Rules and Regulation News: page 37
- June 2023
Summary of response published for Warm Homes Programme consultation
The Welsh Government has published a summary of responses, a policy statement and a review and recommendations report for the next iteration of the Warm Homes Programme, two years after the consultation closed.
Warm Homes Programme policy statement published
The Welsh Government has published a policy statement for its next Warm Homes Programme, alongside a lessons learned report and its response to last year's consultation, with the current Nest contract extended to avoid a gap in provision.
Department for Infrastructure announces changes to permitted development rights for domestic heat pumps
Northern Ireland's Department for Infrastructure has amended permitted development rights so domestic air source heat pumps no longer need planning permission, subject to conditions, from 4 July 2023.
Ofgem publishes decision statement on Great British Insulation scheme and ECO4 LA and Supplier Flex administration
Ofgem has published its decision on how the Great British Insulation Scheme and ECO4 Flex will be administered, after a consultation that drew 16 responses from councils, suppliers and installers.
Which? publishes response to Ofgem consumer standards consultation
Which? has published its response to Ofgem's consultation on a framework for consumer standards and options to address priority customer service issues, citing a consistent decline in satisfaction with energy companies.
New Build Heat Standard regulations laid in the Scottish Parliament
Scottish ministers have laid regulations for the New Build Heat Standard, which from 1 April 2024 will bar direct emissions heating in new buildings in Scotland.
NBHS regulations laid in the Scottish Parliament
Scottish ministers have laid regulations for the New Build Heat Standard, prohibiting direct emissions heating in new buildings from 1 April 2024, after a consultation that drew 112 responses.
MCS to publish consultation on proposed changes to its scheme
MCS has opened a six-week consultation on proposed changes to its certification scheme, saying the redevelopment would strengthen consumer safeguards in small-scale renewables.
British Assessment Bureau becomes UKAS accredited
MCS has appointed the British Assessment Bureau as a certification body for small-scale renewables, after the bureau gained UKAS accreditation in June 2023 to assess contractors against MCS standards.
Consultation on Clean Heat Market Mechanism closes
The government has finished consulting on the Clean Heat Market Mechanism, which would require boiler sellers to sell a quota of heat pumps for every boiler sold.
Energy Price Guarantee ended
The Energy Price Guarantee kept household gas and electricity prices constant from October 2022 until June 2023, after which Ofgem's price cap again set the maximum prices suppliers could charge.
Home Energy Scotland withdraws stand-alone solar loans without warning
Home Energy Scotland withdrew stand-alone loans for solar energy systems on homes in summer 2023 without warning, and stopped loans for solar panels and batteries altogether a year later.
MCS consulted on significant reforms aimed at improving quality and consumer protection
MCS consulted in June 2023 on reforms to improve quality and consumer protection, restructuring its relationships with consumers, installers and certification bodies, including removing the requirement for contractors to hold membership of a CTSI approved consumer code.
MCS launches Scheme Redevelopment Consultation proposing to end mandatory Consumer Code membership
MCS has opened a consultation on redeveloping its scheme, proposing to drop mandatory Consumer Code membership for certified installers in favour of a new customer duty.
Ofgem consults on Code to prevent involuntary PPM installations for vulnerable consumers
Ofgem has opened a statutory consultation on making its Involuntary Prepayment Meter Code of Practice binding licence conditions, with the aim of having the protections in place for winter 2023/24.
Ofgem consults on integrating PPM Code of Practice into licence and guidance
Ofgem has opened a statutory consultation on plans to write its Involuntary Prepayment Meter Code of Practice into the supply licence, with a response deadline of 26 July 2023.
Ofgem consults on new SLC requirements for involuntary PPM installations
Ofgem has opened a statutory consultation on licence changes that would put its Involuntary Prepayment Meter Code of Practice into the supply licence, with responses due by 26 July 2023.
Revised Part L energy efficiency rules apply in full in England
Revised Part L energy efficiency rules for new homes in England have applied in full since June 2023, and industry figures show the share of newbuilds fitted with solar panels rose from 13% to 42% by late 2024.
Scottish Government publishes analysis of New Build Heat Standard Part II consultation responses
The Scottish Government has published its analysis of responses to the second New Build Heat Standard consultation, showing broad support for banning direct emissions heating in new homes from April 2024 alongside concerns about grid capacity and costs.
- May 2023
NEA publishes response to Ofgem consultation on consumer standards framework
National Energy Action has published its response to Ofgem's consultation on a framework for consumer standards, calling for more prescriptive regulation of energy supplier customer service.
National Home Decarbonisation Group formed by NIA
The National Insulation Association has formed the National Home Decarbonisation Group, a new membership body for large-scale residential retrofit with 17 founding members and Gemserv as its secretariat.
Next quarterly price cap update due 25 May 2023
Ofgem has confirmed that its next quarterly update to the energy price cap will be published on 25 May 2023, setting the level that applies from 1 July.
Ofgem sets July to September price cap at £2,074
Ofgem has set the default tariff price cap for 1 July to 30 September 2023 at £2,074 a year for a typical dual fuel direct debit household, down from £3,280.
Coalition submits joint written evidence to Energy Bill Public Bill Committee
The Warm This Winter coalition has told the Energy Bill Public Bill Committee that the Bill should be amended to cut bills and speed up net zero, in written evidence published on 24 May 2023.
E.ON-led consortium awarded Green Home Finance Accelerator funding
DESNZ has awarded Green Home Finance Accelerator funding to an E.ON-led consortium with Energy Systems Catapult and Heatio to pilot Heat as a Service and Energy as a Service products.
Coalition first warns of return of PPMs scandal
The End Fuel Poverty Coalition has written to Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho warning that the prepayment meter scandal could return, and asking for forced installations to be banned outright.
BEAMA launches Future Homes Standard Phase 1 Impact Report
BEAMA has published the first phase of a two-part report on how new homes will meet the Future Homes Standard, setting out technology options and the enablers needed before 2025.
NEA responds to Ofgem call for input on debt-related costs allowance in price cap
National Energy Action has published its response to Ofgem's call for input on the allowance for debt-related costs within the energy price cap, addressing over-allocation, cost levelisation and consumer outcomes.
NIA responds to PAS 2030/2035 draft for public comment
The National Insulation Association has backed the draft revisions to the PAS 2035 and PAS 2030 retrofit standards but told the consultation that industry needs a reasonable transition period before they take effect.
Citizens Advice responds to Ofgem consultation on Severe Weather Compensation amendments
Citizens Advice has backed Ofgem's proposed changes to severe weather compensation rules for power cuts, but says the draft should go further on who is protected and how payments are made.