Rules and Regulation News: page 14
- July 2025
Energy Systems Catapult report finds ECO4 failing health-vulnerable households
Energy Systems Catapult has published a report finding that ECO4 is not reaching health-vulnerable households in cold homes, with only four of 42 surveyed homes qualifying for fully funded work.
Energy Storage Association (UK) launches with Baroness Luciana Berger as inaugural Chair
The Energy Storage Association (UK) has launched with Baroness Luciana Berger as its inaugural Chair, setting out a mission to put storage at the centre of the net-zero transition.
MCS launched a consultation on an air-to-air heat pump performance standard
MCS has opened a four-week consultation on a proposed standard and calculator tool for estimating the performance of air-to-air heat pump systems, with responses due by 6 August 2025.
Consultation on Clean Heat Market Mechanism Year 2 closes
The UK Government consultation on the Clean Heat Market Mechanism's second-year heat pump credit target and on naming MCS as the sole certification scheme closed on 2 July 2025, with responses now being analysed.
Government opens consultation on updating the Decent Homes Standard
The government consulted from 2 July to 10 September 2025 on updating the Decent Homes Standard and extending it to private rented homes in England.
New allowances to be implemented in July 2025 cap
Ofgem has restructured the operating cost and debt allowances inside the energy price cap, cutting the total allowance by an average of £8 per customer from the July 2025 cap period.
Civil sanctions replace criminal sanctions for Smoke Control Area enforcement in Wales
Civil monetary penalties of £175 to £300 per notice of intent replaced criminal sanctions for smoke emissions in Welsh smoke control areas from the end of July 2025, and approved appliance and fuel exceptions were removed.
Clean Flexibility Roadmap published
Government, Ofgem and NESO have published a Clean Flexibility Roadmap update setting out progress since July 2025 and new commitments on consumer-led flexibility, storage and market reform.
Consultation on changes to permitted development rights closes
The Welsh Government consultation on changes to permitted development rights, including air source heat pumps and off-street electric vehicle charging, closed on 1 July 2025.
Contact with suppliers about help paying bills reaches highest level to date
Ofgem's Energy Consumer Satisfaction Survey for July and August 2025 shows contact with suppliers about help paying bills reached its highest recorded level, at 78% of customers who fell behind.
DESNZ launches consultation on electricity network infrastructure reforms
The Welsh Government has published its response to a consultation on permitted development rights, confirming strong support for loosening rules on air source heat pumps and setting out phased next steps.
Energy price cap falls 7% to £1,720 for a typical household
The energy price cap fell 7 per cent on 1 July 2025, cutting the bill for a typical household paying by direct debit from £1,849 to £1,720 a year.
Float debt allowance to end in July 2025
Ofgem has concluded its first full review of the price cap's operating cost and debt allowances, cutting the total allowance by an average of £8 per customer and ending the float allowance in July 2025.
The Float ended and the enduring DRC allowance took effect
Ofgem's temporary £28 per dual fuel customer debt allowance, the Float, ended on 1 July 2025 when updated operating cost and debt allowances took effect, with a review now proposing no further adjustment.
Mid-scheme changes to come into force from July 2025
Mid-scheme changes to the Energy Company Obligation 4 and Great British Insulation Scheme come into force from July 2025, allowing two insulation measures per home and counting ECO4 delivery towards GBIS targets.
Ofgem published a summary of responses and next steps on zero standing charge tariffs
Ofgem has set out next steps on zero and lower standing charge tariffs, saying it will consider requiring every supplier to offer one such tariff in all regions.
Retrofit System Reform Advisory Panel established
The government has opened a consultation on overhauling consumer protection for home upgrade schemes, citing failures in ECO4 and GBIS insulation work and proposing a single service from 2028.
Satisfaction with complaint handling exceeds dissatisfaction for the first time
Ofgem's Energy Consumer Satisfaction Survey found 66% of customers were satisfied with complaint handling and 58% with the time taken, the first wave in which satisfaction outweighed dissatisfaction.
New tumble dryer energy labels take effect in Northern Ireland
Rescaled A-G energy labels and higher minimum efficiency standards for tumble dryers took effect in Northern Ireland on 1 July 2025, ending the sale of new condenser dryers there.
- June 2025
UK government publishes Solar Roadmap
The UK government published its Solar Roadmap on 30 June 2025, setting out actions to reach 45 to 47GW of solar by 2030 through a "rooftop revolution" across the UK.
Solar Roadmap published by government and industry
The Solar Roadmap, produced over two years by a government-industry taskforce, sets out measures on rooftop solar, grid connections, supply chains, skills and planning, with a Solar Council to oversee delivery.
Confused.com guide updated to state the Energy Price Guarantee is no longer in effect
Confused.com has updated its Energy Price Guarantee guide to confirm the scheme is no longer in effect, with households now paying rates set by Ofgem's price cap.
Ofgem published its consultation decision
Ofgem has confirmed how it will administer mid-scheme changes to ECO4 and the Great British Insulation Scheme, after 18 responses to its April 2025 consultation.
Fuel poverty plan review published with two actions closed and six new actions added
The Welsh Government has reviewed its Tackling Fuel Poverty Plan, closing two of the original ten short-term actions, extending eight and adding six new short-term actions.
Warm Home Discount (Amendment) Regulations 2025 laid before Parliament
The Warm Home Discount (Amendment) Regulations 2025 were laid before Parliament on 19 June 2025, with a correction slip issued on 4 July, to widen eligibility for the £150 rebate from winter 2025-26.
Managed start of RTS phase-out confirmed from 30 June
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has confirmed a managed and more controlled start to the radio teleswitch service phase-out from 30 June, with 314,935 RTS meters still in premises as of 30 May 2025.
Ofgem consulted on RTS-specific supplier licence conditions with a no worse off tariff provision
Ofgem has consulted on new licence conditions for energy suppliers covering radio teleswitch meter replacements, including a provision that consumers be left no worse off on tariff.
Energy Systems Catapult publishes report on accelerating energy improvements in the private rental sector
Energy Systems Catapult has published a report calling for outcome-based minimum energy efficiency standards, local one-stop retrofit shops, tailored financing and a digital building passport for privately rented homes.
RdSAP 10 launched, replacing RdSAP 2012
A new version of the methodology used to rate the energy performance of UK homes, RdSAP 10, was launched on 15 June 2025, replacing RdSAP 2012.
Energy Price Guarantee scheme withdrawn
The government has withdrawn the Energy Price Guarantee scheme documents and confirmed the scheme is closed, ending the published record of the support that capped household unit rates from 2022.