OFGEM take on Heat Networks

As the use of Heat Networks increase in UK cities, stories about unhappy residents have also increased.

Common complaints are being locked into paying excessive charges for heating and maintenance, and unreliable heating systems that homeowners can't change.

New heat network rules tokenistic, says homeowner

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cevnrkynpwko

The DHN industry has previously been described as a Wild West, with no regulatory body enforcing standards at a national level.

The Heat Network Technical Standard will apply to both new and existing communal heating schemes.

That's about to change with the roll-out of HNTAS (the Heat Network Technical Assurance Scheme), which is shaping up to be a monumental bible of requirements for designs, installers and landlords.

The first big change went live last month: Heat Networks - both new and existing - are now regulated.

The short straw has been given to OFGEM. They’ll be on the frontline, tackling complaints from tenants about unfair prices and poor service.

There’ll be an expectation for suppliers to meet high standards of customer service, and for heating bills to be laid out clearly with all charges fully explained.

It’s a start, but as the below article shows, people still need convincing. There’s so much more still to do.

Expect to hear a lot more about HNTAS in the next couple of years. It’s not only setting new quality standards for new heat network designs, but crucially it’s also setting standards that all existing networks must meet, whether it serves 2,000 homes, or just two.

There’s a consultation open until April 16th. Well worth reading through and responding if you work in the DHN sector:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/heat-network-customers-to-be-shielded-from-unfair-price-hikes

This not only tackles technical standards, but also governance structure, certification requirements, assessor qualifications, and ways to incentivise heat network compliance.

It may be high level, but this will set the foundations for the first version of HNTAS.

It's going to take time to roll this out nationally, but if the UK Government is to meet its targets for creating more heat networks, we need to tackle the public’s distrust of heat networks, the lack of regulation and the uncertainty over responsibility for maintenance and repair.

FYI, Government wants heat networks to deliver 18% of total heat demand by 2050. It’s currently 2%.