Open modifications being consulted upon
A consultation on proposed changes to Heat Trust's standards relating to guaranteed standards of service and the compensation payments (GSP) that are made to customers when these standards are not met is now open. The consultation document which explains these proposals and sets out the consultation questions can be found HERE. The associated modification proposals are:

• MOD023: Communications during interruptions
• MOD024: Claiming GSP
• MOD025: Review and update contingency plans
• MOD026: Incremental penalty GSP
• MOD027: Cumulative GSP
• MOD028: Alternative heating for customers in vulnerable situations

Please click on the titles of the modifications above to be taken to the modifcation proposals. Please respond to the consultation on as many of the modifications as are relevant to you by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by 12pm Tuesday 28th March 2023. Responses from all interested parties are welcome. Please clearly indicate whether your would like your responses to remain anonymous or not.

 

Modifications being revisited
The below modifications are being progressed in the summber of 2022:

• MOD019: Transparency on billing

 

Modifications which were not approved

MOD010 - MOD012 - Modifications to the Scheme Rules relating to vulnerable customers  
The first stage of strategic Scheme Rules Review related to customers in vulnerable situations. Some modification proposals were approved and can be found in Scheme Modifications. The modification proposals which were not approved can be found below:

• MOD011: Breakdown standing charges. This has been replaced by guidance here.
• MOD012: Available methods of payment

Updating Scheme Rules relating to metering, billing and GSP
The second stage of strategic Scheme Rules review related to metering, billing and Guaranteed Service Payments was undertaken in 2021. Most of the metering and billing related modifications have now been implemented and can be found on the Scheme Modifications page. Some related to Guaranteed Service Payments are not progressing, as they were replaced by others suggested by a series of Roundtables in the summer of 2022, see above modification proposals 023 to 028.

• MOD015: GSP timescales
• MOD018: Additional GSP to align with Ofgem
• MOD020: GSP amounts

Both UK and Scottish Governments have published proposals to regulate the heat networks market.

UK

Heat Trust welcomes and supports government’s confirmation that it will introduce regulation for heat networks, with a sector regulator to provide oversight and enforcement.

Statutory regulation is vital to building customer trust in heat networks, allowing the market to continue to grow and deliver the benefits of sustainable heat more widely. This is particularly important in a market of natural monopolies where customers cannot switch their supplier.

We at Heat Trust have unsurpassed collective knowledge of this complex, fledgling industry and have been putting in place the foundations of the bespoke, robust regulations that protect customers while allowing the heat networks market to flourish in the future. This is an essential part of the sector’s development – but just the first step. Customer protection need not and should not wait whilst a new regulatory framework is developed. We believe all heat networks should be required to meet our standards before regulation is in place. The recent BEIS consultation stated that “By joining Heat Trust now, organisations will not only be able to demonstrate the quality of their service to consumers right now, but they will also be better prepared for the transition to regulation.” We support the move to statutory regulation and are committed to supporting the sector with the transition.

The proposals would create a statutory regulator for the heat network sector, proposed to be Ofgem, and focus on three core areas:

• Transparency of the heat network service, including before first joining the network;
• Fair and accurate pricing; and
• Quality of service - for example expectations on outage management and customer complaints handling.

 

Scotland

The Scottish Government introduced the Heat Networks (Scotland) Act to Parliament on 2^nd March 2020 and was passed on 23rd February 2021. The Act will require heat network suppliers to apply for a licence to supply heat via a heat network, similar to how gas or electricity suppliers operate, and a consenting process for constructing or operating heat networks in Scotland, similar to planning permission. The Act also contains proposals to give local authorities the power to designate heat network zones, and to introduce a transfer scheme should a supplier cease to operate (similar to the Supplier of Last Resort scheme for gas or electricity customers). These are intended to commence by the end of 2023.

Heat Trust, the consumer champion for heat networks, has appointed a new Director.

David Watson takes up his new role on 1 June, replacing previous Director Bindi Patel.

David comes to Heat Trust from Centrica, where he was Director of Group Strategy. Prior to this role, he was Head of Market Design and New Energy for British Gas, with responsibilities including leading low carbon policy development within the GB and EU retail market. He said:

"I am delighted to be joining Heat Trust at what is a very important time for both the organisation and the wider sector. Membership is growing and customer service standards continue to rise across the sector. 

Up to five million homes could be reliant on the heat network infrastructure by 2050.  Consumer interests need to be absolutely at the heart of this growth and I look forward to building on the fantastic work that has been achieved over the past five years.”

Ms Patel has been at Heat Trust since it was launched in 2015. During this time, she has overseen Heat Trust’s coverage expand to more than 10% of the market with 80 heat networks registered serving over 50,000 homes and micro-businesses. Heat Trust’s work has been recognised by the Government and has become a recognised industry standard. She said:

“I am proud of the work we have achieved in championing consumer protection in a sector that will grow ever-important as the UK works towards net-zero carbon targets. Over the last five years Heat Trust has worked to deliver benefits for customers through the standards it sets, which suppliers strive to meet for the good of the industry. I am delighted to have contributed to that and look forward to seeing Heat Trust grow further.” 

Casey Cole, chairperson of Heat Trust, welcomed David to the team and wished Ms Patel well in her future role. He said:

“We are delighted by the success of Heat Trust, and we would like to thank Bindi for her leadership and dedication to the scheme’s success over the past five years. We wish her every success in her new position. David has a proven track record that will see Heat Trust go from strength to strength and we look forward to moving forward under his leadership.”

ENDS

Heat Trust, the consumer champion for heat networks, says customer service standards are continuing to rise across the industry.

The independent customer protection scheme has hailed a successful fourth year of holding the heat network industry to account, with figures from its latest annual report showing that complaints regarding heat networks reduced by 54% in 12 months.

Heat Trust was launched in November 2015 to put customers at the heart of the rapidly expanding heat network market. It sets consistent customer service standards for the sector, building on standards set in the gas and electricity markets.

Up to five million homes could be reliant on the heat network infrastructure by 2050, a ten-fold increase from the estimated 440,000 homes currently on heat networks in the UK.

“We are pleased and encouraged with the progress demonstrated in our fourth report,” said Heat Trust Director Bindi Patel.

“The industry recognised the need to address challenges around customer experience and to put consumers at the centre of all future plans. The standards we have set through Heat Trust are helping to improve the market for the better and ensuring that people living on heat networks know what to expect from their suppliers.

“It is also encouraging that our contribution has been recognised across government.”

Latest figures show an average of 4.72 complaints per 100 customers in 2019 down from 12.9 per 100 customers the previous year.

There was also a drop in the number of complaints referred to the Energy Ombudsman – although of all complaints made to the Ombudsman only 9% were not upheld.

Heat Trust’s standards mean customers receive guaranteed service payments if they have experienced an outage that has not been restored in an agreed timeframe. More than £25,000 worth of payments were made to customers for this reason.

Research into annual heat bills by The Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy suggests that, on average, an annual heat bill on a heat network is £100 lower compared to individual heating. However, billing and heat charges have continually been the topics customers most frequently raise complaints on.

Billing and charges accounted for 37% of complaints, closely followed by technical issues representing 36% of complaints.

The annual report highlights the importance of data collection and the need for industry wide performance metrics.

Joanna Read, Policy and Operations Adviser at Heat Trust, said “Each year we have been able to report on more and better quality data. Going forward we are seeking to gather further insights such as on debt and disconnection.

“This year we have collaborated with our Registered Participants to develop more meaningful metrics for outages such as origin of the issue, where there is a clear overlap with customer experience. However, wider performance metrics for the sector are needed to progress this work further.”

Heat Trust remains a voluntary scheme but is continuing to expand each year. It now provides protection to more than 10% of all residential and micro-business customers on heat networks, with 80 heat networks accounting for over 50,000 homes and micro-businesses registered.

The government has confirmed it intends to introduce statutory regulation and appoint a sector regulator to the heat networks industry, a move that has been welcomed by Heat Trust.

Ms Patel added: “Heat networks have been identified as enabling infrastructure in all decarbonisation scenarios set out by the Committee on Climate Change, but they must offer a good experience to customers if the market is to grow as projected.

“Heat Trust will continue to champion service standards in the industry and will seek to make sure that issues such as transparency over charges, clarity on terms and services and accountability over technical performance are part of a future regulatory framework.”

ENDS

Download press release

Notes to editors:

Heat Trust launched in November 2015. It sets out a common standard in the quality and level of customer service that heat suppliers should provide their customers.

It also provides an independent process with the Energy Ombudsman for settling complaints between customers and their heat supplier. This service is free for customers to access. 

Our annual reports can be found here: https://www.heattrust.org/annual-reports-v2

For more information contact Bobbie Hough at Hough Bellis Communications on 07794204268 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Today, Heat Trust welcomes an agreement by members of the Heat Network Investment Council (HeatNIC) to ensure heat networks customers are protected and supported during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The agreement sets out a series of commitments, which echo key principles and requirements set by Heat Trust. In addition, many of the HeatNIC members with operating heat networks serving residential customers are Registered Participants of Heat Trust.

Welcoming the agreement, Bindi Patel Director of Heat Trust said:

“Energy is an essential service and during this time it’s important that customers are supported and have access to reliable heating and hot water. This requires a caring and flexible approach.

I am very pleased to see the Heat Networks Industry Council make this pledge today, which echoes key principles required by Heat Trust. The steps outlined by the Council in conjunction with the standards set by Heat Trust are a clear demonstration of the heat network sector’s commitment to protecting customers.”

Heat Trust is working with its Registered Participants to ensure customer needs are prioritised and supported. A dedicated coronavirus page for customers can be found here.

Notes

About Heat Trust

Heat Trust is all about protecting heat network customers.

We are an independent, non-profit consumer champion for heat network customers that holds the industry to account for the benefit of everyone involved. We make sure customers enjoy heating systems fit for the future by:

• Applying strict customer service standards to heat suppliers, similar to those for traditional gas and electricity suppliers;
• Providing access to an independent dispute resolution service through the Energy Ombudsman; and
• Working with suppliers to promote best practice, innovation and continuous improvement in customer service.

Launched in November 2015, Heat Trust provides protection to over 10% of residential and micro-business heat network customers. Our annual reports can be found here.

About HeatNIC

The Heat Networks Industry Council brings together leaders of the heat networks industry to support Government in achieving its vision of achieving a sustainable industry. The Council’s offer to Government, to be published in the next few months, will identify measures it can take to:

• Create jobs and investment (focusing on the investment that could be unlocked by the sector, and the number and quality of jobs that will be created as a result)
• Cut costs (to both those looking to invest in heat networks and customers supplied by a heat network)
• Set out the industry’s commitment to decarbonisation
• Create more liveable, smarter cities (including how it can support grid balancing services and flexibility and improve air quality)
• Drive excellence in customer service and standards 

The Council has been established by the Association for Decentralised Energy (ADE), who provide the Secretariat.