Powering Homes News: page 46
- September 2024
Neat Heat trial findings published showing heat batteries shift heating demand off-peak
UK Power Networks, OVO and tepeo published findings from the 18-month Neat Heat trial, reporting that heat batteries in 30 homes moved up to 95% of heating demand outside peak hours.
tado° launches PV forecasting for heat pumps and EVs
tado° has launched solar forecasting for its heat pump and EV charging services, scheduling both around predicted next-day generation from a home's own panels.
tado° X range comes to the UK with Daikin and Panasonic heat pump compatibility
tado° has said its X range of smart thermostats, radiator thermostats and heat pump controls will go on sale in the UK in November, with Daikin and Panasonic heat pump compatibility.
Cadent publishes consumer insights ahead of RIIO-GD3 Business Plan submission
Cadent has published consumer research gathered over 24 months, saying the findings will shape the RIIO-GD3 Business Plan it will submit to Ofgem later in 2024.
Household Support Fund extension announced
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has announced an extra £500 million to extend the Household Support Fund in England to 31 March 2025, with £421 million going to local authorities.
Individuals and Families Fund reopens with grants up to £1,700
The British Gas Energy Trust has reopened its Individuals and Families Fund, offering energy debt grants of up to £1,700 to British Gas and non-British Gas customers with credit or pre-payment meter arrears.
Winter Fuel Payment eligibility criteria set to change
Winter Fuel Payment eligibility is being narrowed so that only pensioners receiving certain means-tested benefits qualify, with fuel poverty charity National Energy Action warning that many low-income and vulnerable pensioners in Wales will lose the £200 to £300 annual payment.
Analysis estimates NHS cost of winter fuel payment cut
Analysis from the End Fuel Poverty Coalition estimates that pensioners pushed into cold damp homes by the winter fuel payment cut could cost the NHS more than £169m a year.
BEAMA and Green Finance Institute publish updated EV infrastructure guide
BEAMA and the Green Finance Institute have published a third edition of the Guide to Electric Vehicle Infrastructure, updating the 2015 original and adding material aimed at investors.
BSI PAS 63100:2024 released for battery storage fire safety in dwellings
The Electrical Contractors' Association has reported the release of BSI PAS 63100:2024, a fast track specification setting good practice for fire protection of battery energy storage systems in dwellings.
Chancellor refuses to reverse Winter Fuel Payments cut
Rachel Reeves has refused to reverse cuts to Winter Fuel Payments, as the Energy Secretary announced plans to force landlords to meet stricter energy efficiency standards for rented homes.
Domestic energy debt and arrears reached £3.82 billion
Ofgem has reported that domestic energy debt and arrears reached £3.82 billion in September 2024, a 91 per cent rise in two years, and has opened a consultation on debt standards.
Draft BS 40104:2024 retrofit assessment standard opened for national consultation
A draft British Standard setting out how domestic retrofit assessments should be carried out has been published for national consultation, with public comment invited before 22 September 2024.
Energy Secretary announces warm homes plan for renters
The Energy Secretary has announced plans to ban landlords from renting out properties that fail stricter energy efficiency standards, covering private and social rented housing in England.
First intake of Low Carbon Heating Technician apprenticeship students expected
MCS has said it expects to enrol the first intake of students onto the UK's first Low Carbon Heating Technician apprenticeship in September 2024, a dedicated training route for heat pump engineers.
Home Energy Scotland launches Community Analytics report pilot
Home Energy Scotland has introduced a Community Analytics report and opened a 2024-25 pilot offering the tool to up to 20 community groups across Scotland.
Scotland, Wales and Northern IrelandWhere to StartGrants and Schemes
Octopus expected to repay circa £2.8 billion owed for Bulb
Octopus Energy is expected to repay about £2.8 billion owed for Bulb by September 2024, under a deferral trigger that could push the payment to September 2025.
Ofgem signals new smart meter Guaranteed Standards
Ofgem has confirmed new Guaranteed Standards of Performance for smart meter installation and fault handling, with consumer compensation starting on 23 February 2026.
PAWHP to replace Winter Fuel Payment in Scotland on a means-tested basis for winter 2024
The Scottish Government has confirmed that Pension Age Winter Heating Payment will replace the Winter Fuel Payment in Scotland for winter 2024, mirroring the UK Government's restricted eligibility and paying £200 or £300 to between 110,000 and 130,000 pensioners.
Polling finds 40% of Northern Ireland households in fuel poverty
Polling carried out for National Energy Action NI in September 2024 indicated that as many as 40 per cent of households in Northern Ireland were living in fuel poverty.
StatisticsScotland, Wales and Northern IrelandWhere to Start
Rebel Energy takes over supply of Ebico Living customers from Octopus Energy
Ebico Living's electricity supply moves from Octopus Energy to Rebel Energy from October 2024, a change recorded in Which? sustainability rankings published in October 2024.
Residential firmware bundle 4.21.23 released
SolarEdge has published residential firmware bundle 4.21.23, adding multi-inverter backup support, IEC63027:2023 arc-fault compliance for low-power single-phase inverters and support for up to three EV chargers per site.
UK's last coal power station closes
Ratcliffe-on-Soar, the UK's last coal fired power station, closed in September 2024, ending 142 years of coal generation and taking the sector's emissions to zero.
ScottishPower launches EV Optimise add-on for EV drivers
ScottishPower has launched EV Optimise, an add-on that smart charges electric vehicles at 9p per kWh day and night and credits savings back to the customer's electricity bill.
Share Energy launches as newest Northern Ireland electricity supplier
Share Energy, based in Belfast, launched in September 2024 as the newest electricity supplier in Northern Ireland, claiming it will share half of future profits with customers.
SSEN completes design and build phase of first transformer in Southampton net zero network project
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks has finished the design and build phase of the first transformer in an £8m Southampton network upgrade, four months into a project due to finish in June 2025.
Wave 3 scheme launch defined as publication of final guidance documents
Wave 3 of the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund counts its launch from the September 2024 publication of final guidance, the point from which co-funding may be claimed.
Which? publishes consumer research on EPC reform
Which? has published consumer research based on 18 in-depth interviews with UK owner-occupiers, setting out six principles for reforming the content and design of Energy Performance Certificates.
Winter Fuel Payment backlash enters fourth week
The campaign against the removal of Winter Fuel Payments from millions of pensioners has entered a fourth week, with the Prime Minister defending the decision as petitions pass 700,000 signatures.
- August 2024
Hypervolt unveils beta of Synergy app for solar and storage customers
Hypervolt has opened a beta of its Hypervolt App v6, called Synergy, which links its EV chargers with OVO and Octopus smart tariffs and with Enphase and Tesla home storage.