Powering Homes news, page 98
- September 2022
Mini-Budget announces £1bn ECO expansion from April 2023
The Chancellor's Plan for Growth adds £1bn to the Energy Company Obligation over three years from April 2023, targeted at vulnerable households in the least efficient homes.
Mini-Budget ends effective ban on onshore wind in England
The Chancellor's mini-Budget of September 2022 ended the effective ban on building onshore wind in England and added GBP1bn to a scheme that installs energy saving measures in fuel poor homes.
Rules and RegulationWind, Hydro and Micro-CHPWhere Our Energy Comes From
Mini-Budget pledges over GBP1bn for home insulation
The Chancellor's mini-Budget pledged more than GBP1bn of extra funding for home insulation over three years, which the End Fuel Poverty Coalition says falls far short of the GBP5bn needed.
Revised electricity storage requirements came into effect
Revised technical and compliance requirements for electricity storage in EREC G98 and G99 took effect from September 2022, aligning storage with other generating units on Great Britain's distribution networks.
SSEN invests £6.8m to refurbish Dorset overhead network
SSEN has begun a 55-week, £6.8 million refurbishment of the overhead electricity network from Poole through Blandford Forum to the edge of Yeovil, due for completion in August 2023.
Warm This Winter petition passes 110,000 signatures shortly after launch
The Warm This Winter petition passed 110,000 signatures within days of launching, as the End Fuel Poverty Coalition estimated 12 million UK households would face fuel poverty this winter.
Warmer Homes Scotland contract due to expire
The Scottish Government's national fuel poverty scheme, Warmer Homes Scotland, was due to end in September 2022, with ministers proposing a new seven year successor scheme to replace it.
Grants and SchemesYour Type of HomeScotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
- August 2022
Chameleon Technology launches the ivie app
Chameleon Technology has launched the ivie app, a free energy-saving app that uses smart meter data and can be upgraded with live data through the ivie Bud in-home display.
JRF publishes energy price analysis of August 2022 price cap and Cornwall Insight forecasts
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation has published a briefing on the August 2022 Ofgem price cap and new Cornwall Insight forecasts, warning that low-income households face severe financial harm.
Ofgem publishes default tariff cap levels for cap period 9a
Ofgem has set the default tariff cap for 1 October to 31 December 2022 at £3,549 a year for a typical dual fuel direct debit household, an increase of 80 per cent.
Period 9a cap level announced with separated additional risk allowance approach
Ofgem has set out how it split the wholesale additional risk allowance into two parts for the October to December 2022 price cap, to prevent suppliers recovering more than the efficient cost of hedging.
SSEN reports progress on £14.2m North West Highland network upgrade
SSEN Distribution says 200 new poles and 13km of overhead lines are in place between Slattadale and Ullapool as part of a £14.2m North West Highland network upgrade due for completion in March 2023.
Warm This Winter campaign launches in response to energy bills crisis
The Warm This Winter campaign launched on 26 August 2022, demanding emergency financial support, funded home insulation and a faster shift from gas to renewables as energy bills rose.
Resolution Foundation publishes report on policy options for soaring energy prices
The Resolution Foundation has published a report setting out policy options for soaring energy prices, proposing either a social tariff for poorer households or universal price cuts recouped through income tax.
Lunar Energy acquired Moixa
Lunar Energy, a home electrification company founded in 2020, has acquired UK battery software firm Moixa and announced a next-generation home battery system for launch later in 2022.
Nesta calls for COVID-style government response to cut household gas use 20% by next winter
Nesta has urged the government to set a target of cutting household energy demand by 20% by next winter, through boiler settings, smart thermostats and insulation.
Resolution Foundation calls on politicians to promote energy demand reduction ahead of winter crisis
The Resolution Foundation has urged UK political leaders to promote household energy demand reduction, citing French and Dutch guidance, alongside existing bill support measures, ahead of a winter crisis.
Scottish Government publishes analysis of domestic EPC reform consultation
The Scottish Government has published its analysis of responses to a 2021 consultation on reforming domestic Energy Performance Certificates, with broad support for new ratings on cost, carbon and energy use.
SSEN launches HOMEflex project for domestic flexibility market
SSEN Distribution has launched a two-year project, backed by £331,000 in Network Innovation Allowance funding, to build household and microbusiness trust in the domestic flexibility market.
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.