Powering Homes news, page 91
- December 2022
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.
Octopus Energy takes on 1.5 million customers from Bulb
Octopus Energy took on an additional 1.5 million customers from Bulb in December 2022, a transfer that reshaped the supplier market and lifted its customer base.
OVO announces £50m Customer Support Package
OVO has announced a £50m Customer Support Package for winter 2022, including payment holidays on prepayment debt, a 200% rise in emergency top-up credit and a partnership with the Trussell Trust.
OVO Energy introduces temporary ban on forced prepayment meter installations over Christmas
OVO Energy has paused forced prepayment meter installations over Christmas and suspended debt recovery until at least March 2023, but says forced installations will resume in the new year.
OVO Energy suspends debt recovery until at least March 2023
OVO Energy has suspended debt recovery until at least March 2023, so prepayment top-ups pay only for usage and standing charges rather than existing arrears.
Partnership project launches to support terminally ill people in fuel poverty
A partnership led by gas distributor SGN with Cadent, Northern Gas Networks and Wales & West Utilities is funding energy advice and benefits support for terminally ill people in fuel poverty across Britain.
Phase out of Russian oil and coal use committed by end of 2022
The government's British Energy Security Strategy commits to phasing out Russian oil and coal by the end of 2022, with Russian LNG imports to end as soon as possible afterwards.
Pre-payment meter crisis hits smart meter customers, new data shows
Freedom of Information data shows 48,062 smart meters were switched to prepayment mode for debt in the first half of 2022, more than in the whole of 2021.
Press release announces Value of Solar Heat findings
Solar Energy UK has published findings that pairing solar panels with a heat pump can cut a home's annual energy bills by up to £3,164, based on bill cap rates applied from October 2022.
Renewable Heat Incentive ended
The Renewable Heat Incentive closed in 2022 and was replaced by the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which pays a one-off grant towards the upfront cost of a heat pump in England and Wales.
Research reveals nine million adults living in cold damp homes at Christmas
A Warm This Winter survey of 2,186 adults found 18 per cent of the population, or 9.02 million adults, were living in cold damp homes in December 2022.
Research reveals PPM customers living in cold damp homes and self-disconnecting
Research for the Warm This Winter campaign finds 64% of prepayment meter customers are vulnerable, 13% have self-disconnected and 31% live in cold damp homes.