs to be removed, a tiered Warm Home Discount and delivery of the Debt Relief Scheme.
Ofgem publishes updated energy price cap levels for 1 October to 31 December 2026
Ofgem has published the energy price cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026, with Direct Debit, Standard Credit and prepayment levels all rising 4% and Economy 7 up 1%.
Nesta heat planning tool to launch in February for local authorities
Nesta has said it will launch a heat planning tool in February, built with and for local authorities, alongside findings on air-to-air heat pumps in UK homes.
New permitted development rules for domestic solar come into force
Amended permitted development rights for domestic solar in England took effect on 27 August 2026, splitting rules for houses and blocks of flats and clarifying plug-in solar, with a 12-month transition to 27 August 2027.
Uswitch warns of difficult winter as Ofgem announces October price cap level
Uswitch has warned of another difficult winter after Ofgem announced its October price cap level, saying gas costs for price cap customers will be almost 27% higher than the same period last year.
Government publishes interim response to Gas System in Transition consultation
The Government has published its interim response to the Gas System in Transition consultation, accepting that gas will remain important for decades and that intervention may be needed as domestic production falls.
Guidance page revised on EPC changes
The Scottish Government has revised its EPC guidance and added a page setting out how Energy Performance Certificates change from 30 April 2028, with new ratings and a shorter validity period.
Phase 3 of MCS Data Dashboard launches
MCS has launched the third phase of its Data Dashboard, adding saved views, download identifiers and new tables and graphs covering small-scale renewable installations across the UK.
Scottish EPC reform delayed to 30 April 2028
Scottish ministers have pushed back the introduction of new-style Energy Performance Certificates, validity periods and rating systems to 30 April 2028, while lodgement fees still rise this October.
Deadline for eligible households to be named on energy bill for automatic Warm Home Discount
Households on means-tested benefits must be named on their electricity bill by 23 August 2026, the date suppliers will use to award the £150 Warm Home Discount automatically this winter.
CPIH and CPI annual inflation rose in July 2026
The ONS reports that CPIH annual inflation rose to 3.1% and CPI to 2.9% in the 12 months to July 2026, the first increase in both rates since March 2026, driven by higher gas and electricity prices.