Rules and Regulation News: page 25
- July 2024
Consumer Scotland publishes response to Ofgem consultation on acquisition-only tariffs ban
Consumer Scotland has published its response to Ofgem's statutory consultation on the future of the ban on acquisition-only energy tariffs, dated 8 July 2024.
SMMT calls for halving of VAT on BEVs for three years
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has called on the next government to halve VAT on battery electric cars for three years, as private retail demand fell for a ninth month.
Consumer Scotland published response opposing early BAT removal
Consumer Scotland has told Ofgem it opposes removing the ban on acquisition-only tariffs on 1 October 2024, saying the protection should stay for the foreseeable future.
Energy Price Guarantee ceased applying to tariffs
The Energy Price Guarantee stopped applying to tariffs on 1 July 2024, ending the scheme that capped supplier rates and required landlords to pass on discounts to tenants.
Government announces Great British Energy
The government announced Great British Energy in July 2024, following the general election, as part of a wider set of plans that now shape debate about the future of the gas grid.
Government announces means-testing of Winter Fuel Payments
The Government has announced that Winter Fuel Payments will be means-tested from this winter, restricted to pensioner families on Pension Credit or an equivalent benefit, saving £1.3 billion rising to £1.5 billion.
UK Government commits to bringing forward the ban on sale of new petrol and diesel cars to 2030
The UK Government has committed to moving the ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars forward from 2035 to 2030, a change set out alongside the Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate.
Government commits to Great British Energy legislation in first King's Speech
The government has committed to putting draft legislation on Great British Energy, a publicly owned clean energy company, into the first King's Speech on 17 July.
Government planned significant cut to Winter Fuel Payment eligibility
The government planned a significant cut to Winter Fuel Payment eligibility in July 2024, then reversed course so all pensioners keep the payment, with higher incomes clawed back.
Government removed the de facto onshore wind ban in England
The government has removed the de facto ban on onshore wind in England that had been in place since 2015, according to its formal response to the Climate Change Committee's progress report.
UK Government restricted Winter Fuel Payment entitlement
The UK Government restricted Winter Fuel Payment entitlement in July 2024 to households receiving Pension Credit and other means-tested benefits, cutting the Block-Grant Adjustment by £147 million in 2024-25.
Home Energy Model set to replace SAP under Future Homes Standard consultation
The Future Homes Standard consultation proposes replacing the Standard Assessment Procedure with the Home Energy Model, a more detailed calculation method for new homes in the UK.
Labour wins UK General Election and forms new government
Labour won the UK General Election and Sir Keir Starmer became Prime Minister with a majority of 181, completing cabinet energy appointments at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
New MCS Scheme to come into effect in summer 2024
MCS has said its redeveloped certification scheme will come into effect in summer 2024, resetting the consumer protections attached to certified small-scale renewable installations in UK homes.
Ofgem opens compliance engagement with six largest suppliers on smart meter obligations
Ofgem opened compliance engagement with Great Britain's six largest energy suppliers in July 2024 to examine why some smart meters are not operating in smart mode.
Stage one consultation launched on Scottish Passivhaus equivalent
The Scottish Government has opened a second consultation on its planned Scottish equivalent to the Passivhaus standard, setting out proposed energy and environmental targets and a revised implementation date of Autumn 2029.
Which? published previous report on reforming EPCs
Which? published a policy report in July 2024 on reforming energy performance certificates, based on interviews with 18 homeowners across the UK.
- June 2024
Citizens Advice and others write to Ofgem urging reconsideration of proposal to remove the Ban on Acquisition-only Tariffs
Citizens Advice and seven other organisations have written to Ofgem asking it to reconsider a proposal to remove the ban on acquisition-only tariffs, which limit deals to new customers.
Coalition writes to Ofgem urging it not to lift ban on acquisition-only tariffs
Which? and a coalition of energy firms and consumer groups have written to Ofgem urging it not to lift the ban on acquisition-only tariffs, which allow suppliers to offer cheaper deals to new customers only.
Citizens Advice published its response to Ofgem's operating cost allowance review consultation
Citizens Advice has told Ofgem not to loosen the operating cost allowance in the energy price cap without clear evidence, arguing for lower-quartile benchmarking of supplier costs.
Nesta publishes policy blueprint for coordinated street-by-street low-carbon heat switching
Nesta has published a policy blueprint proposing a voluntary, coordinated street-by-street approach to switching homes to low-carbon heating, alongside the existing individual-led model.
Energy Performance of Buildings (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 come into force
Amendment regulations on energy performance data sharing in England and Wales came into force on 24th June 2024, widening who may receive assessment data and what the register keeper may publish.
BEAMA publishes policy recommendations for the next UK Government
BEAMA has published four policy priorities for the next UK Government covering grid investment, electricity markets, heating technologies and smart metering, ahead of the General Election on 4 July.
Citizens Advice publishes response to government consultation package on energy smart appliances standards
Citizens Advice has responded to three government consultations on standards for energy smart appliances and load control organisations, backing wider consumer protections for the load control sector.
CTSI warns energy-efficiency pledges undermined by lack of consumer confidence
The Chartered Trading Standards Institute has published polling showing that low awareness of funding and installers is holding back home energy-efficiency work, and has called for mandatory licensing of installers.
Which? warns EPCs are unreliable and calls for reform
Which? has published mystery shopping research finding that Energy Performance Certificates are often inaccurate and recommend costly improvements, and is calling on the next government to reform them.
Ed Miliband promises not to press ahead with 2035 boiler ban
Ed Miliband promised before taking office not to press ahead with a 2035 ban on gas boiler sales, leaving the phase out date for existing homes uncertain.
- May 2024
Solar Energy Scotland welcomes removal of planning permission requirement for Scottish rooftop solar
Solar Energy Scotland has welcomed the removal of the need for planning permission for rooftop solar in Scotland, saying the change cuts red tape and will speed up deployment.
Which? publishes policy paper calling for mandatory installer certification
Which? has called for mandatory certification of installers of low carbon heating, micro generation and insulation, plus government oversight of the schemes and a review of Trading Standards Services.
Scottish Government publishes planning circular 1/2024 on householder permitted development rights
The Scottish Government has published planning circular 1/2024, setting out the householder permitted development rights covering heat pumps, wind turbines, solar panels and biomass flues in Scotland.