Powering Homes news, page 7
- July 2026
Citizens Advice responds to Ofgem consultation on price cap debt-related costs
Citizens Advice has told Ofgem that the debt-related cost allowance in the energy price cap was set too high, led to material over-recovery and needs a further downward adjustment.
Rules and RegulationEnergy Bills and the Price CapEnergy Suppliers
Uswitch 10 Hours Electricity incentive scheduled to close
Uswitch's 10 Hours Electricity incentive, which credits up to £10 to customers who connect a smart meter, is scheduled to close on 8 July 2026 unless the company extends it.
Higher BUS grant for oil and LPG replacements starts
Households in England and Wales heating with oil or LPG can claim a £9,000 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant for an air-to-water or ground source heat pump from July 2026, up from £7,500.
Ian Rippin announced he will step down as MCS CEO
Ian Rippin will stand down as chief executive of MCS, the UK certification body for small-scale renewables, after more than eight years, with chief operating officer Lisa Cooke named as his successor.
Lisa Cooke appointed MCS Managing Director
Lisa Cooke, currently MCS Chief Operating Officer, will succeed Ian Rippin as Managing Director of the UK certification body for small-scale renewables from 1 August 2026.
Citizens Advice updates RIIO-2 review, estimating network company windfall rising to £7 billion by 2028
Citizens Advice has updated its review of the RIIO-2 price controls to include 2024/25, finding network company windfalls worth around £5 billion to 2025 and up to £7 billion by 2028.
HUG2 closed to applications in Wolverhampton area
Act on Energy has confirmed the Home Upgrade Grant is closed across Wolverhampton and neighbouring West Midlands and Worcestershire areas, with applications no longer processed and a replacement scheme expected later this year.
SSE Airtricity electricity tariffs to rise 6.2% from 1 August 2026
SSE Airtricity, Northern Ireland's second largest electricity supplier, will raise its electricity tariffs by 6.2% from 1 August 2026, adding around £76 a year to a typical bill.
Citizens Advice publishes report on unlocking innovation in the energy retail market
Citizens Advice has published research setting out six policy options for reforming the Universal Service Obligation and the price cap, saying retail market reform has stalled and innovation is progressing slowly.
Rules and RegulationEnergy Bills and the Price CapEnergy Suppliers
Updated BUS guidance published reflecting scheme changes
Ofgem published updated Boiler Upgrade Scheme guidance for installers and property owners on 2 July 2026, ahead of applications opening on 21 July under amended scheme rules.
Which? publishes response to DESNZ plug in solar consultation
Which? has told the government that safety concerns around plug in solar must be resolved before the products go on sale in the UK, while backing their potential to cut bills.
100Green to offer choice of green gas levels
From July 2026, 100Green customers will be able to choose between a gas supply containing at least 10% green gas and one that is 100% green gas.
Backwardation deadband removal to take effect from price cap 16b
Ofgem will remove the £9 deadband from the backwardation allowance in the energy price cap from price cap period 16b, covering July to September 2026, it has confirmed.
Core Group eligibility in Scotland expanded from 2026/27
The Scottish Government has decided that Core Group eligibility for the Warm Home Discount in Scotland will align with the qualifying benefits list for the Scottish Winter Heating Payment as of December 2025.
CPI 12-month inflation at 2.9% in July 2026
UK consumer price inflation rose to 2.9% in the 12 months to July 2026, the first increase since March, as a higher Ofgem price cap pushed gas prices up 14.7%.
CSE reviews its energy mythbuster page
The Centre for Sustainable Energy has reviewed four of its household energy advice pages, restating figures on heat loss, standby costs, Economy 7 and park home insulation.
Gas prices rise sharply month on month in July 2026
The Office for National Statistics reports that the CPI gas index rose 14.7% in the month to July 2026 and 8.0% over 12 months, the largest monthly gas rise since October 2022.
Government announces summer consultation on permitted development rights for heat pumps
The government has announced a summer consultation on permitted development rights for heat pumps, as analysis suggests households have spent up to £8 million on planning applications that are mostly approved.
Met Office declares another heatwave with temperatures above 30°C
The Met Office declared a further heatwave in early July 2026, with temperatures above 30°C expected across much of the country for up to a week.
Ofgem July price cap rise is the biggest jump in years
Ofgem's July price cap rise is the biggest jump in years, Uswitch says, with 12 million households on standard variable tariffs facing higher bills unless they fix.
Ofgem publishes call for input on Cost Allocation Review
Ofgem's first Consumer Vulnerability Strategy progress report finds support for households in debt is improving but uneven, with 58% of customers behind on bills lacking a repayment plan at the end of 2025.
Ofgem re-publishes price cap levels for July to September 2026 under revised 2026 TDCV
Ofgem has re-published the July to September 2026 price cap levels using new lower typical consumption figures, with the cap for a typical direct debit household rising 13 per cent to £1,663.
Online air conditioning installation requests rise more than 300% during heatwave
Online marketplaces reported air conditioning installation requests up by more than 300 per cent at the start of July 2026, as BESA warned about unqualified installation of refrigerant equipment.
Plug-in Solar Device Interim Product Specification Version 2.0 issued
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has issued Version 2.0 of its interim product specification for plug-in solar devices, setting the technical and safety limits that will govern the products.
Publication of research on heat pump transition for households at risk of fuel poverty
Research commissioned for the Committee on Fuel Poverty and published on GOV.UK examines how households at risk of fuel poverty can be supported through the transition to heat pumps.
RTS meters being phased out in stages
The Energy Saving Trust says the Radio Teleswitch Service is being phased out in stages and that households with an RTS meter should contact their energy supplier to arrange a replacement.
Trust writes to Prime Minister with five priorities to end fuel poverty
British Gas Energy Trust has written to the Prime Minister setting out five priorities to end fuel poverty, saying immediate help must be paired with action on debt, income and housing.
Warm Homes Plan to invest close to £15 billion in UK homes
The Warm Homes Plan will direct close to £15 billion into UK home improvements, with fully funded heat pumps for low income households and low or zero interest loans for homeowners.
- June 2026
Deadline for Government and Parliament to decide the Seventh Carbon Budget level
The Government has set a draft Seventh Carbon Budget of 535 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent for 2038 to 2042, and Parliament must approve or reject it by 30 June 2026.
ECO4 measure transfer period ends
Energy suppliers can transfer completed ECO4 measures until 30 June 2026, three months after the scheme's main obligation period closed on 31 March 2026.