Powering Homes news, page 26
- September 2025
British Gas Energy Trust partners with Post Office for 120 free drop-in advice events
British Gas Energy Trust will run 120 free drop-in advice events at 20 Post Offices over 12 months with the Post Office and 20 local charities, starting in Leicester on 16 and 17 September.
Enphase updates UK storage system warranty effective 15 September 2025
Enphase has published a new warranty for its UK storage systems, effective on or after 15 September 2025, giving the IQ Battery 5P with FlexPhase up to 15 years or 6,000 cycles of cover.
Citizens Advice responds to Ofgem statutory consultation on smart Guaranteed Standards of Performance
Citizens Advice has backed Ofgem's plan to create new Guaranteed Standards of Performance for smart meters, saying the rules should make suppliers deliver the promised benefits of the devices.
Ofgem statutory consultation on Guaranteed Standards of Performance closes
Ofgem's statutory consultation on smart metering Guaranteed Standards of Performance closed on 12 September 2025, part of a wider government framework for the smart meter rollout after 2025.
Consultation on a Reformed Decent Homes Standard closed
The consultation on a Reformed Decent Homes Standard for social and privately rented homes closed on 10 September 2025, with CIBSE submitting a response that backs the direction but questions key metrics.
Energy Saving Trust publishes consultation response on social rented sector energy efficiency standards
The Energy Saving Trust has published its response to the UK Government consultation on minimum energy efficiency standards for socially rented homes in England, backing EPC C by 2030 but seeking changes to exemptions and cost caps.
Power NI announces 4% residential tariff increase from 1 October 2025
Power NI will raise its residential unit price by 4% from 1 October 2025, adding about 11p a day for an average household, after the Utility Regulator approved the change.
tado° and Panasonic launch AQUAREA Sync and Hydraulic Balancing heat pump features
tado° and Panasonic have launched AQUAREA Sync across Europe, with a certified hydraulic balancing feature to follow in November 2025 for Panasonic AQUAREA heat pump owners.
Baxi launches Amptec S electric system boiler
Baxi has launched the Amptec S, a UK-made electric system boiler in six models from 4kW to 18kW, offering an alternative to gas for heating and hot water.
Cenex and Vauxhall publish 2025 EV infrastructure coverage research
Research by Vauxhall and Cenex finds 22.9% of UK households are now within a four-minute walk of a near home charger, up from 19.6% in 2024, with around 110,000 more chargepoints needed by 2030.
Citizens Advice responds to Ofgem's technical working paper on the Debt Relief Scheme
Citizens Advice has responded to Ofgem's technical working paper on the proposed Debt Relief Scheme, backing its aims and phased rollout but seeking clarity on eligibility and faster consultation on phase two.
Rules and RegulationEnergy SuppliersEnergy Bills and the Price Cap
Grand Committee considers Warm Home Discount (Amendment) Regulations 2025
The Lords Grand Committee has agreed regulations expanding the Warm Home Discount, removing the high cost to heat threshold so that around 2.7 million more households qualify for the £150 rebate this winter.
Scottish Government opens consultation on permitted development rights to support new homes
The Scottish Government consulted on changing permitted development rights for rural homes, town centre living, heat networks and domestic air source heat pumps, then decided against making changes.
Rules and RegulationHeat PumpsScotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Consumer Scotland responds to Ofgem's Debt Relief Scheme policy update working paper
Consumer Scotland has told Ofgem it broadly supports the proposed eligibility criteria for the Energy Debt Relief Scheme, while urging changes on smart meters, warm referrals and supplier reimbursement.
Rules and RegulationEnergy SuppliersEnergy Bills and the Price Cap
Green Alliance publishes report making the case for a social tariff to address fuel poverty
Green Alliance has published a report modelling three social tariff designs, arguing percentage discounts on gas and electricity bills would support fuel poor households better than the Warm Home Discount.
DESNZ launches consultation on regulating TPIs in the retail energy market
The government has opened a consultation on regulating third-party intermediaries in the retail energy market, building on a 2021 call for evidence, while the Retail Energy Code Company presses ahead with its own broker accreditation scheme.
DESNZ publishes consultation on continuing the Warm Home Discount Scheme
DESNZ has consulted on continuing the Warm Home Discount beyond 31 March 2026, setting out three options for Scotland for the 2026/27 scheme period.
Rules and RegulationGrants and SchemesScotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
New EPC regulations due to be laid in Scottish Parliament
Scottish ministers have confirmed that reformed EPC regulations introducing the new HRR rating are due to be laid in the Scottish Parliament in September 2025, ahead of coming into force in autumn 2026.
Marketwide Half Hourly Settlement rollout due to begin
Marketwide Half Hourly Settlement is due to begin rolling out from September 2025, a change intended to give suppliers a greater incentive to offer tariffs that reflect real-time costs.
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.