Powering Homes news, page 67
- November 2023
Forced prepayment meter moratorium lifted for compliant suppliers
The moratorium on forced prepayment meter installations, introduced in February 2023, was lifted from November 2023 for suppliers that met Ofgem's restart criteria.
Rules and RegulationEnergy Bills and the Price CapSmart Meters
Good Energy Default tariff rates change for non Direct Debit customers
Good Energy has ended the Direct Debit discount for non Direct Debit customers on its Default tariff from 1 November 2023, raising rates for those paying by other methods.
Government declines Emergency Energy Tariff and help to repay schemes in Autumn Statement
The Chancellor's Autumn Statement declined charity proposals for an Emergency Energy Tariff and ruled out a help to repay scheme, as Ofgem confirmed a 5% January price cap rise.
Energy Bills and the Price CapRules and RegulationGrants and Schemes
Green Heat Finance Taskforce report published
The Green Heat Finance Taskforce published its first report in November 2023, setting out finance products intended to spread the upfront cost of heat and energy efficiency work in Scottish buildings.
Hypervolt app v5 released in November 2023
Hypervolt has begun releasing version 5.1 of its charger app, an update that follows the version 5 release in November 2023 and adds direct report downloads and in-app troubleshooting.
Independent review of ASHP noise emissions published
An independent review of air source heat pump noise emissions, published by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero in November 2023, proposed changes to the domestic permitted development right that were later taken forward in a 2025 planning order for England.
Low Carbon Hub publishes low-cost, no-cost energy saving leaflet
Low Carbon Hub has published a free downloadable leaflet of low-cost and no-cost energy saving measures for households, dated November 2023, covering draught-proofing, insulation, appliance use and heating controls.
National Grid prepares for Storm Ciarán in South West England and South Wales
National Grid has put standby staff, extra contact centre operatives and helicopters on readiness ahead of Storm Ciarán, which is forecast to bring gusts of up to 85mph to exposed coasts of South West England and South Wales.
Ofgem to decide restarts supplier by supplier
Ofgem has confirmed it will decide supplier by supplier when new licence conditions on involuntary prepayment meter installations have been met and firms are ready to restart.
Ofgem launched a 'call for input' on standing charges
Ofgem opened a call for input on standing charges in November 2023, asking for views on the daily fees and possible alternatives, with responses accepted until January 2024.
Ofgem publishes Call For Input on consumer consent
Ofgem has published a Call For Input on consumer consent for energy data sharing, setting out three design options and citing 87% respondent support for intervention.
Ofgem publishes statutory consultation on levelling standing charges
Ofgem has published a statutory consultation proposing to level standing charges between prepayment and direct debit customers, cutting bills for prepayment households by around £50 a year.
Passiv UK launches Greener Grid Payments for heat pump customers
Passiv UK has launched Greener Grid Payments, an automated service that pays its heat pump control customers for cutting power at peak times under the National Grid ESO Demand Flexibility Service.
Petroineos announces closure of Grangemouth oil refinery
Petroineos announced in November 2023 that it would close the Grangemouth oil refinery, and the company completed the closure in 2025, according to the Climate Change Committee.
Powercast launches to all ev.energy users in UK Power Networks region
Powercast, a power cut notification service built by ev.energy with UK Power Networks, became available to all ev.energy users in London, the South East and East of England in November 2023.
New prepayment meter rules extend protections for vulnerable people
Ofgem, Energy UK and the government set out new rules suppliers should follow from November 2023, adding checks before any involuntary prepayment meter installation.
Rules and RegulationEnergy Bills and the Price CapSmart Meters
Scottish government delays fossil fuel boiler phase-out by at least three years
The Scottish government has postponed the start of its phase-out of fossil fuel boilers by at least three years, announcing the change alongside a consultation on a new heating bill.
Rules and RegulationScotland, Wales and Northern IrelandBoilers and Heating
ScottishPower launches Power Saver app with equiwatt
ScottishPower partnered with equiwatt to launch the Power Saver app in November 2023, an app that rewards households for shifting electricity use away from peak times.
Strengthened PPM rules come into force
Ofgem's strengthened rules on involuntary prepayment meter installations took effect in November 2023, with suppliers required to pass independent audits before restarting activity in January 2024.
Survey finds 29% of UK population experiences mould at home
Research for the Warm This Winter campaign found 29% of UK adults, about 15.4 million people, experience mould at home frequently or occasionally, with 10% affected frequently.
Warm Homes Network pilot launches in Cumbria
A fuel poverty initiative bringing utilities, charities, councils and technology firms together began a Cumbria pilot in November 2023, supporting up to 100 vulnerable households, after an earlier Birmingham pilot.
- October 2023
Safestyle enters administration and FENSA suspends its approval
Safestyle announced on 30 October 2023 that it had gone into administration, and FENSA suspended the firm as a FENSA Approved Installer the same day.
SSEN Distribution moves to Weather Warning status ahead of Storm Ciarán
SSEN Distribution moved to Weather Warning status on 30 October 2023 and then to Yellow Alert on 31 October, standing up extra teams ahead of Storm Ciarán's forecast 70mph coastal gusts.
Utilita Power Payback service starts
Utilita told customers its Power Payback service would begin on 30 October 2023, paying them for cutting electricity use during notified events.
Ofgem accepts remedial actions offered by CES and CESS
Ofgem has accepted remedial actions from Community Energy Scheme UK and Community Energy Scheme Stoke over sales practices, contracts and billing, and has now closed its investigation.
Scottish Government publishes Heat in Buildings progress report 2023
The Scottish Government's 2023 Heat in Buildings progress report records £170 million of capital investment through delivery schemes and confirms a consultation on a Heat in Buildings Bill.
Boiler Upgrade Scheme extended by 3 years to 2028
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme will pay £7,500 towards a heat pump from today and now runs to 2028, three years longer than planned, the government has announced.
Octopus Energy launches Octoplus rewards scheme
Octopus Energy has launched Octoplus, a rewards scheme that lets eligible smart meter customers earn Octopoints through demand flexibility and account activity and redeem them for credit.
Off-gas-grid fossil fuel heating ban delayed to 2035
The government has delayed its ban on installing oil, LPG and new coal heating in off-gas-grid homes from 2026 to 2035, while raising Boiler Upgrade Scheme heat pump grants to £7,500.
Ofgem announces price cap fall for October 2023
Wholesale prices fell below the level of the Energy Price Guarantee, and the price cap was set to fall to £1,923 in October 2023, a Commons Library briefing has noted.
Energy Bills and the Price CapRules and RegulationStatistics