Rules and Regulation News: page 44
- November 2022
Citizens Advice responds to Ofgem review into support for vulnerable customers
Citizens Advice has called on energy suppliers to do everything in their power to identify and support struggling customers, after Ofgem's review into support for vulnerable customers.
Ofgem completes Market Compliance Review of supplier support for vulnerable customers
Ofgem has completed a Market Compliance Review of how suppliers support customers in vulnerable situations, rating all suppliers into three groups and requiring improvement plans from every one.
CIPHE responds to Autumn Statement 2022 warning on fuel poverty
The Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering has called the 2022 Autumn Statement a first step, warning that more immediate action is needed to reduce the threat of fuel poverty for struggling households.
Autumn Statement announces £6 billion extra energy efficiency funding from 2025
The Chancellor has announced a further £6 billion of energy efficiency funding from 2025, doubling annual investment, alongside an ambition to cut energy consumption from buildings and industry by 15% by 2030.
Grand Committee considers Energy Prices (Domestic Supply) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2022
The House of Lords Grand Committee agreed regulations defining domestic electricity and gas supply in Northern Ireland, so the energy price guarantee scheme can apply there.
Ofgem writes to suppliers on remote switching of smart meters to prepayment mode
Ofgem wrote to energy suppliers in November 2022 setting out their licence obligations when remotely switching smart meters to prepayment mode, citing concern over the practice.
Committee publishes Twenty-Fifth Report on regulation of energy suppliers
The Committee of Public Accounts published its Twenty-Fifth Report on the regulation of energy suppliers on 13 November 2022, with the Government response following in February 2023.
Public Accounts Committee publishes report on regulation of energy suppliers
The Committee of Public Accounts has found that Ofgem's regulation of energy suppliers failed, leaving billpayers to cover £2.7 billion in costs from 29 supplier failures since July 2021.
Minister for Climate Change sets out proposals to improve energy efficiency of all Welsh homes
The Welsh Government set out proposals on 8 November 2022 to improve the energy efficiency of all Welsh homes, delivered in two parts under a fabric first, worst first and low carbon approach.
Citizens Advice publishes report on digital disadvantage and exclusion in the energy market
Citizens Advice has published a report finding that digitally disadvantaged households face a higher risk of loyalty penalties in the energy market while the offline services they depend on are getting worse.
Ofgem approval preceded the DFS launch
Ofgem approved the Demand Flexibility Service on 4 November 2022, the date the National Energy System Operator now gives for the launch of the scheme that pays homes to cut peak electricity use.
NEA publishes response to Ofwat charging rules and tariff innovation consultations
NEA has published its response to two Ofwat consultations on charging rules and tariff innovation, setting out 14 recommendations covering customer safeguards, licence alignment and co-design.
Autumn Statement announces new approach to consumer protection from April 2024
The government said in the November 2022 autumn statement that it would take a new approach to consumer protection from April 2024, working with consumer groups and industry on options including social tariffs.
Building Regulations changes on thermostatic room controls apply in Wales from November 2022
Changes to the Building Regulations requiring thermostatic room controls when a boiler is replaced in an existing dwelling apply in Wales from November 2022, five months after England.
CfD Allocation Round 4 secures 11GW of new wind and solar at record low offshore wind prices
Analysis from the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit finds the gas crisis will add £4,400 to the average household energy bill by April 2024, as Contracts for Difference auctions secure 11GW of new wind and solar.
Chancellor announces additional £6bn for energy efficiency from 2025
The Chancellor's autumn statement added £6bn for energy efficiency from 2025 to 2028, doubling annual government investment, with a new taskforce to deliver a 15% cut in consumption.
Equality impact assessment published for Winter Heating Payment (Low Income) (Scotland) Regulations 2023
The Scottish Government has published an equality impact assessment for its £50 Winter Heating Payment, which replaces Cold Weather Payments and will reach around 400,000 people from February 2023.
Government announces public information campaign to cut energy use by 15% this winter
The government has announced a public information campaign aimed at helping households and businesses cut their energy use by 15 per cent over the winter of 2022.
Government commits to consultation on targeted bill support
Energy UK says the Government has still not held the consultation on targeted bill support it promised in the 2022 Autumn statement, as fuel poverty and customer debt remain far above pre-crisis levels.
Ofgem opens consultation proposing MSC and BAT extension to March 2024
Ofgem has opened a consultation proposing that the Market Stabilisation Charge and the Ban on Acquisition-Only Tariffs run until March 2024, a year beyond the end date already decided.
Ofgem publishes open letter accepting review recommendations
Ofgem has accepted the recommendations of its review into severe weather compensation, proposing higher payments, a larger cap and faster payment intervals for households left without power.
Ofgem writes to suppliers on remote switching of smart meters to prepayment mode
Ofgem has written to energy suppliers telling them to review their obligations and processes on switching smart meters to prepayment mode remotely, after a review found failings across the market.
OPSS intervenes over carbon monoxide risk in Belling, New World and Stoves gas cookers
The Office for Product Safety and Standards intervened in November 2022 to have more than 66,000 Belling, New World and Stoves gas cookers updated over a carbon monoxide risk.
Part L compliance date for heating controls takes effect in Wales
BEAMA guidance confirms that Part L of the Building Regulations applies to heating controls installed with gas or oil boilers in Wales from November 2022, five months after the English date.
Scheme consulted on under the name ECO+
The government consulted on the policy proposals that became the Great British Insulation Scheme under the name ECO+ in November 2022, with Ofgem later named as intended administrator.
- October 2022
Which? warns hundreds of thousands of prepayment meter customers could miss government support
Which? has warned that hundreds of thousands of prepayment meter customers may miss government energy support, and called on suppliers to make sure the discount reaches them.
Ofgem price cap calculations move to quarterly
Energy UK has confirmed that Ofgem now recalculates the price cap every three months rather than every six, so sustained falls in gas prices reach household bills sooner.
Energy Price Guarantee ministerial direction page first published
The government published the ministerial direction letters authorising the Energy Price Guarantee on 25 October 2022, setting out the formal instructions behind support for domestic energy consumers.
Energy Prices Act 2022 amendments to the tariff cap Act in force
Amendments made by the Energy Prices Act 2022 to the Domestic Gas and Electricity (Tariff Cap) Act 2018 came into force on 25 October 2022, adding a public spending consideration, a post-review statement duty and a 25 working day rule.
Energy Prices Act 2022 receives Royal Assent
The Energy Prices Act 2022 became law on 25 October 2022, giving ministers powers to run price reduction schemes for household electricity and gas in Great Britain and Northern Ireland.