Powering Homes News: page 85
- February 2023
Suppliers agree to stop force-fitting prepayment meters without consent
Energy suppliers agreed in February 2023 to stop force-fitting prepayment meters and switching smart meters to prepayment mode without consent, a voluntary pause that later gave way to licence conditions.
Rules and RegulationSmart MetersEnergy Bills and the Price Cap
Times investigation exposes forced prepayment meter practices of major suppliers including British Gas
An undercover Times investigation published on 1 February 2023 exposed forced prepayment meter practices at major suppliers including British Gas, triggering a voluntary industry pause and an ongoing Ofgem investigation.
Viessmann extends standard Vitodens boiler warranty to seven years
Viessmann UK has raised the standard warranty on its entire Vitodens residential boiler range to seven years, with longer cover of 10 or 12 years available to buy.
Winter Heating Payment launched in Scotland
Scotland's Winter Heating Payment replaced the Cold Weather Payment in February 2023, giving low-income households a guaranteed annual payment instead of one triggered by sustained cold weather.
- January 2023
Compensation window closes for forced prepayment meter installations
The window for compensation over forced prepayment meter installations closed on 31 January 2023, covering moves made between 1 January 2022 and that date.
Energy Bills and the Price CapSmart MetersRules and Regulation
Ofgem prepayment meter compliance review concluded
Ofgem has concluded its prepayment meter compliance review, with compensation due to customers of eight suppliers who had meters wrongly installed between 1 January 2022 and 31 January 2023.
SolarEdge Home Load Controller available now
SolarEdge has announced that its Home Load Controller is available now, a device that switches household appliances to match solar generation, battery storage and time of use tariffs.
Boiler Upgrade Scheme open to England and Wales applicants
Householders in England and Wales can apply for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, a non-means-tested grant of £5,000 towards an air source heat pump or £6,000 towards a ground source heat pump.
BESA calls on government to speed up energy efficiency spending
The Building Engineering Services Association has urged ministers to bring forward £6bn of energy efficiency funding promised for 2025, citing an IPPR report on the cost crisis.
SSEN commits additional £3.5 million for Storm Arwen affected communities
SSEN Distribution has committed an additional £3.5 million for communities worst hit by Storm Arwen, covering local authority funding, its Resilient Communities Fund and network investment in north east Scotland.
Scotland, Wales and Northern IrelandWhere Our Energy Comes FromBackup Power
First live DFS event held
The first live Demand Flexibility Service event on 23 January 2023 paid 400,000 households and businesses £3.37 per kilowatt hour for electricity demand they reduced.
Government demands energy firms stop forcing customers onto prepayment meters
Grant Shapps has written to energy suppliers demanding they stop moving customers onto prepayment meters against their will, as Ofgem reviews whether firms took enough care.
Energy Bills and the Price CapSmart MetersRules and Regulation
Ofgem to review supplier decisions to move customers to prepayment
Ofgem will review whether energy suppliers took enough care before moving customers onto prepayment meters, as the government demands firms stop forced switches.
Compensation window opens for forced prepayment installations
Ofgem has set out when households forced onto a prepayment meter between 1 January 2022 and 21 January 2023 can claim compensation, where their supplier did not follow the rules properly.
Energy Bills and the Price CapRules and RegulationSmart Meters
Government and Ofgem publish electric vehicle smart charging action plan
The government and Ofgem have published an action plan setting out how they will deliver energy flexibility from electric vehicle charging, alongside funding for vehicle-to-everything projects.
Government response to Environmental Information Regulations request published
Government figures released under an Environmental Information Regulations request show announced policies will lift only around 140,000 E-G homes to Band D by 2025, leaving 515,000 fuel poor households below the milestone.
Prime Minister says consulting on options including a social tariff
The Prime Minister told the House of Commons on 18 January 2023 that the Government was consulting on options for energy bills, including a social tariff, as part of wider reforms of the retail energy market.
95 organisations call on Chancellor to introduce an energy social tariff
Ninety-five charities and non-profit organisations have written to the Chancellor calling for a social tariff, as a new Fuel Poverty Monitor warns of rising fuel poverty from April 2023.
Rules and RegulationEnergy Bills and the Price CapGrants and Schemes
Fuel Poverty Monitor 2021-22 published by NEA and Energy Action Scotland
National Energy Action and Energy Action Scotland have published the UK Fuel Poverty Monitor 2021-22, recommending a mandatory social tariff from April 2024, backed by 95 charities and non-profit organisations.
E3G publishes briefing urging tighter energy efficiency rules for UK landlords
E3G has published a briefing arguing that raising minimum energy efficiency standards for rented homes in the UK would save tenants £570 a year and the economy £1.75bn a year.
Mission Zero independent review of Net Zero published
The Independent Review of Net Zero, led by Chris Skidmore MP, was published as Mission Zero, with industry bodies highlighting consumer protection and installer standards in home energy efficiency work.
Retrofit Installers Working Group launched with TrustMark and other Certification Bodies
NAPIT has launched a Retrofit Installers Working Group with TrustMark and other certification bodies, focused on quality assurance checks and protecting consumers from noncompliant retrofit work.
SSEN energises Bournemouth network upgrade
SSEN has energised a 2.2 kilometre replacement cable between East Howe and Victoria Park substations in Bournemouth, completing a £2.7 million upgrade that began in March of last year.
Energy Systems Catapult launches consumer heat pump guide
Energy Systems Catapult has published a consumer guide to heat pump conversations, aimed at helping homeowners make informed decisions across the four stages of an installation.
Government opens consultation on improving boiler standards and efficiency
The government has opened a consultation on improving boiler standards and efficiency, covering minimum standards, a hydrogen-ready mandate for new gas boilers from 2026 and boiler-heat pump hybrids.
YouGov survey shows strong public support for renewables in new-build homes
A YouGov survey of 1,722 UK adults found 80% support for solar panels as standard on new-build homes, 66% for battery storage and 60% for heat pumps, ahead of a Government consultation on the Future Homes Standard.
Draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan published
The Scottish Government published its draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan on 10 January 2023, opening a consultation on a route map to a net zero energy system.
Plan to implement Passivhaus standard in Scotland announced
The Scottish Government announced plans on 10 January 2023 to introduce minimum environmental design standards for all newbuild housing, meeting a Scottish equivalent to the Passivhaus standard.
Rules and RegulationInsulation and GlazingScotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Citizens Advice responds to the BEIS ECO+ consultation
Citizens Advice has told the government its ECO+ energy efficiency scheme, with a £1bn budget over three years and a 410,000 household target, could be far more ambitious.
Insulating foam ban date changed
Government guidance on fluorinated gases was updated on 4 January 2023 to record that a ban on F gases in insulating foam is already in force, rather than starting in 2023.