Powering Homes News: page 88
- December 2022
GoodWe launched the HCA Series residential smart EV charger
GoodWe has launched the HCA Series, an AC wallbox for home EV charging offered in single-phase and three-phase variants and designed to work with the company's solar and hybrid inverters.
Energy UK publishes briefing on supplier support for customers as bills rise
Energy UK has published a briefing setting out the support energy suppliers give customers, including around £54 million of discretionary help on top of more than £1 billion in mandatory schemes each year.
BEIS opens consultation on the design of the ECO+ scheme for 2023 to 2026
BEIS opened a consultation on 6 December 2022 on the design of the ECO+ energy efficiency scheme for 2023 to 2026, a £1bn programme aimed at households outside existing fuel poverty support.
Grants and SchemesRules and RegulationInsulation and Glazing
Investigation reveals almost 500,000 court warrants for forced PPM installations since end of lockdown
An investigation for the i paper found energy firms secured almost 500,000 court warrants to install prepayment meters in the homes of customers in debt since the end of lockdown.
Energy Bills and the Price CapSmart MetersRules and Regulation
Enhanced Home Energy Scotland support launched
From 2 December 2022 homeowners in Scotland can claim a standalone Home Energy Scotland grant of £7,500 for heat pumps or energy efficiency work, with an extra £1,500 for rural homes.
Grants and SchemesScotland, Wales and Northern IrelandWhere to Start
HES Grant and Loan scheme launched
The Scottish Government launched the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan scheme in December 2022, replacing cashback with a standalone grant of up to £7,500 for clean heating and up to £7,500 for energy efficiency.
Amazon removes two heater products including one over safety concerns
Amazon says it removed two plug-in heater products in December 2022, one over safety concerns, after Which? testing found mini heaters that failed UK electrical safety rules.
Autumn Statement reinstates triple lock and extends Energy Price Guarantee
The Chancellor reinstated the triple lock, uprated benefits in line with inflation and extended the Energy Price Guarantee for a further 12 months at a higher price, Age UK has reported.
BEIS minister confirms £200 Domestic Alternative Fuel Payment timing
A BEIS minister has told MPs the £200 Domestic Alternative Fuel Payment will be paid in the New Year, with most households receiving it through their electricity bills.
UK BEV sales exceed petrol car sales in a single month for the first time
Battery electric cars outsold petrol cars over a 12-month period in the UK for the first time, with 516,490 new BEVs bought against 504,010 petrol cars in the year to May 2026.
BEVs become second most popular powertrain in UK
Battery electric cars became Britain's second most popular powertrain after petrol in 2022, as plug-in vehicles took a record share of a shrinking new car market.
British Gas makes £12 million donation to Energy Support Fund
British Gas has donated £12 million to its Energy Support Fund, double its previous contribution and more than a tenth of first half pre-tax profits, as suppliers widen help with bills.
Building Regulations uplift requires EV chargepoints in new homes and buildings
The December 2022 uplift in Building Regulations requires electric vehicle charge points in all new homes and buildings in the UK, and smart functionality in every charge point installed from then on.
Charities and consumer groups write joint letter to energy firms on prepayment customer access to support
Five consumer and anti-poverty organisations wrote jointly to energy suppliers in December 2022 demanding immediate action so traditional prepayment meter customers could access government bill support.
Charter debt repayment reduction takes effect for prepayment customers
Electricity and gas suppliers in Northern Ireland have cut the maximum debt repayment deduction for prepayment customers from 40 per cent to 20 per cent, under a voluntary charter running to 31 March 2023.
Deadline for migrating first-generation smart meters missed
Around four million first-generation smart meters had still not been migrated to the central platform service by the end of 2022, despite a government requirement that the work be complete by then.
Directions No. 1 issued for Northern Ireland energy suppliers
The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero issued Directions No. 1 under the Energy Prices Act 2022, requiring Northern Ireland domestic suppliers to seek agreement before changing tariffs on any day other than the first of a quarter.
Rules and RegulationEnergy SuppliersEnergy Bills and the Price Cap
Domestic water source heat pump system commissioned in Cirencester
A 13 kW Kensa Evo water source heat pump drawing heat from a Cotswold lake through three pond mat collectors was fitted and commissioned in a five-bedroom detached house in December 2022.
EHPA reports 59,862 UK heat pump sales in 2022
The European Heat Pump Association's survey data show 59,862 UK heat pump units were sold in 2022, a rise of 17,103 on 2021 and growth of 40 per cent.
Energy Ombudsman launches dispute resolution scheme for energy broker market
The Energy Ombudsman launched a dispute resolution scheme for the energy broker market in December 2022, extending its remit to microbusiness consumers who use brokers.
equiwatt took part in National Grid's Demand Flexibility Service
equiwatt took part in National Grid's Demand Flexibility Service in winter 2022/23, the company has confirmed, and is now trialling automated energy saving features with Energy Systems Catapult.
ESO puts two coal power stations on stand-by amid low wind, solar and freezing temperatures
National Grid ESO placed two UK coal power stations on stand-by to help manage demand during a winter of low wind and solar generation and freezing temperatures.
Final decision on 20 per cent hydrogen grid blending by end of next year
The government has said it will decide by the end of 2023 whether to blend up to 20 per cent hydrogen into the natural gas grid, under the British Energy Security Strategy.
Government issued flow temperature guidance
The government issued guidance in December 2022 on lowering combi boiler flow temperature, after Which? had already been encouraging the practice before energy bills rose sharply in October 2022.
Government report finds hydrogen's role in home heating likely limited
A December 2022 government report concluded that hydrogen's role in home heating looks likely to be limited rather than widespread, and that its deployment is unlikely to prove economically viable by the 2026 decision point.
Holistic Network Design and Centralised Strategic Network Plan blueprint due by end of 2022
The government's British Energy Security Strategy, published in April 2022, set out a blueprint for the whole energy system by the end of 2022 through the Holistic Network Design and Centralised Strategic Network Plan.
MCS appointed The IAA as a new contractor certification body
MCS has appointed The IAA as a new contractor certification body, the first new-to-scheme certifier in over 10 years, covering heat pumps, solar PV and solar heating.
Ministers commit to a Scottish equivalent to the Passivhaus standard
Scottish Ministers have opened a second consultation on a Scottish equivalent to the Passivhaus standard, setting proposed energy and environmental targets and moving implementation to Autumn 2029.
NEA projects 8.4 million UK households in fuel poverty from April 2023
National Energy Action projects 8.4 million UK households will be in fuel poverty from April 2023, up from 4.5 million, as the Energy Bills Support Scheme ends and the price guarantee rises.
Octopus doubles Octo Assist hardship fund to £15m
Octopus Energy has doubled its Octo Assist hardship fund to £15 million, after earlier increases from £5 million to £7 million, as suppliers expand discretionary support for customers.