Rules and Regulation News: page 39
- April 2023
New energy supplier obligation to start from April 2023
Energy suppliers will be obliged from April 2023 to help customers cut bills under legislation announced in the Growth Plan, worth £1 billion over three years.
Feed-in Tariffs (Amendment) Order 2023 came into force
The Feed-in Tariffs (Amendment) Order 2023 came into force on 1 April 2023, removing green import exemptions from the FIT scheme and applying them for FIT Scheme Year 14 and each subsequent FIT year.
GB socialised network reinforcement costs for low carbon technologies
Ofgem's Access Significant Code Review decision means that from April 2023 the costs of reinforcing electricity networks for low carbon technologies installed in existing buildings will normally be shared across all billpayers.
GBIS allowance included in the default tariff cap from April 2023
Ofgem has included an allowance for the Great British Insulation Scheme in the default tariff cap from April 2023, passing the cost of the renamed ECO+ scheme to billpayers.
NBHS regulations to pass through Parliament
The Scottish Government has set out plans to ban direct emissions heating systems in new buildings from April 2024, with regulations expected to pass through Parliament in spring 2023.
Ofgem next network price control begins, running five years
Ofgem's next electricity network price control began in April 2023 and runs for five years, setting the charges that fund the wires and cables delivering power to homes.
Ofgem price cap change brings highest standing charges since 2019
Ofgem's price cap from 1 April 2023 brings the highest standing charges since the cap began in 2019, up 64%, as National Energy Action warns 7.5 million households will be in fuel poverty.
Ofgem publishes Involuntary PPM Code of Practice agreed with suppliers
Ofgem has published an Involuntary Prepayment Meter Code of Practice, agreed with suppliers, setting out when customers may be moved onto prepayment meters without consent and how they must be treated.
New rules require £30 starter credit on involuntary prepayment meter installations
From April 2023, suppliers installing a prepayment meter or switching a smart meter to prepay without consent must offer £30 credit or an equivalent non-disconnection period.
Simply Certification gains UKAS accreditation for MCS assessments
Simply Certification has become an MCS contractor certification body after gaining UKAS accreditation in April, widening the choice of assessors for small-scale renewable installations across the UK.
TCR removes time of use based TNUoS charges
Ofgem's Targeted Charging Review replaces the time of use element of transmission charges with a banded fixed charge from April 2023, cutting the revenue available from vehicle-to-grid tariff optimisation by around half.
- March 2023
Energy Bill Relief Scheme to end and be replaced by Energy Bills Discount Scheme
The Energy Bill Relief Scheme for non-domestic customers ends on 31 March 2023 and is replaced from April by the Energy Bills Discount Scheme, at a reduced rate of support.
Final consultation on ZEV mandate and CO2 emissions regulation published
The final consultation on the UK zero-emission vehicle mandate and CO2 emissions regulation for new cars and vans was published on 31 March 2023 and closed on 24 May.
Government response to Great British Insulation Scheme consultation published
The government published its response to the consultation on the Great British Insulation Scheme in March 2023, setting out the design of a supplier obligation later launched as a £1bn programme.
Government announces EV chargepoint funding and zero emission vehicle consultation
The government has set out plans for tens of thousands of new electric vehicle chargers and a consultation on zero emission vehicle sales requirements from 2024, alongside new insulation and heat pump funding.
Government announces rebalancing of gas and electricity costs
The Heat Pump Association has welcomed government plans to rebalance gas and electricity costs, extend the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to 2028 and consult on a clean heat market mechanism.
Government published the Carbon Budget Delivery Plan
The government published its Carbon Budget Delivery Plan on 30 March 2023, setting out proposals and policies intended to enable carbon budgets four, five and six to be met.
Government published updated ZEV mandate consultation response
The Department for Transport has published its response to the 2022 technical consultation on the zero emission vehicle mandate, confirming car targets and raising the proposed van trajectory.
Government releases consultation on clean heat market mechanism
The government has opened a consultation on a clean heat market mechanism, alongside a Boiler Upgrade Scheme extension to 2028 and £30 million for heat pump manufacturing.
New Approved Documents take effect
The 2022 editions of Approved Documents F Volume 2 and L Volume 2 take effect in Wales on 29 March 2023, replacing earlier guidance for buildings other than dwellings.
Welsh Government statement on energy cost of living crisis
Jane Hutt MS has set out Welsh Government concerns over the energy market, the end of the £400 Energy Bill Support Scheme payment and the treatment of prepayment meter customers in Wales.
Scotland, Wales and Northern IrelandEnergy Bills and the Price Cap
Coalition writes to Housing Minister seeking no new gas grid connections under Future Homes Standard
More than 40 organisations have written to the UK Housing Minister asking for confirmation that the Future Homes Standard will not permit new gas grid connections in newly built homes.
Which? publishes response to BEIS carbon content transparency consultation
Which? has told BEIS that green and renewable tariffs need standardised definitions, mandated sourcing information and a framework that covers electric vehicle charging and green gas.
Industry responds to Spring Budget 2023
Heating industry bodies gave mixed reactions to the Spring Budget, welcoming a three-month extension of the £2,500 energy price cap but criticising the absence of long-term efficiency measures.
Chancellor delivers Spring Budget 2023
Jeremy Hunt's Spring Budget extended the Energy Price Guarantee for three months, ended the winter support payment, removed the prepayment meter penalty and reclassified nuclear as sustainable.
Treasury issues call for evidence on zero VAT for battery storage
The Treasury has issued a call for evidence on extending zero VAT to battery storage, whether retrofitted to solar panels or fitted as a standalone unit.
NEA publishes response to Ofgem call for evidence on prepayment rules and protections
National Energy Action has published its response to Ofgem's call for evidence on prepayment rules, naming four areas it says need significant consideration before protections are settled.
Ofgem extends forced prepayment meter installation ban
Ofgem's chief executive announced on 14 March that the ban on forced prepayment meter installations would run beyond the end of March, lifting only if firms follow a new code of practice.
CCC publishes report on delivering a reliable decarbonised power system by 2035
The Climate Change Committee has published modelling on a reliable decarbonised power system for 2035, with 25 recommendations, and says delivery is not happening at the pace required.
CCC warns 2035 decarbonised power system will not happen at current rates of deployment
The Climate Change Committee says a reliable, decarbonised power system by 2035 is possible but will not arrive at current rates of deployment, and sets out 25 recommendations.