Powering Homes news, page 27
- August 2025
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.
SGN urges households to test CO alarms after data shows 95% untested in 2024
SGN has published data showing 95% of carbon monoxide alarms went untested in 2024 and urged households to test alarms monthly and take them on trips.
SSEN restores power to 50,000 homes following Storm Floris
SSEN restored power to 50,000 homes in northern Scotland by 7:15am on Tuesday 5 August after Storm Floris, with 22,000 properties still off supply.
Storm Floris causes significant damage to SSEN network in northern Scotland
Storm Floris brought an 83mph gust at Wick and left 22,000 properties without power across the Highlands, Moray coast and Aberdeenshire, SSEN said, after restoring 50,000 homes.
Met Office issues Amber Weather Warning for Wind for most of Scotland
The Met Office has issued an Amber Weather Warning for Wind covering most of Scotland from 1000 to 2300, as Storm Floris brings gusts of up to 100mph and expected power disruption.
Amendments by the Electricity and Gas (Energy Company Obligation) (Amendment) Order 2025 took effect
Amendments to the Energy Company Obligation Order 2023 took effect on 1 August 2025, changing supplier targets and adding smart meter advice duties to home insulation and heating control work.
BISOL introduced enhanced warranty for standard modules
BISOL has applied an upgraded warranty to its standard solar modules from 1 August 2025, covering a 30 year power output guarantee and a 25 year product guarantee.
British Gas Energy Trust reopens Individuals and Families Fund
The British Gas Energy Trust has reopened its Individuals and Families Fund, offering up to £1,700 towards energy debt for households on prepayment or credit accounts with suppliers that run no scheme of their own.
Grants and SchemesEnergy Bills and the Price CapYour Type of Home
Consumer Scotland responds to Scottish Government PRS MEES consultation
Consumer Scotland has told the Scottish Government it broadly supports a minimum energy efficiency standard for privately rented homes, with compliance from 2028 and a backstop of 2033.
DESNZ consultation on the future of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme closed
A government consultation on the future of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme has closed, with industry bodies using it to press the case for hybrid heating systems to qualify for grants.
DESNZ consulted on extending the ECO4 end date
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero consulted in August 2025 on extending the ECO4 end date, and the policy decision extends the scheme by nine months to 31 December 2026.
Government data shows more than two thirds of meters in homes and small businesses are smart
Government data published in August 2025 showed nearly 40 million smart meters in homes and small businesses, more than two thirds of all energy meters in Great Britain.