Powering Homes News: page 84
- February 2023
Approved Document L Volume 2 (2021 edition incorporating 2023 amendments) becomes valid
The 2021 edition of Approved Document L Volume 2, incorporating 2023 amendments, became valid on 2 February 2023, setting the compliance guidance for energy efficiency in buildings other than dwellings in England.
E.On rated severe weaknesses and issued Provisional Order
Ofgem has rated E.On as having severe weaknesses in customer service and issued a Provisional Order requiring it to cut call wait times and abandoned call rates and report weekly.
Ofgem announces industry-wide investigation into prepayment meter installations
Ofgem has opened an industry-wide investigation into the rapid growth in prepayment meter installations and warned suppliers that forced installations are unacceptable, following reports of debt agents entering homes.
Ofgem completes Market Compliance Review of suppliers' customer service and complaints handling
Ofgem has rated seventeen energy suppliers on customer service and complaints handling, placing none in its top category and issuing a Provisional Order to E.On over severe weaknesses.
BISOL Duplex M10 and BISOL Laminate M10 announced for availability
BISOL has said the first batch of its M10 Duplex modules in full-black 400 to 420 Wp format, with a frameless Laminate version, will be available in February 2023.
New boiler efficiency standards took effect in Scotland
Boiler efficiency standards in Scotland rose from February 2023, requiring 92% efficiency for condensing standard or combination gas boilers and lower minimums for oil models.
British Gas launches heat pump installation price offer
British Gas has said it will cap the starting price of heat pump installation at £2,999, a figure that excludes the heat pump itself and will not apply to every home.
Campaign launched to keep Energy Price Guarantee at £2,500
Charities, energy trade body Energy UK and more than 70 organisations have backed Martin Lewis's call to postpone the rise in the Energy Price Guarantee from £2,500 to £3,000 on 1 April 2023.
CCC publishes research on domestic EPC metric reform
The Climate Change Committee published research and recommendations on reforming domestic Energy Performance Certificates across Scotland and the rest of the UK in February 2023.
Insulation and GlazingRules and RegulationScotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
CCC warns lack of leadership is preventing essential UK climate adaptation investment
The Climate Change Committee says a lack of government leadership is holding back essential investment to prepare the UK for climate change, with around £10bn a year potentially needed.
Climate Change Committee calls for reform of domestic EPCs
The Climate Change Committee said in February 2023 that Energy Performance Certificates are poorly suited to setting standards and targets for cutting emissions from homes, and proposed four replacement metrics.
Energy firms agree voluntary pause on forced PPM installations
Energy suppliers agreed a voluntary pause on forced prepayment meter installations in early 2023, after reporting on British Gas, but campaigners said the commitment did not go far enough.
European Commission announces plan for a heat pump action plan
The European Commission is planning a heat pump action plan to boost deployment, to be elaborated with member states and business actors as part of its Green Deal Industrial Plan.
European Commission presents Green Deal Industrial Plan
The European Commission has set out a Green Deal Industrial Plan that will include a heat pump action plan and a proposed Net-Zero Industry Act covering wind, solar, heat pumps, batteries and electrolysers.
First Winter Heating Payments due to be made
The Scottish Government has confirmed that the first payments of its new £50 Winter Heating Payment, which replaces the UK Cold Weather Payment in Scotland, will be made in February 2023.
Forced prepayment meter installations suspended
Forced prepayment meter installations have been suspended after an investigation into British Gas practices, with Consumer Scotland welcoming the pause as breathing space for new protections.
Energy Bills and the Price CapSmart MetersRules and Regulation
Four new government departments were created
The government created four new departments in February 2023, including the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, with indicative budgets pending confirmation at Main Estimates 2023-24.
Fuse upgrade trial with Octopus Energy ends and extends to EV chargers
Octopus Energy and UK Power Networks have ended a year-long trial that let supplier engineers carry out fuse upgrades, and are extending the approach to electric vehicle chargers.
Government launches energy efficiency taskforce
The government has set up an energy efficiency taskforce, co-chaired by Alison Rose and Lord Callanan, to plan a 15% cut in building energy consumption by 2030 against 2021 levels.
Hampshire network upgrade project due for completion
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks has completed a £3.9 million upgrade of electricity infrastructure around Netley Common in Southampton, a fourteen-month project serving around 75,000 homes and businesses.
Improved energy standards for new homes introduced
The most recent improvement to energy standards for new homes was introduced in February 2023, the Scottish Government has confirmed in a progress report on its fuel poverty strategy.
Lords committee finds low grant funding holds back Boiler Upgrade Scheme uptake
A Lords committee inquiry into the Boiler Upgrade Scheme found low grant funding was one of the main factors holding back heat pump uptake and recommended raising the grant level.
MCS opens consultation on re-written MCS 007 heat pump product standard
MCS has opened a consultation on a substantially re-written MCS 007 heat pump product standard, covering higher minimum performance benchmarks, new data publication duties and wider heat pump types in scope.
Ofgem agrees moratorium on involuntary PPM installations
Ofgem agreed a moratorium with suppliers in February 2023 pausing involuntary prepayment meter installations and remote smart meter mode switches, after evidence that existing rules may not have been followed.
Ofgem begins review of PPM licence conditions
Ofgem opened a review of prepayment meter licence conditions in February 2023 after investigating reports about supplier practice, a step that preceded a market-wide pause on involuntary installations.
Ofgem issues Provisional Order banning British Gas from forced PPM installations
Ofgem has issued a Provisional Order temporarily banning British Gas from forced prepayment meter installations and remote mode switches, and opened an urgent investigation into the supplier.
Ofgem opens Call for Input on proposed TDCV updates
Ofgem has opened a Call for Input on proposed updates to the gas and electricity Typical Domestic Consumption Values and the Economy 7 peak and off-peak split, with comments due by 27 March 2023.
Ofgem opens Call for Input on review of additional wholesale allowances in the price cap
Ofgem has opened a Call for Input on whether to review the shaping, imbalance and transaction cost allowances inside the energy price cap, with responses due by 1 March 2023.
Ofgem publishes ECO3 Final Determination Report
Ofgem's final report on the Energy Company Obligation 3 confirms suppliers exceeded the scheme's £8.25bn bill-saving target, while Co-operative Energy met only 36.4% of its own obligation.
Ofgem publishes ECO4 Innovation approved measures list V1.0
Ofgem has published version 1.0 of its list of approved innovation measures for ECO4, setting out the products, approval dates and uplift percentages suppliers can use under the scheme.