Rules and Regulation News: page 43
- December 2022
Default tariff (price cap) factsheet withdrawn
The government withdrew its Energy Security Bill factsheet on the default tariff price cap on 29 December 2022, after removing the Energy Price Cap measure from the Bill.
Christmas prepayment compulsion ban period begins
Electricity and gas suppliers in Northern Ireland have begun a Christmas period during which they will not compel customers in debt onto a prepayment meter unless the customer asks for it.
IM 009 approved as a substantial innovation measure
Ofgem has published that the standard uplift innovation measure IM 009 was approved as a substantial innovation measure on 16 December 2022, following an application under the scheme's technical approval process.
MPs debate prepayment meter self-disconnection and call for a ban
MPs debated self-disconnection of prepayment meters in the Commons on 15 December 2022 and agreed a motion urging the Government to outlaw the practice and halt forced switches.
Ofgem criticised over continued remote switching to prepayment
MPs have criticised Ofgem for failing to act on remote switching of smart meters to prepayment mode, six weeks after the regulator called the practice unacceptable.
BEIS opens consultation on the design of the ECO+ scheme for 2023 to 2026
BEIS opened a consultation on 6 December 2022 on the design of the ECO+ energy efficiency scheme for 2023 to 2026, a £1bn programme aimed at households outside existing fuel poverty support.
Investigation reveals almost 500,000 court warrants for forced PPM installations since end of lockdown
An investigation for the i paper found energy firms secured almost 500,000 court warrants to install prepayment meters in the homes of customers in debt since the end of lockdown.
Autumn Statement reinstates triple lock and extends Energy Price Guarantee
The Chancellor reinstated the triple lock, uprated benefits in line with inflation and extended the Energy Price Guarantee for a further 12 months at a higher price, Age UK has reported.
Building Regulations uplift requires EV chargepoints in new homes and buildings
The December 2022 uplift in Building Regulations requires electric vehicle charge points in all new homes and buildings in the UK, and smart functionality in every charge point installed from then on.
Charities and consumer groups write joint letter to energy firms on prepayment customer access to support
Five consumer and anti-poverty organisations wrote jointly to energy suppliers in December 2022 demanding immediate action so traditional prepayment meter customers could access government bill support.
Directions No. 1 issued for Northern Ireland energy suppliers
The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero issued Directions No. 1 under the Energy Prices Act 2022, requiring Northern Ireland domestic suppliers to seek agreement before changing tariffs on any day other than the first of a quarter.
Energy Ombudsman launches dispute resolution scheme for energy broker market
The Energy Ombudsman launched a dispute resolution scheme for the energy broker market in December 2022, extending its remit to microbusiness consumers who use brokers.
Final decision on 20 per cent hydrogen grid blending by end of next year
The government has said it will decide by the end of 2023 whether to blend up to 20 per cent hydrogen into the natural gas grid, under the British Energy Security Strategy.
Government report finds hydrogen's role in home heating likely limited
A December 2022 government report concluded that hydrogen's role in home heating looks likely to be limited rather than widespread, and that its deployment is unlikely to prove economically viable by the 2026 decision point.
MCS appointed The IAA as a new contractor certification body
MCS has appointed The IAA as a new contractor certification body, the first new-to-scheme certifier in over 10 years, covering heat pumps, solar PV and solar heating.
Ministers commit to a Scottish equivalent to the Passivhaus standard
Scottish Ministers have opened a second consultation on a Scottish equivalent to the Passivhaus standard, setting proposed energy and environmental targets and moving implementation to Autumn 2029.
Phase out of Russian oil and coal use committed by end of 2022
The government's British Energy Security Strategy commits to phasing out Russian oil and coal by the end of 2022, with Russian LNG imports to end as soon as possible afterwards.
Pre-payment meter crisis hits smart meter customers, new data shows
Freedom of Information data shows 48,062 smart meters were switched to prepayment mode for debt in the first half of 2022, more than in the whole of 2021.
Renewable Heat Incentive ended
The Renewable Heat Incentive closed in 2022 and was replaced by the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which pays a one-off grant towards the upfront cost of a heat pump in England and Wales.
Scotland tightens building regulations emissions requirements
Updated Scottish building regulations took effect from 1 December 2022, requiring new homes to cut carbon emissions by 32 per cent and new non-domestic buildings by 20 per cent against previous standards.
Solar Energy UK publishes The Value of New Build Solar report calling for mandatory solar on new homes
Solar Energy UK has published The Value of New Build Solar, modelling bill and carbon savings across four UK case studies and calling for mandatory solar on new homes in England, Scotland and Wales.
WHD to split into separate England and Wales and Scotland schemes from SY12
Ofgem's annual Warm Home Discount report confirms that from Scheme Year 12 the scheme will split into separate England and Wales and Scotland schemes, with the supplier threshold cut.
- November 2022
Ofgem publishes outcomes of review of Severe Weather Compensation Arrangements
Ofgem has published the outcomes of its review of the Guaranteed Standards of Performance for Severe Weather, the review it committed to as Action 19 of the Storm Arwen Report.
Ofgem opens statutory consultations on supplier financial resilience measures
Ofgem opened statutory consultations on 25 November 2022 covering new capital adequacy requirements, ringfencing of Renewables Obligation balances and powers to direct ringfencing of credit balances.
Ofgem publishes Default Tariff Cap level for 1 January 2023 to 31 March 2023
Ofgem has published the Default Tariff Cap level for 1 January to 31 March 2023, raising the dual fuel direct debit cap by 21 per cent to £4,279.
The 2022 amendments take effect
Wales has brought its 2022 energy efficiency, ventilation and overheating amendments into force, with new Approved Documents L, F and O applying to building work from 23 November 2022.
Approved Document L Volume 1 takes effect in Wales
The 2022 edition of Approved Document L Volume 1, setting energy efficiency guidance for dwellings in Wales, takes effect on 23 November 2022, with transitional arrangements running to November 2023.
New Approved Documents take effect
New Welsh building regulations covering energy efficiency, ventilation and overheating took effect on 23 November 2022, replacing Approved Documents L1A, L1B and parts of F for dwellings in Wales.
Pre-payment Meters (Self-disconnection) Bill receives First Reading
Anne McLaughlin's Ten Minute Rule Bill on prepayment meter self-disconnection received its First Reading on 19 October 2022, seeking a grace period before disconnection and debt management support.
Trickle vent rules take effect in Wales
Changes to Approved Document F requiring trickle vents in the majority of replacement windows and doors came into effect in Wales on 23 November 2022, five months after the same rules began in England.