Powering Homes News: page 74
- June 2023
Future Homes Leadership Council launches with first meeting
The Future Homes Leadership Council, made up of chief executives from homebuilders including the largest eight, held its first meeting on 29 June 2023 and agreed actions on sharing, roadmap development and communications.
National Grid ESO to use HOMEflex Code of Conduct in Winter 23/24 Demand Flexibility Service
National Grid ESO will use the HOMEflex Code of Conduct in its Winter 23/24 Demand Flexibility Service, ahead of the schedule set for the domestic flexibility project.
CCC says confidence in UK meeting goals from 2030 onwards markedly less than a year ago
The Climate Change Committee says its confidence in the UK meeting its climate goals from 2030 onwards is markedly lower than a year ago, despite the Government publishing over 3,000 pages of new net zero detail.
Government grants service fully launched
The Cabinet Office has removed the pilot label from its Find government grants service, saying the tool has fully launched and is open to individuals as well as organisations.
Ofgem launches statutory consultation on involuntary prepayment meters
Ofgem has opened a statutory consultation to make prepayment meter protections mandatory in suppliers' licence conditions, and has proposed a £13 allowance in the prepayment price cap for bad debt recovery.
Statutory consultation on Involuntary PPM opens
Ofgem opened a statutory consultation on 28 June 2023 on plans to write its Involuntary Prepayment Meter Code of Practice into supply licence conditions and guidance.
Scottish Government withdraws standalone solar PV and storage eligibility from Home Energy Scotland loans
The Scottish Government has stopped Home Energy Scotland loans for standalone solar panels and energy storage, with applications now accepted only when bundled with a heat pump or high heat retention storage heaters.
Grants and SchemesScotland, Wales and Northern IrelandWhere to Start
Committee on Fuel Poverty publishes annual report and NEA responds
National Energy Action has responded to the Committee on Fuel Poverty's annual report, warning that the least efficient homes face heating bills of around £4,000 to £5,000 a year and that England's efficiency targets are decades behind schedule.
Parliamentary answer reports Alternative Fuel Payment delivery figures
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has told Parliament that the Alternative Fuel Payment delivered £200 to around 2 million off-gas-grid households, with over 85% paid automatically in February.
Grants and SchemesEnergy Bills and the Price CapYour Type of Home
Publication of analysis on impact of energy and cost of living support measures across UK nations
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has published estimates of the cost of UK government energy and cost of living support in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and its effect on household incomes.
Directions No. 2 issued for domestic gas and electricity suppliers
The Secretary of State has issued Directions No. 2 for domestic gas and electricity suppliers in Northern Ireland, revoking the December directions that restricted when tariff changes could be made.
NIBE's F2040 air source heat pump upgraded as F2050 is announced
NIBE has announced the F2050 air source heat pump as an upgrade to its F2040 model, in a product update listed on the manufacturer's UK news page.
Hypervolt consumption reports fully released to all users
Hypervolt has completed the full rollout of its 4.3.0 app release, enabling consumption report generation for every user of its charge points.
Ofgem published ECO4 Guidance: New Measures and Products V1.1
Ofgem has published version 1.1 of its ECO4 guidance on new measures and products, setting out how suppliers can apply to deliver technologies not yet recognised under standard scheme rules.
Research published on Warm Homes Fund savings
Newcastle University and partners have published an evaluation of the Warm Homes Fund, finding average household energy running cost savings of £922 a year and total bill savings of £10.8 million.
Citizens Advice publishes research on benefits of retrofitting 13 million inefficient homes
Citizens Advice has published research estimating almost £40 billion in cumulative benefits from upgrading 13 million inefficient homes in Great Britain to EPC C by 2030.
MCS launches Scheme Redevelopment Consultation
MCS has welcomed Simply Certification as its newest contractor certification body and confirmed it is consulting on proposals to transform how the scheme operates.
Simply Certification becomes an MCS certification body
MCS has named Simply Certification as its newest contractor certification body, the second such appointment since 2022, licensed to assess heat pumps, solar PV and solar heating installations.
CMA publishes consumer protection report on green heating and insulation sector
The Competition and Markets Authority has published its consumer protection report on green heating and insulation, warning that poor information and weak quality assurance could deter households or lead to bad decisions.
Consultation on Great British Insulation Scheme and ECO4 amendment administration closes with 17 responses
Ofgem's consultation on how it will administer the Great British Insulation Scheme and amendments to ECO4 closed on 16 June 2023 with 17 responses from suppliers, installers and an energy efficiency body.
Rules and RegulationGrants and SchemesInsulation and Glazing
NEA responds to cross-party MP report on energy bill support
National Energy Action has responded to a cross-party committee report on government energy bill support, calling for unspent resources to be reinvested in targeted help for low-income households.
NIA forms National Home Decarbonisation Group for Tier 1 contractors
The National Insulation Association has incorporated a National Home Decarbonisation Group into its structure, creating a forum for Tier 1 contractors delivering large-scale residential retrofit.
NIA submits response to Ofgem's GBIS and ECO4 amendment administration consultation
The National Insulation Association has told Ofgem that the Great British Insulation Scheme should not limit households to a single measure, cap innovation measures or exclude England from the rural uplift.
Citizens Advice published a discussion paper on locational pricing
Citizens Advice has published a discussion paper on locational pricing, weighing whether varying wholesale electricity prices by location could benefit consumers or expose households to new risks.
Summary of response published for Warm Homes Programme consultation
The Welsh Government has published a summary of responses, a policy statement and a review and recommendations report for the next iteration of the Warm Homes Programme, two years after the consultation closed.
Grants and SchemesRules and RegulationScotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Warm Homes Programme policy statement published
The Welsh Government has published a policy statement for its next Warm Homes Programme, alongside a lessons learned report and its response to last year's consultation, with the current Nest contract extended to avoid a gap in provision.
Department for Infrastructure announces changes to permitted development rights for domestic heat pumps
Northern Ireland's Department for Infrastructure has amended permitted development rights so domestic air source heat pumps no longer need planning permission, subject to conditions, from 4 July 2023.
Ofgem publishes decision statement on Great British Insulation scheme and ECO4 LA and Supplier Flex administration
Ofgem has published its decision on how the Great British Insulation Scheme and ECO4 Flex will be administered, after a consultation that drew 16 responses from councils, suppliers and installers.
Rules and RegulationGrants and SchemesInsulation and Glazing
SSEN cancels planned outages in north of Scotland ahead of lightning risk
SSEN Distribution cancelled all major planned outages across the north of Scotland on 12 June 2023 as a precaution against forecast lightning, and put additional teams in place to handle faults.
Which? publishes response to Ofgem consumer standards consultation
Which? has published its response to Ofgem's consultation on a framework for consumer standards and options to address priority customer service issues, citing a consistent decline in satisfaction with energy companies.