Rules and Regulation news, page 42
- February 2023
Ofgem completes Market Compliance Review of suppliers' customer service and complaints handling
Ofgem has rated seventeen energy suppliers on customer service and complaints handling, placing none in its top category and issuing a Provisional Order to E.On over severe weaknesses.
New boiler efficiency standards took effect in Scotland
Boiler efficiency standards in Scotland rose from February 2023, requiring 92% efficiency for condensing standard or combination gas boilers and lower minimums for oil models.
CCC publishes research on domestic EPC metric reform
The Climate Change Committee published research and recommendations on reforming domestic Energy Performance Certificates across Scotland and the rest of the UK in February 2023.
CCC warns lack of leadership is preventing essential UK climate adaptation investment
The Climate Change Committee says a lack of government leadership is holding back essential investment to prepare the UK for climate change, with around £10bn a year potentially needed.
Climate Change Committee calls for reform of domestic EPCs
The Climate Change Committee said in February 2023 that Energy Performance Certificates are poorly suited to setting standards and targets for cutting emissions from homes, and proposed four replacement metrics.
European Commission presents Green Deal Industrial Plan
The European Commission has set out a Green Deal Industrial Plan that will include a heat pump action plan and a proposed Net-Zero Industry Act covering wind, solar, heat pumps, batteries and electrolysers.
Forced prepayment meter installations suspended
Forced prepayment meter installations have been suspended after an investigation into British Gas practices, with Consumer Scotland welcoming the pause as breathing space for new protections.
Four new government departments were created
The government created four new departments in February 2023, including the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, with indicative budgets pending confirmation at Main Estimates 2023-24.
Government launches energy efficiency taskforce
The government has set up an energy efficiency taskforce, co-chaired by Alison Rose and Lord Callanan, to plan a 15% cut in building energy consumption by 2030 against 2021 levels.
Improved energy standards for new homes introduced
The most recent improvement to energy standards for new homes was introduced in February 2023, the Scottish Government has confirmed in a progress report on its fuel poverty strategy.
MCS opens consultation on re-written MCS 007 heat pump product standard
MCS has opened a consultation on a substantially re-written MCS 007 heat pump product standard, covering higher minimum performance benchmarks, new data publication duties and wider heat pump types in scope.
Ofgem agrees moratorium on involuntary PPM installations
Ofgem agreed a moratorium with suppliers in February 2023 pausing involuntary prepayment meter installations and remote smart meter mode switches, after evidence that existing rules may not have been followed.
Ofgem begins review of PPM licence conditions
Ofgem opened a review of prepayment meter licence conditions in February 2023 after investigating reports about supplier practice, a step that preceded a market-wide pause on involuntary installations.
Ofgem issues Provisional Order banning British Gas from forced PPM installations
Ofgem has issued a Provisional Order temporarily banning British Gas from forced prepayment meter installations and remote mode switches, and opened an urgent investigation into the supplier.
Ofgem opens Call for Input on proposed TDCV updates
Ofgem has opened a Call for Input on proposed updates to the gas and electricity Typical Domestic Consumption Values and the Economy 7 peak and off-peak split, with comments due by 27 March 2023.
Ofgem opens Call for Input on review of additional wholesale allowances in the price cap
Ofgem has opened a Call for Input on whether to review the shaping, imbalance and transaction cost allowances inside the energy price cap, with responses due by 1 March 2023.
Ofgem publishes ECO3 Final Determination Report
Ofgem's final report on the Energy Company Obligation 3 confirms suppliers exceeded the scheme's £8.25bn bill-saving target, while Co-operative Energy met only 36.4% of its own obligation.
Ofgem publishes ECO4 Innovation approved measures list V1.0
Ofgem has published version 1.0 of its list of approved innovation measures for ECO4, setting out the products, approval dates and uplift percentages suppliers can use under the scheme.
Suppliers agree to stop force-fitting prepayment meters without consent
Energy suppliers agreed in February 2023 to stop force-fitting prepayment meters and switching smart meters to prepayment mode without consent, a voluntary pause that later gave way to licence conditions.
- January 2023
Compensation window closes for forced prepayment meter installations
The window for compensation over forced prepayment meter installations closed on 31 January 2023, covering moves made between 1 January 2022 and that date.
Ofgem prepayment meter compliance review concluded
Ofgem has concluded its prepayment meter compliance review, with compensation due to customers of eight suppliers who had meters wrongly installed between 1 January 2022 and 31 January 2023.
BESA calls on government to speed up energy efficiency spending
The Building Engineering Services Association has urged ministers to bring forward £6bn of energy efficiency funding promised for 2025, citing an IPPR report on the cost crisis.
Government demands energy firms stop forcing customers onto prepayment meters
Grant Shapps has written to energy suppliers demanding they stop moving customers onto prepayment meters against their will, as Ofgem reviews whether firms took enough care.
Ofgem to review supplier decisions to move customers to prepayment
Ofgem will review whether energy suppliers took enough care before moving customers onto prepayment meters, as the government demands firms stop forced switches.
Compensation window opens for forced prepayment installations
Ofgem has set out when households forced onto a prepayment meter between 1 January 2022 and 21 January 2023 can claim compensation, where their supplier did not follow the rules properly.
Government and Ofgem publish electric vehicle smart charging action plan
The government and Ofgem have published an action plan setting out how they will deliver energy flexibility from electric vehicle charging, alongside funding for vehicle-to-everything projects.
Government response to Environmental Information Regulations request published
Government figures released under an Environmental Information Regulations request show announced policies will lift only around 140,000 E-G homes to Band D by 2025, leaving 515,000 fuel poor households below the milestone.
Prime Minister says consulting on options including a social tariff
The Prime Minister told the House of Commons on 18 January 2023 that the Government was consulting on options for energy bills, including a social tariff, as part of wider reforms of the retail energy market.
95 organisations call on Chancellor to introduce an energy social tariff
Ninety-five charities and non-profit organisations have written to the Chancellor calling for a social tariff, as a new Fuel Poverty Monitor warns of rising fuel poverty from April 2023.
E3G publishes briefing urging tighter energy efficiency rules for UK landlords
E3G has published a briefing arguing that raising minimum energy efficiency standards for rented homes in the UK would save tenants £570 a year and the economy £1.75bn a year.