Powering Homes news, page 50
- August 2024
Aviva to insure Sunsave Plus solar and battery systems under bespoke policy
Sunsave has announced that Aviva will insure its Sunsave Plus solar and battery systems under a bespoke policy brokered by Howden, included in its 20-year guarantee.
Elmhurst Energy sets out proposed changes to ventilation rules in Future Homes Standard consultation
Elmhurst Energy has set out proposed changes to ventilation testing and commissioning under the Future Homes Standard consultation, including a ban on rotating vane anemometers and new rules for existing homes.
Qualifying date for Warm Home Discount winter 2024/25 passes
The qualifying date for the Warm Home Discount in winter 2024/25 was 11 August 2024, meaning eligibility for the rebate was assessed on that day.
CMA secures commitments from Worcester Bosch over boiler claims
Worcester Bosch is changing the marketing around its products after the competition regulator secured commitments from the firm following an investigation into possible greenwashing.
Consumer Consent Solution consultation published
Ofgem has published its decision confirming the Retail Energy Code Company as Delivery Body for a Consumer Consent Solution, following a consultation that closed in October 2024.
Analysis finds pensioners face highest energy bills on record this winter
End Fuel Poverty Coalition analysis for the Telegraph finds pensioners who previously received the maximum Winter Fuel Payment will face the highest real-terms energy bills on record in winter 2024/25.
Nesta launches project on rebalancing energy levies
Nesta has begun an ongoing project examining how shifting policy levies between electricity and gas bills would affect UK households, with findings due to inform debate on cheaper electricity.
Ofgem consults on appointing RECCo as delivery body
Ofgem has set out a final impact assessment for a digital consumer consent platform to be delivered by RECCo, with monetised benefits outweighing costs in its central scenario.
Ofgem published an options paper on ways to reduce standing charges
Ofgem set out options for cutting the daily standing charge in an August 2024 paper, part of a review that later produced a lower standing charge tariff requirement and a pilot.
Ofgem sets Quarter 4 2024 price cap at £1,717
Ofgem announced in August 2024 that the energy price cap for Quarter 4 2024 would be £1,717, an increase of £149 on the Quarter 3 2024 cap of £1,568.
Energy Bills and the Price CapStatisticsRules and Regulation
Scottish Government opens consultation on Passivhaus-inspired building standards without solar requirement
The Scottish Government has opened a consultation on building standards modelled on Passivhaus Classic, which the solar trade body says omits solar power entirely and lags behind EU and English plans.
Supplier allowed profit margins to rise 11% under new cap
Ofgem has raised the energy price cap by 10% from 1 October, taking a typical household bill in England, Scotland and Wales to £1,717, while the profit margins suppliers are allowed to make rise 11%.
Energy Bills and the Price CapRules and RegulationEnergy Suppliers
Suppliers required to provide a way to report electricity supply failures
From 1 August all electricity suppliers must give customers a way to report a loss of supply, with support available around the clock, as the radio teleswitch switch-off approaches.
Titon introduces HRV Cool Plus cooling module
Titon has launched the HRV Cool Plus, a matched cooling module for its MVHR systems that supplies filtered and tempered air during warm weather, aimed at homes built under overheating rules.
Warranty applies to Battery-Max Lite purchases from 1 August 2024
BYD has published a limited warranty for its Battery-Max Lite home battery range covering units bought from 1 August 2024, with ten-year terms on most components and a 70 per cent capacity floor.
Warranty period for Wattpilot devices changed for devices delivered from this date
Fronius has extended the standard warranty on its Wattpilot electric vehicle chargers to three years, with devices delivered before 1 August 2024 keeping the earlier two-year term.
Which? surveys eight biggest suppliers on IHD replacement policies
Which? asked the eight biggest energy suppliers for their in-home display replacement policies and prices, with the information correct as of August 2024.
- July 2024
Halifax launches Green Living Reward cashback offer
Halifax has opened a Green Living Reward cashback offer to its mortgage customers, paying up to £2,000 for air source heat pumps and up to £1,000 for other efficiency improvements.
Intertek Shanghai announced as an MCS product certification body
Intertek Shanghai becomes the tenth MCS product certification body and the second outside Europe, certifying solar panels and heat pumps for the UK market.
Retrofit at scale news published
The SD Foundation published a news item on retrofit at scale on 31 July 2024, listed by the Passivhaus Trust alongside its own guidance on upgrading existing homes to the EnerPHit retrofit standard.
Charities write to Chancellor urging reconsideration of Winter Fuel Payment removal
More than 50 organisations have written to Chancellor Rachel Reeves asking the Government to reconsider restricting the Winter Fuel Payment to pensioners on certain means-tested benefits.
Rapid review of the Environmental Improvement Plan announced
Defra has confirmed that the rapid review of the Environmental Improvement Plan announced on 30 July 2024 is complete, with a revised plan due in 2025 and no specific air quality commitments set out so far.
Chancellor announces Winter Fuel Payment eligibility restricted to benefit recipients
The Chancellor restricted Winter Fuel Payment eligibility from winter 2024-25 to people receiving Pension Credit and certain other benefits, cutting the Block-Grant Adjustment by an estimated £150 million.
Government announces winter fuel payments will be means-tested
Means testing of the Winter Fuel Payment, announced on 29 July 2024, drove a 145% rise in pension credit applications, with nearly half of processed claims rejected.
SALUS launches IT800WiFi smart thermostat
SALUS Controls has launched the IT800WiFi, a standalone smart thermostat with app, Zigbee and Bluetooth control, a rechargeable battery and a wireless charging dock, announced on 26 July 2024.
Mixergy announces Robert Heath as warranty service provider
Mixergy has named Robert Heath as a warranty service and maintenance provider for its smart hot water cylinders, with the firm joining its network of warranty partners in Autumn 2024.
Energy UK publishes policy proposals for affordable bills this winter
Energy UK has proposed funding energy efficiency schemes from general taxation, shifting policy costs onto gas bills and doubling the Warm Home Discount to cut household bills this winter.
Rules and RegulationEnergy Bills and the Price CapGrants and Schemes
Resolution Foundation publishes net zero investment priorities for new Government
The Resolution Foundation says UK net zero investment must rise four-fold on post-2010 levels, and warns that high upfront costs for heat pumps could put low carbon heating out of reach for poorer households.
SGN publishes article on fuel poverty support partnerships
SGN has set out how its Safe and Warm Community Scheme with the Centre for Sustainable Energy and its Safe and Warm programme with Citizens Advice Scotland are reaching households in fuel poverty.
Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant increase credited with rising heat pump take-up
The Climate Change Committee credits higher Boiler Upgrade Scheme funding and grants with a significant rise in heat pump take-up, in its 2024 progress report to Parliament.