Rules and Regulation News: page 36
- July 2023
Energy Systems Catapult chosen to develop Lancaster District LAEP
Energy Systems Catapult was chosen in July 2023 to produce a whole systems, evidence-led Local Area Energy Plan for Lancaster District, which Lancaster City Council signed off in October 2024.
FCA Consumer Duty comes into force
The Financial Conduct Authority's Consumer Duty took effect at the end of July 2023, setting a higher standard of consumer protection for regulated firms including those that finance home heating.
Government appears to rule out social tariff consultation
The Government appeared in July 2023 to rule out a consultation on a social tariff for energy, despite having said it intended to consult on options that summer.
Government rejects Energy Bill amendments on forced PPM transfers
The Government has rejected backbench amendments to the Energy Bill that would have given it power to ban forced transfers of households onto prepayment meters, with further debate postponed to the autumn.
UK government reviews 600,000 heat pumps per year target
A July 2023 parliamentary briefing reviewed the government's target of 600,000 heat pump installations a year by 2028, noting that only 72,000 were fitted in 2022 and that barriers remain.
Ofgem opens workstream to review suppliers' wholesale costs for default tariff customers
Ofgem has opened a workstream to review whether suppliers' wholesale costs for default tariff customers between October 2022 and September 2023 differed from the allowances built into the price cap.
Ofgem reduces typical domestic consumption values used in price caps
Ofgem has cut the typical domestic consumption values used to calculate price cap bills, reducing assumed annual gas use by 17 per cent and electricity use by 7 per cent.
Prepayment meter customers no longer face the highest energy costs
Ofgem and Citizens Advice research finds prepayment meter customers have not faced the highest energy costs since July 2023, with satisfaction reaching a record 81% in January 2025.
Prepayment price penalty ends for prepayment customers
Legislation effective 1 July 2023 ends the prepayment price penalty, so households on prepayment meters should no longer pay more than Direct Debit customers, saving an estimated £45 a year on average.
Price cap becomes default price as it drops below Energy Price Guarantee level
The price cap became the default price for Great Britain on 1 July 2023 after it fell below the Energy Price Guarantee, which had held the average household bill at £2,500.
Price cap fell below EPG levels
The July 2023 price cap fell to £1,976, below the Energy Price Guarantee level, so household bills fell for the first time in almost three years and the guarantee stopped being a cost to government.
Revised EPC regulations planned for Winter 2023-24
The Scottish Government has consulted on reforming Energy Performance Certificates, proposing a shorter validity period and new metrics, with revised regulations planned for the Scottish Parliament in Winter 2023-24.
Scottish Government launches EPC reform consultation
The Scottish Government consulted on reforming Energy Performance Certificates between July and October 2023, and its analysis of the 323 responses was published on 23 January 2025.
- June 2023
Energy Price Guarantee scheme closed
The Energy Price Guarantee, which discounted unit rates for every household with a domestic gas or electricity contract, closed on 30 June 2023 after nine months of operation.
Price cap falls below the Energy Price Guarantee level
Ofgem's price cap fell below the government's Energy Price Guarantee on 1 July 2023, so the cap once again sets maximum prices for direct debit and standard credit customers.
Future Homes Leadership Council launches with first meeting
The Future Homes Leadership Council, made up of chief executives from homebuilders including the largest eight, held its first meeting on 29 June 2023 and agreed actions on sharing, roadmap development and communications.
National Grid ESO to use HOMEflex Code of Conduct in Winter 23/24 Demand Flexibility Service
National Grid ESO will use the HOMEflex Code of Conduct in its Winter 23/24 Demand Flexibility Service, ahead of the schedule set for the domestic flexibility project.
CCC says confidence in UK meeting goals from 2030 onwards markedly less than a year ago
The Climate Change Committee says its confidence in the UK meeting its climate goals from 2030 onwards is markedly lower than a year ago, despite the Government publishing over 3,000 pages of new net zero detail.
Ofgem launches statutory consultation on involuntary prepayment meters
Ofgem has opened a statutory consultation to make prepayment meter protections mandatory in suppliers' licence conditions, and has proposed a £13 allowance in the prepayment price cap for bad debt recovery.
Statutory consultation on Involuntary PPM opens
Ofgem opened a statutory consultation on 28 June 2023 on plans to write its Involuntary Prepayment Meter Code of Practice into supply licence conditions and guidance.
Directions No. 2 issued for domestic gas and electricity suppliers
The Secretary of State has issued Directions No. 2 for domestic gas and electricity suppliers in Northern Ireland, revoking the December directions that restricted when tariff changes could be made.
Ofgem published ECO4 Guidance: New Measures and Products V1.1
Ofgem has published version 1.1 of its ECO4 guidance on new measures and products, setting out how suppliers can apply to deliver technologies not yet recognised under standard scheme rules.
MCS launches Scheme Redevelopment Consultation
MCS has welcomed Simply Certification as its newest contractor certification body and confirmed it is consulting on proposals to transform how the scheme operates.
Simply Certification becomes an MCS certification body
MCS has named Simply Certification as its newest contractor certification body, the second such appointment since 2022, licensed to assess heat pumps, solar PV and solar heating installations.
CMA publishes consumer protection report on green heating and insulation sector
The Competition and Markets Authority has published its consumer protection report on green heating and insulation, warning that poor information and weak quality assurance could deter households or lead to bad decisions.
Consultation on Great British Insulation Scheme and ECO4 amendment administration closes with 17 responses
Ofgem's consultation on how it will administer the Great British Insulation Scheme and amendments to ECO4 closed on 16 June 2023 with 17 responses from suppliers, installers and an energy efficiency body.
NEA responds to cross-party MP report on energy bill support
National Energy Action has responded to a cross-party committee report on government energy bill support, calling for unspent resources to be reinvested in targeted help for low-income households.
NIA forms National Home Decarbonisation Group for Tier 1 contractors
The National Insulation Association has incorporated a National Home Decarbonisation Group into its structure, creating a forum for Tier 1 contractors delivering large-scale residential retrofit.
NIA submits response to Ofgem's GBIS and ECO4 amendment administration consultation
The National Insulation Association has told Ofgem that the Great British Insulation Scheme should not limit households to a single measure, cap innovation measures or exclude England from the rural uplift.
Citizens Advice published a discussion paper on locational pricing
Citizens Advice has published a discussion paper on locational pricing, weighing whether varying wholesale electricity prices by location could benefit consumers or expose households to new risks.