Powering Homes News: page 33
- April 2025
Study finds UK homes overheating has soared from 18% to 80%
A study published in April 2025 found the proportion of UK homes experiencing overheating rose from 18% in 2011 to 80%, with 4.5 million adults made unwell by heat at home.
Third version of DNOA suite of documents published
UK Power Networks has published the third version of its Distribution Network Options Assessment documents, setting out how it recommends and approves investment in its electricity network.
Updated warranty applies to units purchased after 1st April 2025
Simpson & Partners has published updated warranty terms applying to electric vehicle chargers bought after 1st April 2025, with cover split between the enclosure and the power electronics.
VED Expensive Car Supplement becomes applicable to many new EVs
Vehicle Excise Duty changes from 1 April 2025 brought the Expensive Car Supplement into scope for many new electric cars, and the SMMT links the change to a fall in April registrations.
Warm Homes: Local Grant date noted
Government guidance confirms the Warm Homes: Local Grant delivery window opened on 1 April 2025, with £500 million allocated to local authorities in England to fund energy efficiency measures and low carbon heating.
Warranty extension purchases require online registration
SolarEdge has said that from 1 April 2025 customers extending an inverter warranty must first register for its online services and obtain a customer number.
- March 2025
Boiler Upgrade Scheme scheduled to close
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme reaches its scheduled end on 31 March 2025, closing a three-year, £450m grant programme that paid up to £6,000 towards low carbon heating in England and Wales.
Citizens Advice publishes three reports on designing targeted social tariffs with automation in mind
Citizens Advice, IPPR and Policy in Practice have published three reports on how social tariffs for energy, water, broadband and car insurance could be designed and delivered automatically to eligible households.
Deadline for claiming Winter Fuel Payment not paid automatically
The Department for Work and Pensions says eligible pensioners whose Winter Fuel Payment does not arrive automatically must claim it by 31 March 2025, after a winter of backdated claims.
Ofgem energy price cap rises 6.4% and Clean Heat Market Mechanism launches
Ofgem's energy price cap rose 6.4% on 31 March 2025, the same day the Government's Clean Heat Market Mechanism began requiring large boiler manufacturers to sell a share of heat pumps.
Energy Bills and the Price CapRules and RegulationBoilers and Heating
Price cap for average dual fuel Direct Debit households increased to £1,849
Ofgem's price cap for average dual fuel Direct Debit households rose 6.4 per cent to £1,849 a year on 1 April 2025, a third consecutive increase driven by higher wholesale costs.
Energy Bills and the Price CapStatisticsRules and Regulation
Reformed Clean Heat Market Mechanism to launch on 1 April 2025
The reformed Clean Heat Market Mechanism takes effect on 1 April 2025, obliging heating manufacturers to meet rising heat pump installation targets as part of the government's Warm Homes Plan.
Trust responds to Warm Home Discount expansion consultation
The British Gas Energy Trust has endorsed plans to widen the Warm Home Discount and scrap the high-cost-to-heat threshold, but warns 55% of fuel-poor households will still miss out on the £150 rebate.
PAS2030:2019 and PAS2035:2019 cease to be applicable
Ofgem has confirmed that from 30 March 2025 only the 2023 versions of the PAS retrofit standards may be used for work under ECO4 and GBIS, replacing the 2019 editions.
SSEN announces £200m Oxfordshire network transformation
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks will spend more than £200m with OCU Group upgrading the Oxfordshire distribution network from later this spring, work running mainly to the turn of the decade.
Updated PAS 2035/2030:2023 standard comes into force
An updated version of the PAS 2035/2030:2023 retrofit standard took effect on 30 March 2025, requiring Retrofit Coordinators to visit sites and raising qualification standards for Retrofit Designers.
Ofgem opens consultation on smart meter guaranteed standards
Ofgem has opened a consultation on updating the 2015 Guaranteed Standards of Performance so they clearly cover smart meters and on adding four new standards for smart metering problems.
Consultation on raising product standards for space heating closes
A government consultation on tighter ecodesign and energy labelling rules for space and combination heaters closed on 25 March 2025, with the outcome still to be published.
E3G publishes report on enforcing energy efficiency standards for private renters in England and Wales
E3G has published a report finding that enforcement of energy efficiency standards for private renters in England and Wales is undermined by underfunding, weak legislation and inaccessible data.
Regulatory Review Group considers EPC reform Government Response
Scottish Government officials presented the EPC reform Government Response to the Regulatory Review Group on 25 March 2025, setting out five recommendations ahead of regulations due in Autumn 2026.
Consumer Scotland responds to DESNZ consultation on expanding the Warm Home Discount Scheme 2025-26
Consumer Scotland has backed plans to widen the Park Homes Warm Home Discount to households that do not pay suppliers directly, but says the expansion needs new money rather than funds taken from energy advice work.
Rules and RegulationGrants and SchemesScotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Uswitch updates new boiler costs and installation guide
Uswitch republished its new boiler cost and installation guide on 21 March 2025, listing installer offers, finance terms and typical installation prices for UK households.
Consumer Scotland responds to Ofgem consultation on zero standing charge price cap variant
Consumer Scotland has told Ofgem that a zero standing charge price cap variant risks concentrating fixed costs in winter and may only benefit a limited group of low-usage households.
Rules and RegulationEnergy Bills and the Price CapEnergy Suppliers
UK Power Networks announces partnerships to reduce fuel poverty for over half a million people by 2028
UK Power Networks is funding four not-for-profit organisations to deliver tailored support to vulnerable customers, aiming to reduce fuel poverty for more than half a million people by 2028.
SSEN announces trial of Community Smart Access option for new housing estates
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks has said it is ready to trial a Community Smart Access option, using Dynamic Load Averaging, to speed up electricity connections for new net zero housing estates.
Sunamp launches low-power Thermino heat battery models at ISH Frankfurt
Sunamp has added 1800 watt low-power models to its Thermino heat battery range, launched at the ISH trade fair in Frankfurt on 18 March 2025.
Westbridge Advisory International AG listed with Energy Ombudsman
The Energy Ombudsman has listed Westbridge Advisory International AG as an active member from 18 March 2025, giving the company a route into the dispute scheme for energy brokers.
Scottish Government minister writes to Ofgem on RTS switch-off
Scotland's acting climate minister has written to Ofgem asking for urgent action to speed up replacement of Radio Teleswitch Service meters, with 146,302 Scottish consumers still needing new meters before June.
Energy UK publishes briefing on data sharing to support vulnerable customers
Energy UK has published a briefing calling on the next government to set up a cross-Whitehall project on data access and matching, and to fold government data into a shared Priority Services Register.
SSEN Distribution announces £560k investment in north west Skye network
SSEN Distribution is to spend £560k replacing more than 100 wooden poles and installing new overhead lines between Uig and Dunvegan on Skye, work it says will improve reliability for nearly 1,000 homes and businesses.