Powering Homes news, page 33
- May 2025
Panasonic launches Aquarea Home app with expanded compatibility
Panasonic has launched the Aquarea Home app for Android and iOS, adding room-by-room control and weekly scheduling across its Aquarea room products and heat pumps.
Consultation closed on improving the energy performance of privately rented homes
The government consultation on raising minimum energy efficiency standards for privately rented homes in England and Wales closed on 2 May 2025, with 1,920 responses received.
UK Government consultation on EPC band C for PRS closes
The UK Government consultation on requiring privately rented homes in England and Wales to reach EPC band C before being let closed on 2 May 2025, with the standard proposed from 2028.
Regulatory Review Group wrote to the Cabinet Secretary with EPC reform advice
The Regulatory Review Group wrote to the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy on 2 May 2025 with five recommendations on Scottish EPC reform, all of which ministers have accepted.
RPC issued a formal opinion on proposed permitted development rights amendments
The Regulatory Policy Committee has issued a formal opinion on government proposals to widen permitted development rights for off-street electric vehicle charge points and air source heat pumps on domestic premises.
BEV registrations rise 25.8% to 21.8% market share
Battery electric vehicle registrations rose 25.8% in May 2025 to take 21.8% of the new car market, though the year-to-date share of 20.9% remains below the 28% regulatory mandate.
Committee recommends long-term retrofit funding to at least 2035
The Energy Security and Net Zero Committee has called on the Government to set out long-term funding for home retrofit running to at least 2035, warning that short-term schemes have failed to give households and installers confidence.
Committee recommends national warm homes advice service
The Energy Security and Net Zero Committee has called on the Government to launch a national warm homes advice service and add a carbon metric to home energy certificates, in a report published on 9 May 2025.
Debt allowance set at £71 per customer per year
Ofgem has set the debt allowance within the energy price cap at £71 per customer per year, the bottom of the range it consulted on and £2 above current allowances.
ECA and 53 businesses urge Government to honour £13.2bn Warm Homes Plan commitment
The Electrical Contractors' Association has joined 53 businesses and trade bodies in signing a letter urging the Government to honour its manifesto commitment to invest £13.2bn in the Warm Homes Plan.
New electrical safety check laws come into force for social rented homes in England
Five-yearly electrical safety inspections became mandatory in England's social rented homes on 1 May, with social landlords facing fines of up to £40,000 for non-compliance.
Enphase launches fourth generation IQ Battery family
Enphase has launched a fourth generation IQ Battery family, which the maker says delivers nearly 34% greater energy density than its predecessor and uses fewer components on the wall.
Free public EV chargers decline to 1,837
Zapmap data shows 1,837 of the UK's public EV charging devices were free to use as of May 2025, a small and shrinking share of the wider network.
UK gas networks submit 2026 to 2031 plans for green gas capacity
Britain's five gas networks have filed plans for 2026 to 2031 to connect more than 30TWh of new biomethane production capacity, as a new taskforce claims feedstock could support far more.
Government decides SAP 10.3 will be available as an alternative to HEM for the Future Homes Standard
The Government has decided that an updated version of SAP, known as SAP 10.3, will be approved for use with the Future Homes Standard as an alternative to the Home Energy Model, with a period of dual running.
Modification programme for heat pump tumble dryers added
The Office for Product Safety and Standards has added a modification programme for several brands of heat pump tumble dryer to its product recalls and alerts list, citing a risk of fire.
OPSS publishes Safety Reports on heat pump tumble dryer fire risk
The Office for Product Safety and Standards has told Haier its modification programme for heat pump tumble dryers is not satisfactory, and more than 17,000 owners must stop using the appliances.
Secondary legislation for mid-scheme changes due to be laid in May 2025
The government has confirmed mid-scheme changes to the Energy Company Obligation 4 and Great British Insulation Scheme, with secondary legislation due to be laid in May 2025 and come into force from July.
SMNCC status quo approach retained with technical changes
Ofgem has kept its existing method for setting supplier operating cost and debt allowances in the energy price cap, updating the cost data to 2023 and cutting the allowance by £8 per customer on average.
SSEN begins £5.4m substation reinforcement project in Ealing
SSEN has started a £5.4m reinforcement of Southfield Road substation in Ealing, installing two new transformers to raise capacity for about 20,000 customers by Summer 2026.
Which? surveys Trusted Trader engineers on boiler repair costs
Which? asked 225 Trusted Trader heating engineers in May and June 2025 what they would charge in parts and labour to fix the 10 most common boiler faults.
- April 2025
Consultation on Boiler Upgrade Scheme amendments and clean heat certification opens
The government has opened a two-part consultation on changes to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and on making MCS the sole certification scheme for clean heat installations.
Government announces consultation on expanding Boiler Upgrade Scheme and skills investment
The Government has opened a consultation on expanding the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and pledged up to 18,000 extra training places for retrofit installers, in an announcement welcomed by trade body NAPIT.
Ofgem opens consultation on heat networks fair pricing protections
Ofgem has opened a consultation on a fair pricing framework for heat networks, setting out proposals on pricing principles, cost allocation and price investigations ahead of the new regime in January 2026.
Ofgem published the ED3 price control framework
Ofgem published the ED3 price control framework on 30 April 2025, setting out how electricity distribution network investment will be planned and funded ahead of need before the 2028 to 2033 control period.
Which? launches heat pump cost savings calculator
Which? has released an online calculator showing how pairing a heat pump with a specialist electricity tariff can cut annual running costs by hundreds of pounds compared with a gas boiler.
Which? responds to Government plans to expand home heating grant options
Which? has responded to government proposals to widen the options for home heating grants, saying they could help more consumers switch to sustainable heating and bring in more trustworthy installers.
New homes sector publishes initial Net Zero Transition Plan
The Future Homes Hub and the Carbon Trust have published an initial Net Zero Transition Plan for new homes, backed by committed homebuilders and two new implementation boards.
BBC Radio 4 You and Yours covers RTS meter concerns
BBC Radio 4's You and Yours has aired concerns that hundreds of thousands of households still on Radio Teleswitch meters may lose heating and hot water when the service ends.
Nesta publishes final project update on heat pump repairs, maintenance and servicing demand
Nesta's final project update on heat pump repairs, maintenance and servicing reports that most heating firms already offer the work but face skills, scheduling and profitability barriers.