Powering Homes news, page 63
- January 2024
Winter Fuel Payment cut back
The Winter Fuel Payment, cut back in 2024, will be restored to many pensioner households in England and Wales from winter 2025, but only where income is below £35,000 a year.
Zero emission vehicle mandate becomes law
The Zero Emission Vehicle mandate became law in January 2024, setting manufacturers annual quotas for zero emission cars and vans on the pathway to 2035.
Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate expected to come into force
The Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate is expected to come into force in January 2024, setting a minimum quota for new battery electric vehicle registrations for every brand.
ZEV mandate targets scheduled to begin
From 1 January 2024, the zero emission vehicle mandate requires an increasing share of each manufacturer's annual new car and van sales in the UK to be zero emission, rising to 100% in 2035.
- December 2023
SSEN offers £30 per person per day compensation during Storm Gerrit outages
SSEN Distribution has confirmed that customers left without power for more than 12 hours by Storm Gerrit can claim £30 per person per day for food and drink, as around 16,000 properties remained off supply.
Storm Gerrit damages SSEN network in north of Scotland
Storm Gerrit damaged SSEN's network across the north of Scotland on 27 December 2023, leaving just over 16,000 properties off supply by 9.45pm and some rural homes without power until Friday.
Scottish Government publishes update to Building Standards Technical Handbook implementing New Build Heat Standard
The Scottish Government has published a Building Standards Technical Handbook update implementing the New Build Heat Standard, banning gas and oil boilers in new homes from April 2024 but leaving the notional house specification unchanged.
Amendments to Class A made by the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development etc.) (England) (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/1279) come into force
Amendments to Class A permitted development rights for solar equipment on domestic premises in England came into force on 21 December 2023, clarifying roof slope references and adding a prior approval requirement for flat roofs on article 2(3) land.
New permitted development rights for solar panels take effect in England
Amended permitted development rights for solar panels in England took effect on 21 December 2023, widening what can be installed without full planning permission.
Scottish Fuel Poverty Advisory Panel notes planned closure of Fuel Insecurity Fund in 2024/25 Budget
The Scottish Fuel Poverty Advisory Panel has told ministers it is extremely disappointed by plans to close the Fuel Insecurity Fund and cut housing and buildings budgets from April 2024.
Aereco announces new MVHR range
Aereco has announced a new mechanical ventilation with heat recovery range, led by the InspirAIR Top Premium unit, which the company says carries Passiv Haus certification and recognition in the PCDB database.
SSEN partners with YES Energy Solutions to offer free energy saving advice line
SSEN customers in the north of Scotland and central southern England can use the YES Advice Line for free energy efficiency advice, funding applications and benefit checks.
£6 billion allocated to energy efficiency and low-carbon heating schemes
The government has allocated £6 billion of capital funding for 2025 to 2028 across energy efficiency and low-carbon heating schemes, including a new £400 million grant for households in England.
Extra £1.5 billion for Boiler Upgrade Scheme announced
The government has allocated an extra £1.5 billion to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme for 2025 to 2028, part of a £6 billion package for energy efficiency and low carbon heating.
Government announces £6bn allocation for energy efficiency and home upgrades
The government has allocated £6bn for energy efficiency and home upgrades, a sum the National Energy Action charity welcomed for low-income households but called small against the scale of fuel poverty.
UK government announces details of £6bn home decarbonisation funding for 2025 to 2028
The UK government has set out how £6bn for decarbonising homes between 2025 and 2028 will be spent, including extra money for low-income households and social housing.
Heat network zoning consultation first published
The government has published its response to the 2023 consultation on heat network zoning in England, which drew 156 replies and set out where networks should be the lowest-cost route to decarbonised heat.
RECC reports Government extension of VAT relief on energy saving materials
The Renewable Energy Consumer Code has reported that VAT relief on energy saving materials will be expanded from 1 February 2024 to cover battery storage, water-source heat pumps and diverters.
SSEN Distribution moves to Weather Warning status ahead of forecast high winds
SSEN Distribution moved to Weather Warning status on 18 December 2023 ahead of strong winds forecast across northern Scotland, activating contingency plans and additional teams.
Ofgem consults on making no wholesale cost adjustment to the price cap for October 2022 to September 2023
Ofgem has proposed making no adjustment to the energy price cap for wholesale costs incurred between October 2022 and September 2023, with responses to its consultation due by 17 January 2024.
Ofgem consults on one-off £16 price cap adjustment to recover bad debt costs
Ofgem has opened a consultation on a one-off £16 price cap adjustment, paid between April 2024 and March 2025, to let suppliers recover bad debt costs, with prepayment meter customers excluded.
Ofgem decides not to adjust price cap for Winter 22/23 wholesale variances
Ofgem has decided not to adjust the energy price cap for wholesale cost variances over Winter 22/23, and is consulting on a one-off £16 adjustment to cover bad debt.
British Gas Energy Trust launches White Goods Fund for England and Wales
The British Gas Energy Trust has opened a White Goods Fund giving refrigerators, freezers, electric cookers and washing machines to clients in or facing fuel poverty in England and Wales.
New consumer standards licence conditions take effect
Ofgem's new consumer standards licence conditions for energy suppliers took effect on 14 December 2023, covering contact ease, support for customers struggling to pay and publication of customer service ratings.
Ofgem consumer standards come into effect
Ofgem's strengthened consumer standards took effect on 14 December 2023, requiring suppliers to offer debt repayment plans and consider repayment holidays, as energy debt reached almost £3 billion.
Ofgem implements new consumer contact and customer service rules
Ofgem's new rules on contacting suppliers, support for customers in difficulty and publishing customer service performance took effect on 14 December 2023, after the fieldwork for its latest satisfaction survey.
Energy Systems Catapult report finds EPCs undermining decarbonisation efforts
Energy Systems Catapult has published a report arguing that domestic Energy Performance Certificates should be reformed, proposing three new metrics and Digital Building Passports to align the system with Net Zero.
Future Homes and Buildings Standards consultation page first published
The government published its consultation on the Future Homes and Buildings Standards on 13 December 2023, proposing Building Regulations changes for new homes in England from 2025.
Government consults on Future Homes and Buildings Standards with solar PV in one of two options for new homes
The government has opened a consultation on the Future Homes and Buildings Standards, setting out two options for new homes in England and recommending solar panels on new non-domestic buildings.
Government opens consultation into the Future Homes and Buildings Standard
The Government has opened a consultation on the Future Homes and Buildings Standard, the rules that will govern how homes built after 2025 are constructed and powered.