Rules and Regulation news, page 8
- January 2026
Ofgem publishes Final Decision on smart metering Guaranteed Standards of Performance
Ofgem has published its Final Decision on Guaranteed Standards of Performance for smart metering, setting out further detail on the proposals being taken forward, with the standards in place since 23 February 2026.
Feedback published on Heat in Buildings Bill consultation
The Scottish Government has dropped plans to ban polluting heating in individual homes, publishing consultation feedback that shifts the Heat in Buildings Bill to collective targets and delays its introduction.
Scottish Government plans introduction of draft buildings and heat networks Bill in next Parliament
The Scottish Government has published its response to the Heat in Buildings Bill consultation and confirmed the draft Bill will not be introduced before the 2026 Scottish Parliament election.
CIBSE launches Domestic Heating Design Guide 2026
CIBSE has published the 11th edition of its Domestic Heating Design Guide, setting out practical guidance for designing domestic heating and hot water systems in UK homes.
New heat network regulations take effect
Stronger rules for heat network suppliers and operators on customer service, supply reliability, billing and fair pricing took effect on 27 January 2026, with free advice and ombudsman redress already in place.
Heat networks regulatory commencement date confirmed as 27 January 2026
Ofgem has published finalised consumer protection guidance for heat networks and confirmed the new regulatory regime starts on 27 January 2026 across Great Britain.
Statutory Instrument for smart meter GSOPs 1-3 signed
Ofgem has signed the Statutory Instrument bringing smart meter Guaranteed Standards of Performance 1 to 3 into legislation, with consumer compensation starting on 23 February 2026.
Minister publishes response to consultation on Low Carbon Heating Support
Northern Ireland's Economy Minister has published the government response to a consultation on support for low carbon heating in homes, setting out findings from 107 responses and next steps.
Heat network consumer protections introduced across Great Britain with Ofgem as regulator
Heat network customers in England, Scotland and Wales came under Ofgem regulation on 27 January 2026, with new rules on pricing, billing, vulnerable customer support and complaint handling.
Public Accounts Committee publishes report on faulty energy efficiency installations
The Public Accounts Committee has reported 30,000 homes with defective energy efficiency installations and called for independent supervision of wall insulation retrofit schemes.
Future Homes Standard publication confirmed for Q1 2026
The Warm Homes Plan confirms the Future Homes Standard will be published in the first quarter of 2026, alongside £15 billion to upgrade five million homes by 2030.
Green Alliance publishes visual report on cutting home energy bills
Green Alliance has published a visual report setting out insulation standards, heat pump and solar panel rollout as ways to cut household energy bills permanently and tackle fuel poverty.
Consumer Scotland publishes response to Ofgem consultation on energy debt when consumers move house
Consumer Scotland has responded to an Ofgem consultation on energy debt arising when consumers move house, tentatively supporting reform while setting out risks and recommendations.
Fuel Poverty Strategy for England first published
The government has published its Fuel Poverty Strategy for England, setting out six priority outcomes for tackling fuel poverty, with a correction to Figure 9 made five days later.
Government responds to EPC reform consultation and publishes MEES response alongside Warm Homes Plan
The government has confirmed that privately rented homes in England and Wales must reach EPC C across two metrics by October 2030, publishing its EPC reform and MEES responses alongside the Warm Homes Plan.
Government response to heat network zoning consultation published
The government has published its response to the 2023 consultation on heat network zoning in England, setting out how feedback shaped policy on zone identification, requirements and delivery.
New warm homes agency to be established and Salix abolished
The government has set out a Warm Homes Plan allocating £15 billion, abolishing the ECO scheme and Salix, and creating a new warm homes agency to consolidate delivery functions.
Warm Homes Plan first published
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero published the Warm Homes Plan on 21 January 2026, a policy paper setting out how it intends to cut energy bills and upgrade homes.
Government launches £15 billion Warm Homes Plan
The government has launched a £15 billion Warm Homes Plan to upgrade up to five million homes, cut bills and lift up to a million families out of fuel poverty by 2030.
Citizens Advice responds to DESNZ's Tariff Interoperability consultation
Citizens Advice has backed government plans to standardise electricity tariff data so households can compare deals and switch more easily, while warning that small business suppliers may be left out.
Naps Independent Energy Advice listed as inactive by Energy Ombudsman
The Energy Ombudsman has recorded the broker Naps Independent Energy Advice as inactive, with its membership of the dispute scheme shown as ending on 19 January 2026.
Record 8.4GW of offshore wind secures CfD contracts in AR7
The government's seventh Contracts for Difference auction has awarded a record 8.4GW of offshore wind capacity, split between five fixed-foundation projects and two floating schemes.
Consumer Scotland publishes response opposing moving Warm Home Discount costs to unit rate
Consumer Scotland has told the UK government not to move Warm Home Discount costs from standing charges to unit rates, saying higher-use households would pay more and the change should wait for Ofgem's wider review.
Consultation on WHD cost recovery closed
The government has confirmed that energy suppliers should recover Warm Home Discount costs from the unit rate rather than the standing charge from 1 April 2026, after a consultation that drew 778 responses.
Citizens Advice responds to consultation on amending ECO4 order for grant-funded cost recovery
Citizens Advice has backed amending the ECO4 order so suppliers are paid through Exchequer funding rather than higher bills, while warning that retrospective payments must not cut future fuel poverty funding.
New benchmark consumption takes effect in the price cap
Ofgem has updated the assumed household consumption figures used to set the energy price cap, cutting the gas benchmark to 11,500 kWh and electricity to 2,700 kWh from 1 January 2026.
Comprehensive assessment of the MCS Customer Commitment expected in early 2026
The government expects to assess the MCS Customer Commitment in early 2026 before deciding whether to recognise it as a consumer code for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
Debt Relief Scheme to launch in early 2026
Ofgem has set the energy price cap for 1 January to 31 March 2026 and confirmed a Debt Relief Scheme for around 195,000 people on means-tested benefits will launch in early 2026.
DEFRA minister says no final decision made on wood-burning stove ban
A DEFRA minister said in January 2026 that no final decision had been made on banning wood-burning stoves, as a consultation on cutting domestic burning emissions runs.
Domestic price cap falls to £1,758 for January to March 2026
Ofgem's price cap for January to March 2026 is set at £1,758 a year for a typical dual-fuel direct debit household, down from £1,849 in April 2025 as wholesale costs eased.