Rules and Regulation news, page 35
- September 2023
Commons committee backs social tariff
The House of Commons Energy Security and Net Zero Committee backed a social tariff for specific groups of consumers in September 2023, as part of a long-running campaign for energy tariff reform.
UK delays end of sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans
The UK government has pushed back the end of sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans from 2030 to 2035, a change the car industry says has made private buyers slower to switch to electric.
DESNZ lowers Core Group 2 high energy cost threshold for SY13
DESNZ has lowered the high energy cost threshold for Core Group 2 of the Warm Home Discount in England and Wales, expanding the eligible cohort after Scheme Year 12 spending fell £74 million short of expectations.
ECA's guide to Net Zero launched at Roadshow
The Electrical Contractors' Association has launched a guide to Net Zero at its Roadshow, setting out its case for safety and competence to sit at the centre of UK electrification.
European standard change affected solar PV fire classifications
A European standard change that took effect in September 2023 left fire test laboratories unable to issue fire classifications for roof integrated solar systems, prompting MCS to seek a fix.
Exemptions announced for 2035 fossil fuel boiler phase-out
The government said in September 2023 that some homes, estimated at about a fifth of households, may be exempt from the planned 2035 phase-out of new fossil fuel boilers.
UK Government signalled abandonment of MEES amendment commitments
The National Insulation Association has said the UK Government abandoned its proposed amendments to Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards, as signalled by the Prime Minister's speech in September 2023.
IGEM reports one in five UK homeowners has never had a gas safety check
Research published by IGEM in September 2023 found 22% of UK homeowners have never had a gas safety check, as ONS data showed accidental carbon monoxide deaths fell 7% year on year.
Latest revision of PAS 2035/2030 published and made freely available
A revised version of the PAS 2035/2030 retrofit standards was published in September 2023 and made freely available, with a transition period from the 2019 edition running to 30 March 2025.
Ofgem raises storm compensation cap from £700 to £2,000
Ofgem has raised the maximum storm compensation payment for households and businesses that lose power in severe weather from £700 to £2,000, with a higher initial payment and shorter waiting times.
Organisations line up to back energy tariff reform
More than 140 charities, organisations and MPs have signed an open letter urging the Prime Minister to consult on and deliver an energy social tariff before winter.
Phase out date for new off-grid oil and LPG boilers put back to 2035
The Prime Minister announced in September 2023 that the phase out date for installing new oil and LPG boilers and new coal heating in off-grid homes would move from 2026 to 2035.
Prime Minister announced change to gas boiler new-build policy
Rishi Sunak said in September 2023 that the aim was to cut gas boiler installations in new build homes by 80 per cent rather than ban them outright.
Proposed EPC C by 2025 rental standard increases scrapped
Proposals to raise the minimum energy performance standard for rented homes in England and Wales to EPC C by 2025 were dropped in September 2023, the Welsh Government has confirmed in its heat strategy.
Rental MEES regulations scrapped
Rishi Sunak has scrapped planned regulations that would have required landlords in England and Wales to bring privately rented homes up to EPC C by 2028, part of a wider rollback of climate policies.
UKGBC writes to the Prime Minister over green policy roll-back
The UK Green Building Council's deputy chief executive has written to the Prime Minister warning that delaying fossil fuel phase-out plans will not cut energy bills or meet climate targets.
Warm This Winter report card on Government energy bills progress published
A Warm This Winter report card on the Government's progress against eight measures to tackle the energy bills crisis found no progress on half of them and one going backwards.
- August 2023
Consultation on proposed amendments to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme Regulations opened
The government opened a consultation on 31 August 2023 on amending the Boiler Upgrade Scheme Regulations, covering grant levels, EPC requirements and biomass boilers with a cooking function.
Ofgem publishes GBIS Delivery Guidance V1.0
Ofgem published delivery guidance for the Great British Insulation Scheme on 31 August 2023, setting out how suppliers must meet insulation targets running to 31 March 2026.
ECIU analysis finds inefficient homes to pay around £720 more under October 2023 price cap
ECIU analysis published on 25 August 2023 finds homes rated EPC band F will pay £721 more a year than band C homes under Ofgem's October 2023 price cap of £1,923.
ECIU poll finds 97% of public do not know gas boiler phase out date
A Focal Data poll for the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit found only 3% of 2,010 adults in Great Britain correctly identified 2035 as the target date for phasing out gas boilers in existing homes.
Ofgem publishes updated default tariff price cap levels for 1 October to 31 December 2023
Ofgem has set the default tariff price cap for 1 October to 31 December 2023 at £1,923 for a typical dual fuel direct debit household, a fall of £151 or 7 per cent.
Ofgem publishes decision on Great British Insulation Scheme and ECO4 amendment administration
Ofgem has published its final decision on how the Great British Insulation Scheme and changes to ECO4 will be administered, after a consultation that drew 17 responses.
Which? warns 13 million households not heating homes when cold due to bill fears
Which? has estimated that 13 million UK households did not heat their homes when it was cold last winter, and has repeated its call for a targeted social tariff before the October price cap is set.
Welsh Government publishes consultation on the Heat Strategy for Wales
The Welsh Government has published a consultation on its heat strategy for Wales, setting out plans to move homes and businesses away from fossil fuel heating towards electrification.
Government launches 36 pilot energy advice services backed by £20 million
The government has launched 36 pilot energy advice services backed by £20 million, trialling in-person efficiency advice for more than 125,000 households across England.
GBIS Measures Table V1.0 published
Ofgem has published the first version of the Great British Insulation Scheme Measures Table, the document listing the insulation measures suppliers may deliver under the scheme.
MCS consultation on scheme redevelopment receives 106 official and 187 informal responses
MCS received 106 official and 187 informal responses to its six-week consultation on redeveloping the certification scheme, with a summary due in September and changes planned for the second quarter of 2024.
RECC publishes annual report highlights for 2022
The Renewable Energy Consumer Code has published highlights from its 2022 annual report, recording 3,037 member businesses, over 108,000 installations and £176,557 recovered for consumers.
TÜV Rheinland (China) achieved MCS accreditation for solar PV products
TÜV Rheinland (China) Ltd became the first MCS product certification body based outside Europe in August 2023, initially certifying solar panel products for the UK market.