Information about Heat Networks

Introduction

In the Energy Prices Act 2022, the Government requires that any energy price support provided to some businesses is passed on to domestic and microbusiness consumers in certain circumstances. (See guidance). This requirement will apply to some heat networks suppliers that receive support from the Energy Bill Relief Scheme (EBRS) which provides support for energy usage from 1 October 2022 to 31 March 2023. It also applies to some heat networks that apply for support through the Energy Bills Discount Scheme (EBDS) for energy usage from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024.

Regulations have been put in place for heat network suppliers:

• to pass on the benefit of the EBRS and where appropriate the EBDS to domestic and microbusiness consumers and provide information on how the passthrough will be made to those consumers
• to register to the redress scheme, administered by the Energy Ombudsman, which will allow heat network domestic and microbusiness consumers to raise a dispute if they have not received the benefit of the EBRS and where appropriate the EBDS.

What does this mean for heat network consumers (domestic consumers and microbusiness consumers)?

There are four main grounds under the EBRS listed below that you can complain about if your heat network supplier has not:

1. notified you that it has benefited from the EBRS.
2. notified you of how it will pass through the benefit from the EBRS.
3. assed on the scheme benefit within the timeframe required by the Regulations.
4. otherwise complied with the requirements to pass through the EBRS benefit.

Under the EBDS you can make a compliant, if your heat network supplier has applied for and is receiving the EBDS, and has not:

• pass on the benefit of the higher heat network EBDS discount rate to end consumers on heat networks with at least one domestic end user;
• provided consumers with information on how the ‘pass-through’ will be effected.

What to do if you need to raise a dispute about your heat network supplier about any of the four grounds

In the first instance you should contact your heat network supplier and ask them to fix the situation. If you cannot come to an agreement with your heat network supplier, you can raise the dispute with us by calling us on 0330 440 1624.

The terms on when we can become involved in a dispute can be found here.