Powering Homes news, page 31
- June 2025
UK Government expands Winter Fuel Payment eligibility criteria
The UK Government announced in June 2025 that it was expanding the criteria for the Winter Fuel Payment, after the payment had been changed to a means-tested benefit in 2024.
Policy report on retrofit assessment review published
The Scottish Government has published an independent review of retrofit assessment methods, setting out recommendations for a new Home Energy Efficiency Technical Suitability Assessment to replace reliance on Energy Performance Certificates.
PRS Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards consultation opens
The Scottish Government has consulted on regulations that would require privately rented homes in Scotland to reach EPC Heat Retention Rating band C from 2028 for new tenancies and by 2033 for all lets.
Centrica signs gas import deal with Equinor
Centrica has agreed a gas import deal with Norway's Equinor, as its Rough storage site returns to profit and the company rules out extending its production consent beyond April 2027.
UtilityCloudLive trading period ends
The Energy Ombudsman has recorded the energy broker UtilityCloudLive as inactive, with a trading period ending 4 June 2025, and says it cannot review disputes about the firm.
CheapDeals Limited ceases trading
The Energy Ombudsman records the energy broker CheapDeals Limited as inactive, with its membership of the ombudsman scheme ending on 3 June 2025 after a trading period of under ten months.
ECIU analysis warns cutting Warm Homes Plan funding could cost households over £1.4 billion a year
ECIU analysis warns that limiting the Warm Homes Plan to 300,000 upgrades could leave 4.7 million households without average bill savings of around £300 a year.
Government confirms solar panels by default on new build homes
Ministers have confirmed that solar panels will be included in the Future Homes Standard, meaning the vast majority of new build homes in England will have rooftop solar installed as standard.
Citizens Advice published its response to Ofgem's second Energy code reform implementation consultation
Citizens Advice has welcomed most of Ofgem's second energy code reform implementation consultation, while calling for open governance duties across new code bodies and adequate resourcing for the regulator.
Wish Energy Solution Ltd ceased trading
The Energy Ombudsman lists the energy broker Wish Energy Solution Ltd as inactive, with its membership of the ombudsman scheme ending on 2 June 2025.
Buildings Retrofit Pilot opens for applications
The West Midlands Combined Authority has opened its £167 million Buildings Retrofit Pilot to applications from councils, housing associations and public sector bodies, targeting up to 14,000 of the region's oldest and coldest homes.
Domestic batteries added as eligible measure under WH:SHF
Domestic batteries installed alongside solar panels became an eligible measure under the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund in June 2025, were paused that November, and can be installed again from 2 February 2026.
Full roll-out of 4G Communication Hubs scheduled for summer 2025
The body running Britain's smart meter network says 4G Communication Hubs are in a testing phase in homes, with mass deployment scheduled from summer 2025 ahead of the 2033 switch-off of older networks.
UK Government publishes Solar Roadmap
The UK Government published a Solar Roadmap in June 2025, setting an ambition to grow national solar capacity from around 20GW to 45-47GW by 2030.
Great British Energy funding was confirmed
The June 2025 comprehensive spending review confirmed £8.3 billion for Great British Energy, the publicly owned clean energy company set up to invest in renewable projects rather than supply power to homes.
IGEM responds to Boiler Upgrade Scheme consultation Part 1
IGEM has told the government that hybrid heating systems should qualify for Boiler Upgrade Scheme grants, arguing the current exclusion is a missed opportunity, and that air-to-air heat pumps should not.
NIBE showcases new S1156 PC, S1256 PC and S735C heat pumps at InstallerSHOW 2025
NIBE launched a direct-to-consumer heat pump installation route for air source systems and showed new ground source and exhaust air models at InstallerSHOW 2025.
Ofgem proposes debt relief scheme opening in summer/autumn 2025 and closing in spring 2026
Ofgem has proposed a debt relief scheme for households that built up energy bill arrears during the energy crisis, open from summer or autumn 2025 to spring 2026.
Rules and RegulationEnergy Bills and the Price CapGrants and Schemes
Outfox the Market renamed to Outfox Energy
Outfox the Market, the Leicester-based family-owned supplier launched in 2017, was renamed Outfox Energy in June 2025, with no change reported to its ownership or licence.
Planned national RTS switch-off did not happen in June 2025
The Radio Teleswitch Service phase-out began in June 2025 but no national switch-off took place, with the transition now continuing in stages through 2026.
Radio Teleswitch service planned to end 30 June 2025
The industry-run Radio Teleswitch Service that switches older electricity meters between peak and off-peak rates is being phased out from June 2025, with suppliers required to fit replacement meters.
Solar Roadmap published calling for a rooftop revolution
The Solar Roadmap, published in June 2025, called for a rooftop revolution deploying solar PV on homes and buildings to cut bills, improve energy security and create skilled jobs.
Spending Review 2025 commits to the Warm Homes Plan
The 2025 Spending Review commits a further £13.2 billion to the Warm Homes Plan between 2025-26 and 2029-30, funding insulation, heating and solar upgrades intended to cut household bills.
Spending review announces Boiler Upgrade Scheme growth over four years
The June 2025 spending review confirmed that funding for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme will rise each year to 2029/30, as polling for a trade body found few households willing to pay the remaining cost of a heat pump.
SSEN launches £20 million Chickerell substation upgrade
SSEN has begun a £20 million upgrade of Chickerell substation near Weymouth, a project running to mid-2028 that it says will benefit more than 60,000 homes and businesses in south-west Dorset.
SSEN launches Self-Serve connection quote tool
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks has launched a Self-Serve online tool that gives some initial electricity connection estimates in as little as two minutes, after use passed one thousand people.
Ultra-rapid devices outnumber rapid devices for the first time
Ultra-rapid public charge points grew 22.76 per cent in the first half of 2025 to 8,619 devices, overtaking rapid devices for the first time, as total installations rose 27 per cent year on year.
Warm Home Discount expansion confirmed for winter 2025/26
The Government confirmed on 19 June 2025 that the Warm Home Discount would be expanded for winter 2025/26, removing the high-cost-to-heat test so that any household on a qualifying means-tested benefit is eligible.
- May 2025
Net-Zero Renewable Energy Limited trading period ends
The Energy Ombudsman has recorded Net-Zero Renewable Energy Limited, trading as Net Zero Renewables, as inactive, with its membership of the dispute scheme running from 8 December 2023 to 30 May 2025.
Amendments to Class G by the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) (Amendment) Order 2025 (S.I. 2025/560)
Amendments to Class G permitted development rights for domestic air source heat pumps in England took effect on 29 May 2025, changing the limits on pump numbers, compressor unit volume and the conditions attached to installation.