Powering Homes News: page 27
- July 2025
Float debt allowance to end in July 2025
Ofgem has concluded its first full review of the price cap's operating cost and debt allowances, cutting the total allowance by an average of £8 per customer and ending the float allowance in July 2025.
The Float ended and the enduring DRC allowance took effect
Ofgem's temporary £28 per dual fuel customer debt allowance, the Float, ended on 1 July 2025 when updated operating cost and debt allowances took effect, with a review now proposing no further adjustment.
Luthmore opens installer training registrations ahead of production later in 2025
Luthmore, founded by two former Dyson engineers, is taking registrations for installer training on its battery-powered boiler ahead of production starting later in 2025.
Mid-scheme changes to come into force from July 2025
Mid-scheme changes to the Energy Company Obligation 4 and Great British Insulation Scheme come into force from July 2025, allowing two insulation measures per home and counting ECO4 delivery towards GBIS targets.
Next-generation residential solar inverter and home battery expected to become available
SolarEdge has announced a next-generation three-phase residential inverter and dedicated home battery for the European market, with availability expected in the second half of 2025.
Ofgem published a summary of responses and next steps on zero standing charge tariffs
Ofgem has set out next steps on zero and lower standing charge tariffs, saying it will consider requiring every supplier to offer one such tariff in all regions.
Retrofit System Reform Advisory Panel established
The government has opened a consultation on overhauling consumer protection for home upgrade schemes, citing failures in ECO4 and GBIS insulation work and proposing a single service from 2028.
Satisfaction with complaint handling exceeds dissatisfaction for the first time
Ofgem's Energy Consumer Satisfaction Survey found 66% of customers were satisfied with complaint handling and 58% with the time taken, the first wave in which satisfaction outweighed dissatisfaction.
SSEN announces £155m investment programme for Southampton electricity network
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks will spend £155m on Southampton's electricity network from July 2025 to summer 2031, upgrading substations, cables and building a new Bulk Supply Point.
New tumble dryer energy labels take effect in Northern Ireland
Rescaled A-G energy labels and higher minimum efficiency standards for tumble dryers took effect in Northern Ireland on 1 July 2025, ending the sale of new condenser dryers there.
- June 2025
Deadline for Economy 7 smart meter upgrade contact
Energy suppliers were expected to have contacted Economy 7 customers about upgrading to a smart meter before 30 June 2025, under the deadline for moving homes off older metering.
UK government publishes Solar Roadmap
The UK government published its Solar Roadmap on 30 June 2025, setting out actions to reach 45 to 47GW of solar by 2030 through a "rooftop revolution" across the UK.
Nesta announces improved version of its heat pump cost estimator tool
Nesta has released an improved version of its free heat pump cost estimator, built on MCS installation records and EPC data, with a standalone tool and a version integrated into the Get a Heat Pump website.
Northern Gas Networks and Doctor Hilary Jones issue summer carbon monoxide warning
Northern Gas Networks has partnered with Doctor Hilary Jones to warn of summer carbon monoxide risks after incidents in the North of England rose 16 per cent last summer, and is giving away 1,000 free alarms.
Solar Roadmap published by government and industry
The Solar Roadmap, produced over two years by a government-industry taskforce, sets out measures on rooftop solar, grid connections, supply chains, skills and planning, with a Solar Council to oversee delivery.
Confused.com guide updated to state the Energy Price Guarantee is no longer in effect
Confused.com has updated its Energy Price Guarantee guide to confirm the scheme is no longer in effect, with households now paying rates set by Ofgem's price cap.
ECO4 Measures Table version 4.0 published
Ofgem has published version 4.0 of the ECO4 Measures Table, changing the treatment of solar PV, room-in-roof insulation and shared-ground-loop district heating connections.
Ofgem published its consultation decision
Ofgem has confirmed how it will administer mid-scheme changes to ECO4 and the Great British Insulation Scheme, after 18 responses to its April 2025 consultation.
Catapult analysis shows EV herding creates new overnight demand peak
Energy Systems Catapult analysis of 854 Living Lab homes finds that at around 50% EV uptake the overnight charging peak is twice the size of the early evening peak, driven by time of use tariff herding.
Warm Homes: Local Grant funding opens via Oxfordshire County Council
Oxfordshire County Council is now accepting applications for the Warm Homes: Local Grant, offering fully funded energy efficiency upgrades to low income households at risk of fuel poverty.
CPA publishes consumer guidance on protecting deposits paid to tradespeople
The Consumer Protection Association has published guidance on deposits paid to tradespeople, setting a ceiling of 25 per cent or £7,500 and warning against cash payments.
Resolution Foundation publishes Flex Appeal research on flexible energy pricing
Resolution Foundation research funded by the European Climate Foundation finds flexible energy pricing could cut household electricity bills by £200 a year by 2040, but warns of risks for lower-income families.
Fuel poverty plan review published with two actions closed and six new actions added
The Welsh Government has reviewed its Tackling Fuel Poverty Plan, closing two of the original ten short-term actions, extending eight and adding six new short-term actions.
Mitsubishi Electric introduces the MSZ-RZ R290 residential air conditioning system
Mitsubishi Electric has announced the MSZ-RZ R290, a wall-mounted inverter heat pump for homes and small commercial spaces that runs on R290 refrigerant with a global warming potential of 3.
Warm Home Discount (Amendment) Regulations 2025 laid before Parliament
The Warm Home Discount (Amendment) Regulations 2025 were laid before Parliament on 19 June 2025, with a correction slip issued on 4 July, to widen eligibility for the £150 rebate from winter 2025-26.
Zapmap updates home charging guide with Hive partnership offer
Zapmap has updated its home charging guide, giving a typical installed 7kW charge point cost of £700 to £1200 and promoting a Hive offer with a £20 Zapmap charging credit.
Managed start of RTS phase-out confirmed from 30 June
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has confirmed a managed and more controlled start to the radio teleswitch service phase-out from 30 June, with 314,935 RTS meters still in premises as of 30 May 2025.
Ofgem consulted on RTS-specific supplier licence conditions with a no worse off tariff provision
Ofgem has consulted on new licence conditions for energy suppliers covering radio teleswitch meter replacements, including a provision that consumers be left no worse off on tariff.
Citizens Advice publishes report on spray foam insulation mis-selling
Citizens Advice has published a report on mis-sold spray foam insulation, saying complaints have more than doubled in a year and calling for mandatory quality standards and a single ombudsman.
Energy Systems Catapult publishes report on accelerating energy improvements in the private rental sector
Energy Systems Catapult has published a report calling for outcome-based minimum energy efficiency standards, local one-stop retrofit shops, tailored financing and a digital building passport for privately rented homes.