Rules and Regulation News: page 47
- July 2022
Scottish Government launches New Building Heat Standard Part II consultation
The Scottish Government has opened a 12 week consultation on plans to stop direct emissions heating systems being installed in new homes and non-domestic buildings warranted from April 2024.
New Build Heat Standard Part 2 consultation opens
The Scottish Government opened a second consultation on its New Build Heat Standard on 28 July 2022, setting out plans to ban direct emissions heating systems in new buildings from 2024.
BEIS Committee publishes report on energy pricing and the future of the energy market
The BEIS Committee has published a report on energy pricing and the future of the energy market, calling for regulatory reform of Ofgem, a social tariff and a home insulation programme.
Which? responds to concerns that support on energy bills is outdated
Which? has called on Ofgem to penalise underperforming energy suppliers and to work with government and suppliers on targeted bill support, saying customers are struggling to understand bills and pricing.
OPSS safety notice issued for Belling, Stoves and New World gas range cookers with gas grills
The Office for Product Safety and Standards has issued a safety notice covering 127 Belling, Stoves and New World gas range cookers, requiring their withdrawal from the market over carbon monoxide risk when grills are used with the door closed.
Boiler Upgrade Scheme installer guidance published
Ofgem has published version 1.0 of its installer guidance for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, setting out eligibility rules, grant values and the voucher process for MCS certified installers in England and Wales.
NEA publishes response to Ofgem retail financial resilience and Direct Debit consultation
The National Energy Action charity has told Ofgem that proposed financial resilience rules for suppliers should only go ahead if they do not push up the price cap, while backing stronger Direct Debit rules.
High Court found the Net Zero Strategy unlawful
The English High Court ruled in July 2022 that the government's 2021 Net Zero Strategy was unlawful and inadequate for meeting the UK's legally binding 2050 emissions target.
JRF publishes energy price analysis of July 2022 price cap
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation has published a briefing on the July 2022 Ofgem price cap and new Cornwall Insight forecasts, setting out what low and middle income families are expected to spend on gas and electricity.
CREDS publishes report on distributional effects of net-zero pathways
CREDS research finds that all modelled net-zero pathways hit vulnerable UK households hardest on energy and motor fuel costs, with low-income groups spending over twice the share of income that high earners do.
Grand Committee considers the Electricity and Gas (Energy Company Obligation) Order 2022
The House of Lords Grand Committee approved the draft Electricity and Gas (Energy Company Obligation) Order 2022 on 12 July 2022, extending and expanding the ECO4 scheme in Great Britain until March 2026.
Ofgem CEO tells MPs October cap rise will exceed previous prediction
Ofgem's chief executive told MPs the October price cap will rise by more than the £800 previously predicted, as forecasters put winter bills near £3,300.
Citizens Advice publishes research on consumer impact of energy supplier failures
Citizens Advice research published on 10 July 2022 finds 28 energy supplier failures since August 2021 affected over 4 million customers and calls for reform of failure and Special Administration processes.
Ofgem launches review of arrangements for recovering the costs of supplier failure
Ofgem has closed its review of how the costs of supplier failure are recovered, deciding to keep the existing methodology rather than move recovery onto unit rates.
UK renewables auction secures 11 GW at record low prices
The UK's seventh contracts for difference auction on 7 July 2022 secured 11 GW of renewable capacity at the lowest wind and solar prices recorded, according to the energy think tank Ember.
Energy Bill [HL] 2022-23 introduced in the House of Lords
The Energy Bill was introduced in the House of Lords on 6 July 2022, with measures on heat networks, smart appliances, building energy performance and business energy audits.
Ofgem published ECO4 New Measures and Products draft guidance
Ofgem has published draft guidance for comment on how it will administer the new measures and products routes under ECO4, with responses due by 18 July 2022.
BEIS publishes Energy Bill summary impact assessment
BEIS has published a July 2022 summary impact assessment for the Energy Bill, setting out net present values, business costs and consumer bill impacts across 30 measures.
ECO4 policy guidance published
The government published policy guidance for the Energy Company Obligation 2022 to 2026 in July 2022, setting out how suppliers, manufacturers and installers can apply for innovation and alternative measure routes.
Government launches GOV.UK digital energy advice service
The government launched a digital service on GOV.UK in summer 2022 to help householders find ways to save energy in their homes, according to a later review of retrofit barriers.
Ofgem announces urgent review of direct debit increases
Ofgem has announced an urgent review into energy direct debits rising faster than the price cap, finding flawed processes and weaknesses in how suppliers set customer payments.
Protected development eligibility period ended
The protected development provision, which kept certain proposals eligible for permitted development rights for a further year, reached its end date of July 2022.
Scottish Government publishes New Build Heat Standard Consultation: Part II
The Scottish Government has opened a second consultation on its New Build Heat Standard, proposing to ban direct emissions heating systems in new buildings applying for a building warrant from 1 April 2024.
- June 2022
Technical Booklet F1 June 2022 edition came into effect
The June 2022 edition of Technical Booklet F1, the guidance on conserving fuel and power in dwellings in Northern Ireland, took effect on 30 June 2022 and replaced the 2012 version.
CCC annual progress report criticises energy efficiency programmes
The Climate Change Committee's annual progress report, published on 29 June 2022, said sharply rising fuel costs should have accelerated home energy efficiency work, but the necessary programmes are not in place.
CCC publishes 2022 Progress Report finding current programmes will not deliver Net Zero
The Climate Change Committee's 2022 Progress Report finds credible plans for only part of the emissions reductions needed, with home energy efficiency singled out as a major delivery gap.
Ofgem publishes RIIO-ED2 Draft Determination for SSEN Distribution
Ofgem has published its Draft Determination on SSEN Distribution's RIIO-ED2 business plan, proposing an 18% increase on its RIIO-ED1 allowances, with a Final Determination due later in 2022.
Ofgem decides CfD cap allowance will be updated quarterly
Ofgem has decided that the Contracts for Difference allowance within the default tariff cap will be updated quarterly, keeping the calculation method unchanged.
Ofgem decides to remove £0/MWh floor from CfD allowance in default tariff cap
Ofgem has decided to remove the £0/MWh floor from the Contract for Difference allowance in the default tariff cap, replacing the published Interim Levy Rate with an expected levy payment from 1 October 2022.
Citizens Advice responds to BEIS consultation on changes to the Energy Bills Support Scheme
Citizens Advice has backed the government's decision to raise the Energy Bills Support Scheme payment to £400 and make it a grant, while warning that prepayment meter customers and those in arrears could miss out.