The new energy bill

Sea_Shell

Section 10 has some interesting bits.😉

Brie

Foreverdreaming said:

I have been advised that the energy bill was passed through the HoCs last week, and I've heard/read the following:

a) if a landlord or if an owner who doesn't have a heat pump wants to move then you can be fined £15k or face 6 months in prison.

b) I'm not sure if this was passed last week or not, but you have to have a smart meter installed.  I have been told this is likely wanted to be to help manage the grid ie. they can turn off the power if they need to.  I have also heard they want this to monitor/track usage, and what devices you are using.

I can't believe all of this is true - so would appreciate any clarifications/feedback from some of the experts here.  Having to have a heat pump seems the most bonkers considering that a number of buildings in the UK aren't suited to using this technology.

Also, if this summary is 100% true, when does it come into effect?  

Seems all a bit premature to me.

a) if a landlord or if an owner who doesn't have a heat pump wants to move then you can be fined £15k or face 6 months in prison. 

What does that even mean?  A LL/owner can move wherever they want.  Presumably this may be about selling a property, in which case why not say so.  And surely there would be a defence based on building suitability for a heat pump.  

b) I'm not sure if this was passed last week or not, but you have to have a smart meter installed.  I have been told this is likely wanted to be to help manage the grid ie. they can turn off the power if they need to.  I have also heard they want this to monitor/track usage, and what devices you are using. 

Some truth perhaps and some absolute poppycock. 

"They" can turn off the power any time they want.  If there's a power shortage there will be a warning, an exemption for certain vulnerable households and then a power cut.  That's been a possibility for quite a long time and is getting better/slicker with each passing year to ensure the vulnerables don't suffer unduly. But no one is going to be turning an individual households power off or switching them to prepaid without going through due process. 

And yes it does mean that tracking use is possible - that's how the varilable tariffs work.  But as to knowing what devices you use? No.  A power company will know if I'm using gas but won't know if it's for a cooker or the boiler.  Likewise have I left the microwave or the TV on standby?  Or is it actually the clock radio?  They might guess but they won't know.

Foreverdreaming

QrizB said:

This seems to be a lot of excitement over inaccurate reporting on a bill that isn't yet law.

So far as I can see, the bill has been sent back to the Lords with almost 400 Commons amendments for them to consider.

Oh brilliant!  So 400 commons amendments sounds a lot for the Lords to deliberate over.  So this could potentially take time - and they may see some of the problems with this bill ie. the buildings that aren't suitable for heat pumps, and people living in flats where it hasn't been designed with heat pumps in mind. 

Personally, I hope there are long deliberations in the Lords, or they see common sense, and I can downsize next year.

With the way the policy is with my current understanding, I can see less people moving and less landlords.

Foreverdreaming

@Brie From what I have garnered so far, the new bill will work with the EPC ratings so it's only when a landlord wants to get new tenants in, or when a person moves that I think the heat pumps will be taken in to consideration. I can't see how anyone would know otherwise.

Foreverdreaming

Sea_Shell said:

Section 10 has some interesting bits.😉

Section 10 covers storing hydrogen This bill really is bonkers in places. 

Qyburn

It's a huge document, but worth at least trying to read it before blindly believing the conspiracy theories. I think some of their outrage is because they think "smart energy appliance" refers to smart meters.

But also bear in mind that these people like to be outraged, they like to think that "they" are out to get everyone.

rp1974

Have skimmed through some of the information as per link,fairly vague lots of ifs,maybes,possiblys etc,etc.
Most likely will amount to nothing as usual,best thing I can think of whilst waiting on any actual facts would be faux outrage and the following .

Sea_Shell

Foreverdreaming said:

Sea_Shell said:

Section 10 has some interesting bits.😉

Section 10 covers storing hydrogen This bill really is bonkers in places. 

Sorry I meant

PART 10 ENERGY PERFORMANCE OF PREMISES  (page 205 of the main document)

This is the part that mentions "performance" and "sanctions"

Clauses 246 and 248.


But I'm sure that's not what they REALLY mean, eh? 


I can't see any distinction between commercial and domestic "premises".    Have I missed it?

la531983

Brie said:

Foreverdreaming said:

I have been advised that the energy bill was passed through the HoCs last week, and I've heard/read the following:

a) if a landlord or if an owner who doesn't have a heat pump wants to move then you can be fined £15k or face 6 months in prison.

b) I'm not sure if this was passed last week or not, but you have to have a smart meter installed.  I have been told this is likely wanted to be to help manage the grid ie. they can turn off the power if they need to.  I have also heard they want this to monitor/track usage, and what devices you are using.

I can't believe all of this is true - so would appreciate any clarifications/feedback from some of the experts here.  Having to have a heat pump seems the most bonkers considering that a number of buildings in the UK aren't suited to using this technology.

Also, if this summary is 100% true, when does it come into effect?  

Seems all a bit premature to me.

a) if a landlord or if an owner who doesn't have a heat pump wants to move then you can be fined £15k or face 6 months in prison. 

What does that even mean?  A LL/owner can move wherever they want.  Presumably this may be about selling a property, in which case why not say so.  And surely there would be a defence based on building suitability for a heat pump.  

b) I'm not sure if this was passed last week or not, but you have to have a smart meter installed.  I have been told this is likely wanted to be to help manage the grid ie. they can turn off the power if they need to.  I have also heard they want this to monitor/track usage, and what devices you are using. 

Some truth perhaps and some absolute poppycock. 

"They" can turn off the power any time they want.  If there's a power shortage there will be a warning, an exemption for certain vulnerable households and then a power cut.  

Highly doubt this would happen even with smart meters, the current system would remain. If you are on dialysis, you would still lose your power. 

Brie

la531983 said:

Brie said:

"They" can turn off the power any time they want.  If there's a power shortage there will be a warning, an exemption for certain vulnerable households and then a power cut.  

Highly doubt this would happen even with smart meters, the current system would remain. If you are on dialysis, you would still lose your power. 

When there was a last round of threatened power cuts or gray outs there was a lot of whohah about "if you are vulnerable we will keep you safe".  So I would assume that would mean providing generators for those who would not survive a prolonged cut or a move to somewhere where it would not be an issue (hospital).  Thinking more those on ventilators rather than dialysis which I assumed was a tad more time flexible, i.e. do it earlier than normal to miss the problem time.