Rules and Regulation News: page 49
- May 2022
Government announces cost of living package funded partly by windfall tax
The Chancellor announced a £15bn package of support for households on 26 May 2022, including a £400 energy grant, a £650 payment for means tested benefit claimants and a 25% levy on oil and gas profits.
Government announces energy bills support measures in House of Commons
The End Fuel Poverty Coalition has written to the Chancellor listing ten unanswered questions about the energy bills support announced in the House of Commons on 26 May 2022, warning it will not fix fuel poverty.
Ofgem chief tells MPs October price cap likely to rise to about £2,800
Ofgem's chief executive told MPs the household energy price cap is likely to rise to about £2,800 in October, an increase of roughly £800 on the level then in force.
Outcome documents published for Part L review
The Welsh Government has published the summary of responses and final impact assessment from its review of Part L and Part F of the Building Regulations, two years after the consultation closed.
Ofgem opens consultation on possible wholesale cost adjustment to the default tariff cap
Ofgem has opened a consultation on whether suppliers face extra efficient wholesale costs beyond the default tariff cap, covering cap periods eight and nine, with responses due by 14 June 2022.
Ofgem publishes statutory consultation on wholesale methodology changes
Ofgem has published a statutory consultation proposing quarterly updates to the energy price cap's wholesale methodology, a change it later confirmed would take effect from October 2022.
LCCC updated its Q2 2022 forecast
Ofgem has confirmed it will remove the £0/MWh floor from the Contracts for Difference allowance in the default tariff cap from 1 October 2022, after recalculating the supplier benefit at £11.44 per customer.
Consultation launched on proposed expansion of Warm Home Discount in Scotland
The UK government has opened a consultation on expanding the Warm Home Discount in Scotland, proposing £49 million a year in support, £150 rebates and 50,000 more households.
NEA responds to BEIS consultation on Energy Bills Support scheme
National Energy Action has told BEIS that its Energy Bills Support scheme has significant deficiencies, warning that the poorest households may receive less or no benefit while paying for it.
Oxera publishes review of Ofgem's role in retail market collapse
An Ofgem-commissioned review by consultancy Oxera, published on 3 May 2022, examined the regulator's role in the collapse of 29 Great British energy suppliers between July 2021 and May 2022.
Ecodesign requirements for stoves due to come into force in the UK
Ecodesign emission and efficiency requirements for wood burning stoves are due to come into force in the UK in 2022, with all stoves placed on the market after January 2022 required to comply.
End Fuel Poverty Coalition writes to Chancellor over ten failures in energy bills plans
The End Fuel Poverty Coalition has written to the Chancellor listing ten unanswered questions about the Government's 26 May energy bills support and asking for a meeting to discuss them.
Energy Profits Levy introduced on UK oil and gas companies
The government levied an Energy Profits Levy on UK oil and gas companies in May 2022, after record industry profits and rising household energy costs that followed the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Government announced intention to legislate to extend price cap beyond 2023
The government said in May 2022 that it intended to legislate to allow the default tariff price cap to continue beyond 2023, as the National Audit Office counted 29 supplier failures since July 2021.
Government publishes response to market-based mechanism consultation
The Government has published its response to the consultation on the market-based mechanism for low-carbon heat, a scheme obliging fossil fuel heating manufacturers to meet rising low-carbon sales targets.
Ofgem announces plans for quarterly price cap review
Ofgem has announced plans to move the price cap to a quarterly review, so that changes in wholesale gas and electricity costs, including falls, reach customer bills sooner.
Ofgem consults on wholesale cost adjustment design for cap periods eight and nine
Ofgem has opened a consultation on whether suppliers need an extra wholesale cost adjustment in the default tariff cap for periods eight and nine, with a decision due in August 2022.
Sale of traditional house coal banned in England
The sale of traditional house coal has been banned in England since 1 May 2022, under air quality rules that also cover wood moisture and stove emissions.
Scottish government proposes Passivhaus standard for all new-build housing
The Scottish government has proposed that all new-build housing in Scotland meet the Passivhaus standard or a Scottish equivalent, under a Member's Bill lodged in May 2022.
Scottish Government publishes quality assurance policy statement for heat in buildings
The Scottish Government has published a quality assurance policy statement for heat in buildings, setting TrustMark and MCS supplier requirements for its schemes and a timetable of actions through 2022.
Third support package against rising energy prices announced
A GBP 650 one-off Cost of Living Payment for 8 million low-income households formed part of a third support package against rising energy prices announced in May 2022.
Wales published changes to Part L
Wales published changes to Part L, the building regulation covering the conservation of fuel and power, in May 2022, according to a UK government research report updated in December 2022.
- April 2022
Ready to Burn deadline ends for small wood suppliers
Small wood suppliers in England selling under 600 cubic metres a year must meet Ready to Burn certification from 1 May 2022, ending the extra year given to them to prepare.
Product recall issued for the Smart Energy Saver UK
The Office for Product Safety and Standards has required the recall of a plug-in energy saving device sold as the Smart Energy Saver UK after tests found a serious risk of fire and electric shock.
UK Government consulted on clean heating market mandate earlier in 2022
The UK Government consulted earlier in 2022 on a policy to obligate boiler manufacturers to match fossil fuel boiler sales with heat pump installations, Nesta reported on 20 April 2022.
Nesta and BIT publish report assessing the UK Government's boiler manufacturer mandate for heat pumps
Nesta and the Behavioural Insights Team have published a report assessing the UK Government's proposed mandate requiring boiler manufacturers to match fossil fuel boiler sales with heat pump installations.
Ofgem publishes decision on ECO4 scoring methodology consultation
Ofgem has confirmed how ECO4 energy efficiency measures will be scored, keeping intermediate SAP bands, four floor area segments and a 10% correction factor in its final decision.
BEIS to publish proposals on rebalancing energy bill costs in 2022
The government's Energy Security Strategy commits to rebalancing costs on energy bills away from electricity, with BEIS to publish proposals in 2022, alongside VAT-free home energy saving measures for five years.
CCC responds to UK Government's Energy Security Strategy
The Climate Change Committee welcomed the British Energy Security Strategy's offshore wind, nuclear and hydrogen commitments but said the absence of household energy efficiency measures was disappointing.
Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive closes to new applicants
Ofgem has closed the Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive to new applicants after eight years, with existing members continuing to receive payments for up to seven years.