Powering Homes news, page 40
- January 2025
InstaGroup working on SHDF project in Ealing
InstaGroup is supplying and installing external wall insulation and replacement windows to 44 homes in Ealing, Greater London, under the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund.
Affected area split into West and East zones for restoration
Cadent has split the N10 water-in-gas area into West and East zones to pump water out in smaller sections and restore gas supply property by property, starting in the West.
EDF launches Heat Pump Promise with full refund guarantee
EDF Heat Pumps has launched a Heat Pump Promise guaranteeing agreed heating temperatures for one year from installation, with a full refund if the issue is unresolved after three attempts.
Ofgem opens Call for Input on the gas disconnections framework
Ofgem has opened a Call for Input on the gas disconnections framework, seeking views and cost data from industry and consumer stakeholders, with responses due by 7 March 2025.
Trust highlights open energy debt grant funds for winter
The British Gas Energy Trust has highlighted two open energy debt funds offering grants of up to £2,000 to British Gas and non-British Gas customers in England, Scotland and Wales this winter.
Water enters gas network in N10 London, cutting gas supplies
Water entered Cadent's gas network in the N10 area of London on 12 January 2025, blocking gas flow to local properties and prompting a two-week operation to pump it out and restore supply.
ECA MCS Warranty provider ceases offering the warranty without notice
The ECA has told members that its MCS Warranty provider stopped offering the ECA MCS Warranty without notice on 9 January 2025, and it is checking whether the change is permanent.
Payment sums in regulation 8 substituted by S.I. 2024/1166
The sums payable by suppliers under regulation 8 of the Electricity and Gas (Standards of Performance) (Suppliers) Regulations 2015 were substituted with effect from 2 January 2025 by amendment regulations made in 2024.
38 installers suspended from government retrofit schemes
Certification bodies suspended 38 installer businesses from government retrofit schemes after quality failures, a parliamentary committee has reported, with 22 reinstated by November 2025.
The Battery Installation Standard was issued
MCS has issued MIS 3012:2025 version 1.0, a battery installation standard setting out requirements for the design and installation of battery storage systems, dated 1 January 2025.
Boiler Upgrade Scheme budget almost doubled to £296m
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme budget for grant vouchers will almost double to £296m next financial year, with an extra £30m added this year and planning rules for air source heat pumps relaxed.
Changes to the New Build Heat Standard come into force
Changes to Scotland's New Build Heat Standard came into force on 1 January 2025, permitting bioenergy and peat heating systems and any type of secondary heating in new buildings.
DESNZ increased the BUS Year 3 budget to £205 million with permission to over-allocate to £280 million
The government raised the Boiler Upgrade Scheme's Year 3 budget twice, from £150 million to £205 million, and allowed Ofgem to over-allocate vouchers up to £280 million.
Energy debt reaches all time high of £4.15bn
Official figures show household energy debt in Great Britain reached an all time high of £4.15bn in the first quarter of 2025, as research puts 12.1 million UK households in fuel poverty.
Financial incentives for stand-alone fossil fuel boilers are to be phased out
The European Commission has issued guidance confirming that from 1 January 2025 EU Member States must not offer financial incentives for installing stand-alone fossil fuel boilers.
Future Homes Standard to be brought into force in 2025
The Future Homes Standard for England, which will require new build homes to use low carbon heating and high energy efficiency, is to be brought into force in 2025.
UK Government consults on raising product standards for tumble dryers
The UK Government consulted in 2025 on raising product standards for tumble dryers, phasing out the least efficient models and aligning Great Britain with new EU labelling rules already in force in Northern Ireland.
GSOP payment level uplifted to £40 in January 2025
Ofgem has confirmed the Guaranteed Standards of Performance payment for suppliers rose from £30 to £40 in January 2025, and is consulting on automatic inflation-linked increases.
ivie publishes its Ultimate Energy Saving Guide
ivie has published a free PDF energy saving guide covering savings room by room, home efficiency basics and a list of energy saving products, aimed at UK households facing high bills.
Northern PowerGrid Community Energy Team launched
Northern PowerGrid's Community Energy Team, launched in January 2025, has supported more than 40 projects with guidance, training and knowledge sharing, according to Community Energy England.
Prohibition on single split air-conditioning systems with HFCs of GWP 750 or more
From 1 January 2025 single split air conditioning and heat pump systems holding less than 3kg of refrigerant with a global warming potential of 750 or more can no longer be placed on the market.
Regulations requiring low or zero emissions heating in existing buildings proposed from 2025
The Scottish Government's Heat in Buildings Strategy proposes requiring low or zero emissions heating systems in existing buildings from 2025, with a backstop date of 2045.
Rules and RegulationBoilers and HeatingScotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
New RIBA Plan of Work Passivhaus tool launched
The Passivhaus Trust has launched a tool to streamline RIBA Plan of Work processes for delivering Passivhaus projects, listed on its Learning Hub alongside priced courses and free publications.
SAP to be replaced by Home Energy Model for EPCs
The Scottish Government has confirmed it will replace the SAP calculation method with the UK Home Energy Model and a new EPC Register, under regulations to be laid in 2025 and brought into force in 2026.
Rules and RegulationStatisticsScotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Scottish Government publishes response to EPC reform consultation
The Scottish Government has published its response to a 2023 consultation on reforming Energy Performance Certificates, introducing a new fabric-based Heat Retention Rating for homes in Scotland.
Rules and RegulationInsulation and GlazingScotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Scottish Government responds to 2023 EPC reform consultation
The Scottish Government has confirmed higher EPC lodgement fees, a shorter certificate validity period and a new rating system, with regulations due in Parliament during 2025 and in force in 2026.
- December 2024
Renewables generated over half of UK electricity for the first time in 2024
Official statistics show renewable technologies supplied more than half of the UK's electricity generation in 2024, the first time this share has been passed, up from around 46.5% in 2023.
SSEN moves to Weather Warning status in central southern England ahead of New Year's Day
SSEN raised its preparedness to Weather Warning status in central southern England on 30 December 2024, with gusts of over 50mph inland forecast for New Year's Day and potential damage to the electricity network.
SSEN moves to Weather Warning status in the north of Scotland
SSEN moved to Weather Warning status in the north of Scotland on 30 December 2024, activating contingency plans and extra teams ahead of wind, rain and snow forecast over Hogmanay.
Fox ESS issues version 4.2 of its UK and Ireland battery warranty policy
Fox ESS has published version 4.2 of its UK and Ireland battery warranty policy, dated 23 December 2024, covering its battery module range and setting out standard cover, free extensions and performance terms.