Powering Homes News: page 57
- February 2024
Ideal Heating confirms safety upgrade rollout from end of February
Ideal Heating has confirmed it will begin rolling out a safety upgrade to boilers built between August 2022 and 7 January 2024 from the end of February 2024, and advises owners to repressurise to 1.5 bar.
ECIU estimates UK spent around £105bn on wholesale gas in 2.5 years of the gas crisis
The Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit estimates the UK spent around £105bn on wholesale gas in two and a half years of the gas crisis, about £75bn more than before it.
Nesta publishes Clean heat: coordinating the switch street by street
Nesta has published a blueprint for switching homes to low-carbon heating street by street, proposing new national and local bodies to coordinate installations alongside the existing household-led approach.
NEA and partners publish Fuel Poverty Monitor identifying £18 billion energy efficiency funding gap
National Energy Action, with Energy Action Scotland and Gemserv, has published a Fuel Poverty Monitor identifying a funding gap of at least £18 billion to meet England's 2030 fuel poverty energy efficiency target.
Welsh Government publishes response to Ofgem call for input on standing charges
The Welsh Government has told Ofgem that standing charges should be abolished, that North Wales pays the highest in Great Britain, and that a social tariff is overdue.
Rules and RegulationEnergy Bills and the Price CapWhere Our Energy Comes From
Which? warns of spray foam insulation scams targeting vulnerable people
Which? reports that the Wales Against Scams Partnership has warned of scammers targeting vulnerable people with dodgy and non-existent insulation offers sold through doorstep, phone and online marketing.
YouGov poll released showing 79% of MPs back mandatory solar panels for new-build homes
A YouGov poll of 107 MPs, commissioned by the MCS Foundation, found 79 per cent support making solar panels mandatory on all new-build homes from 2025, with 61 per cent backing mandatory battery storage.
Consultation on changes to permitted development rights opened
The government consulted on changes to permitted development rights for electric vehicle charge points and air source heat pumps between 13 February and 9 April 2024, drawing 1,409 responses.
Permitted development rights consultation opens
The government has opened a consultation on changes to permitted development rights in England, covering larger home extensions, building upwards, demolition and rebuild, electric vehicle charge points and air source heat pumps.
MCS opens four-week consultation on changes to MIS 3005-D heat pump design standard
MCS has opened a four-week consultation on changes to its heat pump design standard, proposing a definition of hybrid systems, removal of the 100% heat loss sizing rule and a minimum 55% peak power contribution.
NIBE introduces S1156 and S1256 ground source heat pumps
NIBE has introduced the S1156 and S1256 ground source heat pumps, adding two new models to its UK range of low-carbon heating equipment.
Eligible chargepoint model list first published
The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles published its first list of electric vehicle chargepoint models eligible for its grants, covering residential, commercial and dual-use equipment.
Hypervolt rolls out Multi-Mode Scheduling to Home 3.0 and Home 3 Pro chargers
Hypervolt has begun rolling out Multi-Mode Scheduling to all Home 3.0 and Home 3 Pro chargers after completing beta testing, converting existing schedules automatically over the coming week.
Labour announces new warm homes plan
Labour has announced a new warm homes plan, prompting the fuel poverty charity National Energy Action to call for urgent, funded action on energy efficiency for the households least able to heat their homes.
SSEN submits £10m Storm Arwen funding application to Ofgem
SSEN Distribution has asked Ofgem for £10m of dedicated funding for five projects to improve storm response and network resilience, following the regulator's review of the response to Storm Arwen.
ECIU publishes estimate of the cost of not zero in 2023
The Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit estimates that missing net zero technologies and higher food bills cost UK households and government £73bn over 2022 and 2023, and at least £87bn since the early 2010s.
120 organisations sign letter urging Household Support Fund extension
The End Fuel Poverty Coalition joined 120 organisations in a letter to the Chancellor asking for the Household Support Fund to be extended by at least a year, as new figures put the cost of the bills crisis at £2,300 per household.
Addendum to NISEP 2023/25 Framework Document published
The Utility Regulator published a February 2024 addendum to the NISEP 2023/25 Framework Document, changing income eligibility, heat pump monitoring, governance and customer protections.
Rules and RegulationScotland, Wales and Northern IrelandHeat Pumps
British Gas customer support packages reach £140 million
British Gas announced customer support packages totalling £140 million between August 2022 and February 2024, according to the British Gas Energy Trust, which has itself received nearly £200 million since 2004.
British Gas launches Price Promise tariff priced below Ofgem price cap
British Gas has launched a fixed-rate Price Promise tariff at £1,699 a year for average dual fuel use, promising to beat the Ofgem price cap until at least July.
BUS vouchers awarded rise 75% year on year after grant increase to £7,500
MCS reports that Boiler Upgrade Scheme vouchers awarded in February 2024 were 75 per cent higher than a year earlier, following the increase in the grant from £5,000 to £7,500.
Disrepair to critical elements rose from 45% in 2023 to 48% in 2024
The Scottish House Condition Survey 2024 reports that disrepair to critical elements in Scottish homes rose from 45 per cent in 2023 to 48 per cent in 2024, alongside a fall in fuel poverty.
Electrical storage batteries included in the stated VAT circumstances
Electrical storage batteries installed in homes and relevant charitable buildings were brought within the VAT energy-saving materials rules from 1 February 2024, under stated circumstances.
February 2024 drop in fuel voucher help
Citizens Advice says the number of people it helped with fuel vouchers fell in February 2024, after a record January, as £299 Cost of Living payments and the warmest February on record eased immediate pressure.
Fixed-rate energy tariffs return to the energy market
Fixed-rate energy tariffs have started returning to the UK energy market, according to Home Energy Scotland, which says households should weigh contract length and exit fees before signing up.
Good Energy acquires Trust Solar
Good Energy has closed Trust Solar, the JPS Group solar and storage components business it acquired in February 2024, saying it will concentrate on solar and battery installations.
Government applies prepayment meter discount
The government has applied a discount on prepayment meters since February 2024 so that customers are not financially penalised for being moved onto one.
Government introduces voluntary principles for replacing smart meter displays
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero introduced voluntary principles in February 2024 to help households obtain a replacement smart meter display once the 12-month supplier obligation has ended.
Heat pump installation works provision inserted
VAT law for energy-saving materials was amended on 1 February 2024 so that installing ground source and water source heat pumps includes the groundworks or dredging needed for their pipework.
Homes for Net Zero scheme opens
E.ON and Energy Systems Catapult opened the Homes for Net Zero research scheme in February 2024, offering vouchers and efficiency measures to owners of solid-walled homes with smart meters.