Rules and Regulation news, page 16
- June 2025
Rolls-Royce selected to build small modular nuclear reactors
The government has selected Rolls-Royce to build small modular nuclear reactors and confirmed £2.5bn of funding, alongside wider spending review commitments on home energy efficiency and nuclear power.
Which? publishes response to DESNZ consultation on Boiler Upgrade Scheme and clean heat certification
Which? has published its response to the government's consultation on the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and clean heat certification, backing MCS as sole certifier and calling for regulation of third party agreements.
Consumer Scotland publishes investigation report with nine recommendations
Consumer Scotland has published an investigation into the energy efficiency and low-carbon heating sector, setting out nine recommendations covering advice, standards, enforcement, funding and redress.
Consumer Scotland publishes report on converting Scotland's home heating
Consumer Scotland has published an investigation into consumer protections in Scotland's insulation and low-carbon home heating sector, with MCS welcoming its call for a single standards body and a single redress route.
UK Government expands Winter Fuel Payment eligibility criteria
The UK Government announced in June 2025 that it was expanding the criteria for the Winter Fuel Payment, after the payment had been changed to a means-tested benefit in 2024.
Policy report on retrofit assessment review published
The Scottish Government has published an independent review of retrofit assessment methods, setting out recommendations for a new Home Energy Efficiency Technical Suitability Assessment to replace reliance on Energy Performance Certificates.
PRS Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards consultation opens
The Scottish Government has consulted on regulations that would require privately rented homes in Scotland to reach EPC Heat Retention Rating band C from 2028 for new tenancies and by 2033 for all lets.
Government confirms solar panels by default on new build homes
Ministers have confirmed that solar panels will be included in the Future Homes Standard, meaning the vast majority of new build homes in England will have rooftop solar installed as standard.
Citizens Advice published its response to Ofgem's second Energy code reform implementation consultation
Citizens Advice has welcomed most of Ofgem's second energy code reform implementation consultation, while calling for open governance duties across new code bodies and adequate resourcing for the regulator.
UK Government publishes Solar Roadmap
The UK Government published a Solar Roadmap in June 2025, setting an ambition to grow national solar capacity from around 20GW to 45-47GW by 2030.
Great British Energy funding was confirmed
The June 2025 comprehensive spending review confirmed £8.3 billion for Great British Energy, the publicly owned clean energy company set up to invest in renewable projects rather than supply power to homes.
Ofgem proposes debt relief scheme opening in summer/autumn 2025 and closing in spring 2026
Ofgem has proposed a debt relief scheme for households that built up energy bill arrears during the energy crisis, open from summer or autumn 2025 to spring 2026.
Planned national RTS switch-off did not happen in June 2025
The Radio Teleswitch Service phase-out began in June 2025 but no national switch-off took place, with the transition now continuing in stages through 2026.
Radio Teleswitch service planned to end 30 June 2025
The industry-run Radio Teleswitch Service that switches older electricity meters between peak and off-peak rates is being phased out from June 2025, with suppliers required to fit replacement meters.
- May 2025
Amendments to Class G by the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) (Amendment) Order 2025 (S.I. 2025/560)
Amendments to Class G permitted development rights for domestic air source heat pumps in England took effect on 29 May 2025, changing the limits on pump numbers, compressor unit volume and the conditions attached to installation.
Citizens Advice publishes response supporting Ofgem's smart metering Guaranteed Standards
Citizens Advice has backed Ofgem's proposed Guaranteed Standards of Practice for smart metering, saying the new protections must be robust enough to tackle the problems consumers actually face.
Heat pump quantity limits in para. G.2(a) substituted by S.I. 2025/560
Amendments in force from 29 May 2025 restate how many air source heat pumps can be installed under permitted development in England, with one allowed for most homes and two for detached houses.
Permitted development rights for heat pumps relaxed in England
Changes to permitted development rights in England from 29 May 2025 removed the one metre boundary rule, raised the size limit to 1.5m3 and allowed two heat pumps on detached houses.
Volume limits in para. G.2(d) substituted by S.I. 2025/560
Amendments in force from 29 May 2025 restate the outdoor compressor unit volume limits for permitted development air source heat pumps in England at 1.5 cubic metres for dwellinghouses and 0.6 cubic metres for blocks of flats.
Ofgem announces £18.6 million compensation and debt write-off for unauthorised prepayment meter installations
Ofgem has set out compensation guidelines requiring energy suppliers to pay £5.6 million and write off £13 million of debt for at least 40,000 customers given prepayment meters without permission.
Ofgem decides to update operating cost and debt allowances structure
Ofgem has decided to restructure the operating cost and debt allowances inside the energy price cap, cutting the total allowance by an average of £8 per customer from 1 July 2025.
Ofgem publishes updated price cap levels for 1 July to 30 September 2025
Ofgem has set the default tariff price cap for 1 July to 30 September 2025 at £1,720 a year for a typical dual fuel household paying by Direct Debit, down £129 or 7% from the previous level.
Lithium-ion battery charger recalled from end users
A lithium-ion battery charger sold through TikTok has been recalled from end users after the safety regulator found it presented a serious electric shock risk.
Ofgem extends prepayment meter warrant protections to 30 June 2027
Ofgem has extended the licence conditions that cap warrant costs and bar forced prepayment installation in exceptional cases, keeping them in force until 30 June 2027.
Point-of-sale upgrade regulations from Heat in Buildings Bill abandoned
The Climate Change Committee has confirmed that Scottish Government proposals to require home upgrades at the point of sale have been abandoned, with no replacement measures yet set out.
Product safety report first published for Caple heat pump tumble dryers
The Office for Product Safety and Standards has published a safety report for Caple heat pump tumble dryers, models TDi4001 and TDi4000, which present a fire risk and are subject to a manufacturer modification programme.
Product safety report published for Haier heat pump tumble dryers
The Office for Product Safety and Standards has published a safety report on two Haier heat pump tumble dryer models that can ignite through an internal short circuit, with a manufacturer modification programme under way.
Elmhurst publishes analysis of solar PV requirements for new homes
Elmhurst Energy has published its analysis of the two solar PV options in the 2023 Future Homes Standard consultation, setting out the calculation, industry concerns and its own response.
Affected products scheduled to return to the MCS Product Directory
MCS has granted a six-month grace period for solar mounting products whose certification was withdrawn when the MCS 012 standard changed, with the products returning to the directory on 16 May.
Energy Systems Catapult responds to DESNZ consultation on privately rented homes energy performance
Energy Systems Catapult has backed government proposals to raise the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards for privately rented homes in England and Wales to EPC C from 2030, in a consultation response published on 15 May 2025.