Powering Homes news, page 22
- November 2025
SSEN completes £8 million Southampton network upgrade
SSEN has completed an £8 million upgrade to its network in the North Baddesley area of Southampton, adding 47.8 MVA of capacity and putting nearly 7 km of cable underground for more than 7,500 customers.
Tomato Energy ceases trading and British Gas appointed by Ofgem to take on its customers
Tomato Energy ceased trading on 5 November 2025 and British Gas has been appointed by Ofgem to take on its customers under the Supplier of Last Resort process.
Consumer Scotland publishes response to Ofgem consultation on lower standing charge tariffs
Consumer Scotland has published its response to Ofgem's consultation on requiring suppliers to offer at least one lower standing charge tariff, backing a temporary approach and warning of cost redistribution.
Interconnector Ltd reduced GB import capacity
Interconnector Ltd has cut its GB import capacity from 73mcm/d to 61mcm/d from 4 November 2025, with a further reduction to 36mcm/d planned from 1 October 2026.
Audit results show widespread faults in ECO4 and GBIS wall insulation
Government audit results published in January 2026 found that 92% of external wall insulation and 27% of internal wall insulation installations under ECO4 and GBIS had at least one major technical non-compliance.
Citizens Advice publishes report on warmer homes for private renters in Wales
Citizens Advice has published a report calling on the UK Government to raise minimum energy efficiency standards for private rented homes and on the Welsh Government to expand the Nest scheme.
Citizens Advice responds to Ofgem heat networks consumer protection guidance consultation
Citizens Advice has welcomed Ofgem's consumer protection guidance for heat networks but asked the regulator to clarify billing, back-billing, contract updates and vulnerable customer protections before rules start in January 2026.
Scottish Government announces almost £1 million extra funding for energy debt advice services
The Scottish Government has allocated £944,000 in additional funding to three advice organisations to expand energy debt support, announced by Housing Secretary Màiri McAllan at the start of Talk Money Week.
Energy Bills and the Price CapGrants and SchemesScotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
RECCo submits response to Ofgem debt-related cost allowance consultation
The Retail Energy Code Company has told Ofgem that an extra allowance for debt-related costs inside the default tariff cap would raise bills for customers who pay on time.
Autumn Budget confirms end of green levy and ECO4 funding
The 2025 Autumn Budget confirmed the end of the green levy and with it ECO4 funding, closing council-run ECO4 Flex schemes and stopping new applications.
Grants and SchemesEnergy Bills and the Price CapRules and Regulation
British Gas Energy Trust hosted London Disability Summit
British Gas Energy Trust hosted the London Disability Summit, bringing policy, regulatory and delivery leaders together to discuss targeted action for disabled and vulnerable people, including closing the fuel poverty gap.
Budget 2025 announces end of ECO funding in March 2026
The government announced at Budget 2025 that funding for the Energy Company Obligation would end in March 2026, with ECO measures continuing until the end of 2026.
Budget 2025 delivered by Chancellor Rachel Reeves
The 2025 Budget phases out the Energy Company Obligation by 31 March 2026, cuts household energy bills by an average of £150, and adds £1.5 billion to the Warm Homes Plan.
Budget announces £150 energy bill reduction
The November 2025 Budget cut energy bills by around £150 a year from April 2026, but a renewed gas price surge is expected to wipe out that saving.
Budget changes remove levies from electricity bills
Budget changes remove some levies from electricity bills, cutting the running cost of clean electric technologies, according to analysis of the Warm Homes Plan published by the charity Nesta.
Budget scraps ECO funding mechanism and adds Warm Homes Plan funding
The Budget ended the levy that funded the Energy Company Obligation and added £1.5 billion to the Warm Homes Plan, taking the parliamentary commitment to £14.7 billion.
Cold Weather Payment winter period opens
The 2025 to 2026 Cold Weather Payment period has opened, running from 1 November 2025 to 31 March 2026 and paying £25 for each seven-day spell of very cold weather.
Connected for Warmth insulation programme ran from March 2023 to November 2025
Agility has reported that its Connected for Warmth insulation scheme, backed by the National Grid energy efficiency fund, ran from March 2023 to November 2025 and insulated thousands of homes in England and Wales.
CSE reviewed its underfloor heating advice guide
The Centre for Sustainable Energy reviewed its underfloor heating advice in November 2025, setting out installation costs of £60-85 per square metre for electric systems and £90-110 for wet systems.
CSE reviews spray foam insulation advice
The Centre for Sustainable Energy reviewed its spray foam insulation guidance in November 2025, concluding that in almost all cases the material carries considerable risks and other insulation should be considered first.
Demand Flexibility Service became a year-round tool
The Demand Flexibility Service has moved from a winter-only emergency measure to a year-round tool used in the normal operation of the electricity market, according to the government's 2025 security of supply report.
Draft Buildings (Heating and Energy Performance) and Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill published
The Scottish Government has published a draft Bill that would create an opt in licensing regime for heat network developers and require some buildings in designated zones to adopt decarbonised heat.
Draft Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Regulations 2025 laid
Draft Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Regulations 2025 were laid before the Scottish Parliament in autumn 2025, as part of a wider draft Bill setting a 2045 heat decarbonisation target.
Electric car grant extended to 2030 with extra funding
The electric car grant has been extended to 2030 with an extra £1.3m of funding, alongside £200m for chargepoint roll out, as a pay-per-mile charge for electric vehicles was announced from 2028.
Full Business Case for Boiler Upgrade Scheme extension approved by InvestCo
The full business case for extending the Boiler Upgrade Scheme was approved by the Project Investment Committee in November 2025, with Treasury approval following in January 2026.
Gas system security of supply consultation published
The government has opened a consultation on Britain's long-term gas supply, setting out proposed policy actions to keep the system secure as the country moves away from fossil fuels.
GivEnergy launches All in One 2 home battery system
GivEnergy, the UK home battery maker behind the All in One 2 launched in November 2025, appointed administrators on 9 April 2026, with all employees made redundant as the company ceased trading.
Government consultation response sets out BUS changes
Ofgem's annual report on the Boiler Upgrade Scheme confirms the April 2026 rule changes that followed the government's November 2025 consultation response, alongside £560.3 million paid since launch.
Government consulted on further changes to PDRs for EV charging infrastructure
The government consulted in November 2025 on further permitted development rights changes for EV charging infrastructure, covering cross-pavement charging and larger commercial installations.
Government response confirms £2,500 grants for air-to-air heat pumps and heat batteries under the BUS
The Government has confirmed £2,500 grants for air-to-air heat pumps and heat batteries under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, with applications expected to open from 2026.