Powering Homes news, page 73
- August 2023
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.
ECO4 Measures Table version 2.0 published
Ofgem published version 2.0 of the ECO4 measures table on 9 August 2023, recording the first set of legislative amendments to the scheme, which took effect from 14 August 2023.
Nesta analysis finds UK has third-highest electricity-to-gas price ratio in Europe
Nesta analysis published on 8 August 2023 finds the UK had the third-highest electricity-to-gas price ratio in Europe, averaging 3.8 between 2011 and 2021 and 4.4 between 2018 and 2022.
Nesta publishes conclusion of European heat pump uptake comparison
Nesta's European heat pump comparison, published on 8 August 2023, concludes that air-to-air heat pumps dominate uptake across Europe while the Boiler Upgrade Scheme funds only air-to-water and ground-source models.
GBIS Measures Table V1.0 published
Ofgem has published the first version of the Great British Insulation Scheme Measures Table, the document listing the insulation measures suppliers may deliver under the scheme.
MCS consultation on scheme redevelopment receives 106 official and 187 informal responses
MCS received 106 official and 187 informal responses to its six-week consultation on redeveloping the certification scheme, with a summary due in September and changes planned for the second quarter of 2024.
RECC publishes annual report highlights for 2022
The Renewable Energy Consumer Code has published highlights from its 2022 annual report, recording 3,037 member businesses, over 108,000 installations and £176,557 recovered for consumers.
TÜV Rheinland (China) achieved MCS accreditation for solar PV products
TÜV Rheinland (China) Ltd became the first MCS product certification body based outside Europe in August 2023, initially certifying solar panel products for the UK market.
Mitsubishi Electric launches Versatile domestic hot water cylinder range
Mitsubishi Electric has launched the Versatile domestic hot water cylinder range in five capacities, designed for use with its Ecodan R32 heat pumps and controlled through MELCloud.
ChargeUK writes to Prime Minister urging commitment to 2030 ZEV mandate
ChargeUK has written to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak urging him to stand firm on the 2030 phase out of petrol and diesel cars and on the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate due in 2024.
Mobile heat pump training facility launched at South Lanarkshire College
A Scottish Government funded mobile heat pump training centre, certified by BPEC, was launched at South Lanarkshire College on 2 August to train installers across Scotland.
Battery electric vehicles reach record 20.1% market share in August 2023
Battery electric cars took a 20.1% share of UK new car registrations in August 2023, an August record, as the SMMT warned that delays to the Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate threaten decarbonisation goals.