Powering Homes News: page 79
- April 2023
Energy price cap due to rise in April 2023
The National Insulation Association has told a government consultation that a further 20% rise to the energy price cap was expected in April 2023, as it pressed for faster delivery of insulation under the ECO+ scheme.
Energy price cap falls to £3,280 for a typical dual fuel direct debit household
The energy price cap for a typical dual fuel household paying by direct debit fell to £3,280 on 1 April 2023, down almost £1,000 from the previous level.
Energy Bills and the Price CapStatisticsRules and Regulation
Energy price cap support level changes from 1 April
Research for the Warm This Winter campaign finds 29 per cent of people in debt to their energy supplier as the Chancellor's price cap extension takes effect on 1 April.
New energy supplier obligation to start from April 2023
Energy suppliers will be obliged from April 2023 to help customers cut bills under legislation announced in the Growth Plan, worth £1 billion over three years.
Feed-in Tariffs (Amendment) Order 2023 came into force
The Feed-in Tariffs (Amendment) Order 2023 came into force on 1 April 2023, removing green import exemptions from the FIT scheme and applying them for FIT Scheme Year 14 and each subsequent FIT year.
flexi-2023 cost components change at 1 April 2023
ScottishPower has published revised third party cost components for its flexi-2023 variable tariff from 1 April 2023, with Transmission Network Use of System moving from the unit rate into the daily standing charge.
Funding support for energy saving measures expanded
Funding support for energy saving measures, until now usually limited to low income or benefit-claiming households, is being expanded to more people from April 2023, according to the Centre for Alternative Technology.
GB socialised network reinforcement costs for low carbon technologies
Ofgem's Access Significant Code Review decision means that from April 2023 the costs of reinforcing electricity networks for low carbon technologies installed in existing buildings will normally be shared across all billpayers.
GBIS allowance included in the default tariff cap from April 2023
Ofgem has included an allowance for the Great British Insulation Scheme in the default tariff cap from April 2023, passing the cost of the renamed ECO+ scheme to billpayers.
GivEnergy SME Battery Cabinet datasheet issued
GivEnergy has published an April 2023 datasheet for its SME Battery Cabinet, a 64kWh lithium iron phosphate storage unit that scales to 256kWh and is also offered for large domestic sites.
Great British Insulation Scheme introduced by Energy Secretary Grant Shapps
Energy Secretary Grant Shapps introduced the Great British Insulation Scheme, targeting homes in Council Tax bands A to D with lower energy efficiency ratings, alongside a three-year extension of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
Money Advice Trust research finds 5.5 million UK adults in energy bills debt
Money Advice Trust research estimates 5.5 million UK adults are in energy bills debt, with 2.1 million more people in arrears in April 2023 than in March 2022.
NBHS regulations to pass through Parliament
The Scottish Government has set out plans to ban direct emissions heating systems in new buildings from April 2024, with regulations expected to pass through Parliament in spring 2023.
Next iteration of Warm Homes Programme to start
The Welsh Government has confirmed that the next iteration of its Warm Homes Programme will begin in April 2023, continuing advice and efficiency support for lower income households in Wales.
Grants and SchemesYour Type of HomeScotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Ofgem next network price control begins, running five years
Ofgem's next electricity network price control began in April 2023 and runs for five years, setting the charges that fund the wires and cables delivering power to homes.
Ofgem price cap change brings highest standing charges since 2019
Ofgem's price cap from 1 April 2023 brings the highest standing charges since the cap began in 2019, up 64%, as National Energy Action warns 7.5 million households will be in fuel poverty.
Ofgem publishes Involuntary PPM Code of Practice agreed with suppliers
Ofgem has published an Involuntary Prepayment Meter Code of Practice, agreed with suppliers, setting out when customers may be moved onto prepayment meters without consent and how they must be treated.
Rules and RegulationEnergy Bills and the Price CapSmart Meters
UK Power Networks launches independent DSO
UK Power Networks launched the country's first independent Distribution System Operator in April 2023, separating the body that plans its network from the one that runs it.
Quarterly change to Flexi variable costs from 1 April 2023
ScottishPower has published the Flexi variable cost breakdown applying from 1 April 2023, showing a sharp fall in electricity distribution standing charges and a new transmission standing charge.
New rules require £30 starter credit on involuntary prepayment meter installations
From April 2023, suppliers installing a prepayment meter or switching a smart meter to prepay without consent must offer £30 credit or an equivalent non-disconnection period.
Rules and RegulationSmart MetersEnergy Bills and the Price Cap
Scenario modelling projects 920,000 fuel poor households from April 2023
Scottish Government modelling published on 30 May 2023 projects 920,000 fuel poor households in Scotland, 37 per cent of all households, from April 2023 once the £400 Energy Bills Support Scheme ends.
StatisticsScotland, Wales and Northern IrelandYour Type of Home
Simply Certification gains UKAS accreditation for MCS assessments
Simply Certification has become an MCS contractor certification body after gaining UKAS accreditation in April, widening the choice of assessors for small-scale renewable installations across the UK.
SolarEdge Home Battery 400V warranty revised
SolarEdge revised its Limited Warranty for the Home Battery 400V in April 2023, keeping a ten year term and 70 per cent energy retention while setting conditions on monitoring, throughput and shipping costs.
Standing charges reach new high, up 64%
Standing charges paid daily for grid access reached a new high on 1 April, up 64%, with almost half of the poorest households' energy spending now going on these fixed fees.
TCR removes time of use based TNUoS charges
Ofgem's Targeted Charging Review replaces the time of use element of transmission charges with a banded fixed charge from April 2023, cutting the revenue available from vehicle-to-grid tariff optimisation by around half.
Rules and RegulationNew TechnologyWhere Our Energy Comes From
- March 2023
Energy Bill Relief Scheme to end and be replaced by Energy Bills Discount Scheme
The Energy Bill Relief Scheme for non-domestic customers ends on 31 March 2023 and is replaced from April by the Energy Bills Discount Scheme, at a reduced rate of support.
Final consultation on ZEV mandate and CO2 emissions regulation published
The final consultation on the UK zero-emission vehicle mandate and CO2 emissions regulation for new cars and vans was published on 31 March 2023 and closed on 24 May.
Government response to Great British Insulation Scheme consultation published
The government published its response to the consultation on the Great British Insulation Scheme in March 2023, setting out the design of a supplier obligation later launched as a £1bn programme.
Rules and RegulationGrants and SchemesInsulation and Glazing
Government wholesale cost support for Bulb ends
Government funding of Bulb's wholesale energy costs under its Special Administration Regime ended on 31 March 2023, with the taxpayer bill estimated at £3.02 billion.
Phase 2 of Home Upgrade Grant begins
The second phase of the Home Upgrade Grant began in April 2023, with up to £700m allocated across English local authorities to fund energy efficiency upgrades and clean heating until March 2025.