Powering Homes News: page 24
- September 2025
Ofgem announced plans to require suppliers to offer at least one lower standing charge tariff
Ofgem has opened a one-month consultation on requiring suppliers to offer at least one lower standing charge tariff to all payment types and meter customers in every region.
Ofgem statistics show record total energy debt of £4.43bn
Ofgem statistics show total energy debt reached a record £4.43bn, three-quarters of it arrears without a payment plan, as the price cap rose 2% on 1 October.
OVO Charge app becomes all-in-one app for public and home EV charging
OVO has combined public charging and its Charge Anytime smart home charging into a single app from 1 September, which it describes as a UK first for domestic EV drivers.
WHD expansion changes come into force
Changes to the Warm Home Discount that remove the high-cost-to-heat threshold for one eligibility group and raise spending targets took effect in September 2025, Ofgem's scheme year 14 report confirms.
Which? publishes policy report on financing low carbon home heating
Which? has published a policy report setting out eight tests for heat pump financing and calling for mandatory installer certification and restrictions on some long-term heating contracts.
- August 2025
Consultation on draft PRS energy efficiency regulations closes
The Scottish Government's consultation on draft energy efficiency regulations for privately rented homes closed on 29 August 2025, with responses submitted through Citizen Space, email or letter.
Consultation on extending the ECO4 end date opens
The government has opened a consultation on extending the ECO4 energy efficiency scheme beyond its 31 March 2026 end date, proposing an extension of between six and nine months.
Consultation on private rented sector energy efficiency standards closes
The Scottish Government consultation on draft minimum energy efficiency standards for privately rented homes closed on 29 August 2025, with responses from Home Energy Scotland, the National Insulation Association and the Energy Saving Trust.
Rules and RegulationScotland, Wales and Northern IrelandYour Type of Home
PRS Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards consultation closes
The Scottish Government's consultation on a Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard for privately rented homes closed on 29 August 2025, with regulations planned for October 2026.
E3G publishes analysis on heat pump bill savings
E3G analysis published on 28 August 2025 says four policy reforms could cut a typical household's heating bill by more than £400 a year with a heat pump instead of a gas boiler.
Trust publishes response to Ofgem Debt Relief Scheme working paper consultation
The British Gas Energy Trust has backed a targeted one-off energy debt relief scheme with compulsory money advice and a cap set at the statutory consultation date, in its response to Ofgem's working paper.
ECIU analysis finds poorly insulated homes £570 worse off under price cap
Analysis from the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit finds homes rated EPC Band F pay £570 more a year than Band C homes under October 2025 price cap prices, with around half a million homes affected.
Energy Bills and the Price CapWhere to StartInsulation and Glazing
Ofgem announces 2% energy price cap rise for October to December 2025
Ofgem has raised the energy price cap by 2% for October to December 2025, taking a typical dual fuel Direct Debit bill to £1,755 a year, an increase of £35.14.
Energy Bills and the Price CapStatisticsRules and Regulation
Ofgem opens consultation on price cap benchmark consumption review
Ofgem has confirmed it will update the price cap's benchmark consumption to the 2023 Typical Domestic Consumption Values from 1 January 2026, a change it says will raise the cap level by about £9 a year for a typical customer.
Ofgem opens policy consultation package on future energy prices
Ofgem has opened three policy consultations on nuclear cost recovery, acquisition-only tariffs and the cap's consumption benchmark, alongside confirming a 2% price cap rise from October.
Welsh Government opens consultation on Part L 2025 review
The Welsh Government opened a consultation on 26 August 2025 on changes to Building Regulations Part L, Part F and Part O and their Approved Document guidance, covering energy efficiency in new and existing buildings.
Rules and RegulationScotland, Wales and Northern IrelandInsulation and Glazing
Ofgem publishes regulatory expectations on suppliers' use of Additional Support Credit
Ofgem has written to suppliers setting out how it expects Additional Support Credit to be assessed, recorded and refused, and signalled a Debt Strategy update for the Autumn.
Scottish charity THAW Orkney saves clients thousands in energy bills
THAW Orkney, part-funded by the British Gas Energy Trust, reports saving clients a collective £50,000 in energy payments and more than £116,000 in income gains in the last year.
Data shows 95 per cent of CO alarms untested in 2024
Wales & West Utilities says 95 per cent of carbon monoxide alarms went untested in 2024, based on data from more than 50,000 connected alarms, and is urging Somerset households to test theirs.
Scotland, Wales and Northern IrelandBoilers and HeatingWhere Our Energy Comes From
British Gas Energy Trust reopens White Goods Fund
The British Gas Energy Trust has reopened its White Goods Fund, which last year supplied 2,148 appliances such as fridges, cookers and washing machines to households in England, mainland Scotland and Wales.
Consultation on raising product standards for household tumble dryers closes
The government consultation on raising product standards for household tumble dryers closed at 11:59pm on 14 August 2025, with 12 responses received and new rules confirmed.
Government announces planned review of the ZEV mandate
The government has announced a planned review of the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate and published a consultation, drawing a response from the charging industry body ChargeUK.
Government issues reminder to Warm Home Discount eligible households
The government has told households eligible for the Warm Home Discount to check the right person is named on their electricity account by Sunday 24 August to receive £150 automatically.
Consultation on smart metering policy framework post 2025 opens
The government has opened a consultation on new licence conditions that would require energy suppliers to complete the domestic smart meter rollout by the end of 2030 and fix faulty meters within 90 days.
Government guide to smart meter rights and expectations published
The government has published guidance setting out the minimum service standards domestic energy suppliers are expected to meet across the ten stages of the smart meter journey, from booking an installation to switching supplier.
Statutory consultation on smart meter GSOPs published
Ofgem published a statutory consultation on 8 August 2025 setting out draft rules for smart meter guaranteed standards, with automatic compensation for consumers when suppliers miss them.
ECO4 Delivery Guidance version 3.0 published
Ofgem published version 3.0 of its ECO4 Delivery Guidance on 7 August 2025, adding definitions for hybrid heat pumps and updates on ECO4 Flex administration, solar PV and RdSAP 10.2.
Guidance updated to require PAS 2030:2023 instead of PAS 2030:2019
Ofgem's ECO4 guidance moved to version 2.0 on 7 August 2025, replacing references to PAS 2030:2019 with PAS 2030:2023 across its chapters and application forms.
Resolution Foundation publishes research on how the Warm Homes Plan should target spending
The Resolution Foundation says the £13.2 billion Warm Homes Plan should target grants by household income and spend on insulation and solar rather than heat pumps.
Welsh Government budgets £35 million for Nest scheme this financial year
The Welsh Government has budgeted £35 million this financial year for the Warm Homes Nest scheme, published alongside figures showing 340,000 Welsh households in fuel poverty in October 2024.