Powering Homes News: page 70
- September 2023
Proposed EPC C by 2025 rental standard increases scrapped
Proposals to raise the minimum energy performance standard for rented homes in England and Wales to EPC C by 2025 were dropped in September 2023, the Welsh Government has confirmed in its heat strategy.
Rental MEES regulations scrapped
Rishi Sunak has scrapped planned regulations that would have required landlords in England and Wales to bring privately rented homes up to EPC C by 2028, part of a wider rollback of climate policies.
SSEN Distribution launches data portal in partnership with Icebreaker One
SSEN Distribution has launched an open data portal built with Icebreaker One, publishing anonymised load-modelling data under a Creative Commons licence for use by councils, businesses and individuals.
Stelrad Electric Series available from merchants
Stelrad has launched its first electric radiator range, the Electric Series, available from merchants from 1 September 2023, with models for rooms and bathrooms.
Stock take of Britain's energy system published
The End Fuel Poverty Coalition's September 2023 stock take records record unit costs, rising standing charges, £1bn of prepayment meter debt and 4,706 excess winter deaths in 2022/23.
UKGBC writes to the Prime Minister over green policy roll-back
The UK Green Building Council's deputy chief executive has written to the Prime Minister warning that delaying fossil fuel phase-out plans will not cut energy bills or meet climate targets.
Warm This Winter report card on Government energy bills progress published
A Warm This Winter report card on the Government's progress against eight measures to tackle the energy bills crisis found no progress on half of them and one going backwards.
- August 2023
Consultation on proposed amendments to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme Regulations opened
The government opened a consultation on 31 August 2023 on amending the Boiler Upgrade Scheme Regulations, covering grant levels, EPC requirements and biomass boilers with a cooking function.
Ofgem publishes GBIS Delivery Guidance V1.0
Ofgem published delivery guidance for the Great British Insulation Scheme on 31 August 2023, setting out how suppliers must meet insulation targets running to 31 March 2026.
Grants and SchemesInsulation and GlazingRules and Regulation
tado° introduces three new energy cost products
tado° has launched a smart charging app for home electric vehicle charging and introduced a heat pump control, alongside an announced hourly dynamic tariff, in eight European markets including the UK.
tado° launches Smart Charging app for electric vehicles
tado° has launched a free app that schedules home electric vehicle charging at the cheapest and greenest hours, available in the UK and seven other countries.
SSEN extends Sherborne upgrade to December 2023
SSEN has extended its Sherborne network upgrade from September to December 2023 and raised investment in the Dorset project to £1.9 million, covering around 10,350 homes and businesses.
Warm Homes Network fuel poverty scheme launched
Cadent and partners have launched the Warm Homes Network, a fuel poverty pilot starting in Birmingham in August 2023, with a Cumbria pilot in October and GB-wide roll out expected in 2024.
SSEN begins £2.6m Charminster electricity infrastructure upgrade
SSEN has started a £2.6 million upgrade of underground cabling in Charminster, Dorset, replacing 4.6 kilometres of cable in works that run until March 2024.
Sunsynk publishes Fusion style inverter feature list
Sunsynk has published a feature list for its Hybrid Fusion Inverter range, an all in one unit pairing a hybrid inverter with a lithium iron phosphate battery in three sizes.
ECIU analysis finds inefficient homes to pay around £720 more under October 2023 price cap
ECIU analysis published on 25 August 2023 finds homes rated EPC band F will pay £721 more a year than band C homes under Ofgem's October 2023 price cap of £1,923.
Energy Bills and the Price CapWhere to StartRules and Regulation
ECIU poll finds 97% of public do not know gas boiler phase out date
A Focal Data poll for the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit found only 3% of 2,010 adults in Great Britain correctly identified 2035 as the target date for phasing out gas boilers in existing homes.
NIBE launches most powerful exhaust air heat pump yet
NIBE has launched its most powerful exhaust air heat pump yet, the company announced on 25 August 2023, extending the range of a technology it has previously won awards for.
Ofgem publishes updated default tariff price cap levels for 1 October to 31 December 2023
Ofgem has set the default tariff price cap for 1 October to 31 December 2023 at £1,923 for a typical dual fuel direct debit household, a fall of £151 or 7 per cent.
Prepayment meter regional rates for October to December 2023 added
The government added Energy Price Guarantee regional unit rates and standing charges for prepayment meters covering October to December 2023 to its published rates page.
Citizens Advice publishes Winter Warning report calling for targeted energy bill support
Citizens Advice has published a Winter Warning report arguing that millions of households face a winter as bad as or worse than last year and calling for targeted energy bill support.
Energy Bills and the Price CapGrants and SchemesEnergy Suppliers
Citizens Advice warns of record energy debt help requests before winter
Citizens Advice reports record demand for energy debt help before winter, with 7.8 million people borrowing to pay energy bills in the first half of 2023 and a forecast 26% rise in debt cases by year end.
Energy Bills and the Price CapEnergy SuppliersGrants and Schemes
Ofgem publishes decision on Great British Insulation Scheme and ECO4 amendment administration
Ofgem has published its final decision on how the Great British Insulation Scheme and changes to ECO4 will be administered, after a consultation that drew 17 responses.
Rules and RegulationGrants and SchemesInsulation and Glazing
UK Power Networks reports trial success and considers next steps
UK Power Networks says it is considering how to build on a fuel voucher trial with charity Scope that gave more than 1,000 disabled customers £80 towards their energy bills.
Which? warns 13 million households not heating homes when cold due to bill fears
Which? has estimated that 13 million UK households did not heat their homes when it was cold last winter, and has repeated its call for a targeted social tariff before the October price cap is set.
Energy Bills and the Price CapRules and RegulationYour Type of Home
Welsh Government publishes consultation on the Heat Strategy for Wales
The Welsh Government has published a consultation on its heat strategy for Wales, setting out plans to move homes and businesses away from fossil fuel heating towards electrification.
ECO4 Delivery Guidance version 2.0 published
Ofgem published version 2.0 of its ECO4 Delivery Guidance on 14 August 2023, reflecting legislative changes that took effect the same day for measures installed under the scheme.
ECO4 legislative amendments changed ESH and EHS classification
Ofgem's ECO4 guidance records that from 14 August 2023 electric storage heaters and Electric Heating Systems count as renewable heating systems in homes with solar PV.
Government launches 36 pilot energy advice services backed by £20 million
The government has launched 36 pilot energy advice services backed by £20 million, trialling in-person efficiency advice for more than 125,000 households across England.
E3G publishes report on supporting warmer homes for rural communities
E3G research published on 9 August 2023 sets out the higher fuel poverty gap faced by rural off-gas-grid households in England and recommends a rural uplift to two government heating schemes.