Powering Homes News: page 96
- August 2022
Updated IWI moisture guidance distributed by TrustMark at BEIS request
Guidance clarifying that moisture-closed internal wall insulation is not prohibited on solid walls has been released by Dr Sarah Price and distributed by TrustMark at the request of BEIS.
Ofgem decides against moving supplier failure costs out of standing charges
Ofgem has decided not to move the costs of supplier failures out of electricity standing charges and onto unit prices, saying high energy users including disabled and elderly consumers would be unfairly disadvantaged.
Which? responds to Ofgem decision to continue recovering supplier failure costs via standing charge
Which? has responded to Ofgem's decision to keep recovering the costs of supplier failures through the standing charge, calling for an urgent review of how bills can be made fairer.
Nesta moves from discovery to live pilot for heat pump show home service
Nesta has moved its heat pump show home work from discovery to a live pilot, planning a small-scale launch in September to let people see a working heat pump in real life.
OPSS issues safety warning on gas grills in GDHA range cookers
The Office for Product Safety and Standards has warned that using the gas grill with the door closed on certain Belling, Stoves and New World range cookers can build up dangerous carbon monoxide.
Poorly insulated homes to pay £1,000 more on gas bills this winter
ECIU analysis published on 10 August 2022 finds homes rated EPC band F face a gas bill £968 higher than band C homes this winter, as the price cap is forecast to reach £3,958.
Energy Bills and the Price CapWhere to StartInsulation and Glazing
Which? responds to £5,000 energy bill estimates with call for more support
Which? has called on the government to increase financial support for households after estimates suggested energy bills could reach £5,000, saying existing help will not cover predicted rises.
Citizens Advice says latest price cap forecasts show no time to waste on further support
Citizens Advice has responded to the latest Cornwall Insight price cap forecast by calling on the government to raise benefits in line with the cost of living, saying there is no time to waste.
Cornwall Insight publishes new price cap forecasts
Cornwall Insight's 9 August 2022 forecasts put the October 2022 price cap at £3,582, rising to £4,266 in January 2023 and peaking at £4,426 in April 2023.
Simpson & Partners opens pre-orders for wireless energy manager
Simpson & Partners has opened pre-orders for a wireless energy manager that links its EV chargers with solar and home consumption data through the company's app.
JRF estimates cost of living increase of £2,550 between 2021/22 and 2022/23
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation estimates household costs will rise by £2,550 between 2021/22 and 2022/23, with energy accounting for £1,550 of that increase.
Ofgem moves default tariff cap to quarterly updates
Ofgem confirmed in August 2022 that the default tariff cap would be updated every three months instead of every six, changing how often household energy prices are reviewed.
ECO 4 becomes a reality but delivery is at 25 percent of traditional capacity
The Installation Assurance Authority says ECO 4 legislation has been laid after delays, but industry delivery is running at only 25 percent of traditional capacity as installers consider layoffs.
Friends of the Earth research identifies almost 9,000 energy crisis hotspots in England and Wales
Friends of the Earth research identifies almost 9,000 energy crisis hotspots across England and Wales, with Birmingham and Bradford ranked highest among 30 local authority areas at greatest risk of serious financial hardship.
Government decides not to double ECO scheme
The Government decided not to double the Energy Company Obligation, an industry-developed proposal, as analysis showed poorly insulated homes facing gas bills almost £1,000 higher than band C homes.
Grants and SchemesRules and RegulationInsulation and Glazing
Nord Stream 1 pipeline closed
Russian gas flows to Europe continued until the Nord Stream 1 pipeline closed in August 2022, six months after the invasion of Ukraine, leaving Europe unable to refill storage with Russian gas.
Ofgem decides to extend MSC and BAT until March 2023
Ofgem has decided to extend the Market Stabilisation Charge and the Ban on Acquisition-Only Tariffs until March 2023, with a further consultation proposing an extension to March 2024.
Ofgem decides not to apply proposed offsets against the unexpected SVT demand adjustment
Ofgem has confirmed a £41 per customer cap adjustment for unexpected standard variable tariff demand from 1 October 2022, and declined to offset it against other allowances.
Ofgem decides to use a lower quartile benchmark for unexpected SVT demand costs in the default tariff cap
Ofgem has decided to add £41 to the default tariff cap for typical dual fuel non-prepayment customers from 1 October 2022, using a lower quartile benchmark for unexpected standard variable tariff demand costs.
Sutton exhaust-air heat pump commissioning under way after poor trial performance
One Sutton home's exhaust-air heat pump has been fully commissioned after the trial found the standard control software was not activating it, with the fix being rolled out to the other five homes.
Warmer Homes Scotland criteria revised
Scottish ministers revised the eligibility criteria for Warmer Homes Scotland in August 2022, widening access to the national fuel poverty scheme, particularly for households aged 60 to 75.
Wireless update intended to fix smart meter switching problem
A wireless update in 2022 was meant to fix older smart meters that stop sending automatic readings after a supplier switch, but the Centre for Sustainable Energy says some problems may remain.
- July 2022
Government confirms delivery details of £400 Energy Bills Support Scheme
BEIS has confirmed that the £400 Energy Bills Support Scheme will be paid in six monthly instalments from October 2022, setting out how each payment method will receive the discount.
Government response to EBSS technical consultation published
The government has published its response to the Energy Bills Support Scheme consultation, confirming £400 per household in six instalments from October 2022.
Help to Heat collection page first published
The government's Help to Heat collection page, which gathers its household energy grant schemes in one place, was first published on GOV.UK on 29 July 2022.
Online energy efficiency service launched as part of Help to Heat
The government has launched an online service to help homeowners make informed choices on the energy efficiency of their homes, announced alongside final details of the £400 Energy Bills Support Scheme.
Scottish Government launches New Building Heat Standard Part II consultation
The Scottish Government has opened a 12 week consultation on plans to stop direct emissions heating systems being installed in new homes and non-domestic buildings warranted from April 2024.
Rules and RegulationScotland, Wales and Northern IrelandBoilers and Heating
New Build Heat Standard Part 2 consultation opens
The Scottish Government opened a second consultation on its New Build Heat Standard on 28 July 2022, setting out plans to ban direct emissions heating systems in new buildings from 2024.
Sungrow and TÜV Rheinland co-issued the PID Zero anti-PID solution
Sungrow and TÜV Rheinland have co-issued PID Zero, an anti-PID solution for residential solar systems that suppresses potential induced degradation by day and recovers modules at night.
BEIS Committee publishes report on energy pricing and the future of the energy market
The BEIS Committee has published a report on energy pricing and the future of the energy market, calling for regulatory reform of Ofgem, a social tariff and a home insulation programme.