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As the new Minister for Energy Consumers my portfolio includes the Warm Homes Plan and therefore heat networks, so I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce myself to you. I have been the Member of Parliament for Inverclyde and Renfrewshire West in Scotland since the 2024 general election having previously been a councillor on Inverclyde Council.
It is an exciting moment to step into this role and take forward the good work of my colleague Minister Fahnbulleh, not least in progressing the publication of the Warm Homes Plan. I’m also familiarising myself with the heat network policies within the plan, with civil servants briefing me on the planned government response to the Zoning consultation and the consultation on technical standards for heat networks. Both of which are important steps in delivering our vision for a fair, reliable, and low-carbon heating system.
In the past month I also attended the Labour Party conference where I had the opportunity to speak at fringe event panels and meet a range of people working in the heat network industry sector. I got a real sense of how committed this industry is to deliver consumer focused low carbon heat networks, and how much is already happening to scale up heat networks in this country. I look forward to finding out more about this industry and working with you all to deliver affordable clean heat to consumers.
Martin McCluskey is the MP for Inverclyde and Renfrewshire West and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Consumers at DESNZ
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Heat networks regulation – fair pricing protections guidance consultation
Ofgem has published a consultation on a fair pricing guidance for heat networks. This covers fair pricing which includes a cost allocation guidance framework for heat networks. The Heat networks regulation: fair pricing protections guidance consultation is open to all and the deadline to respond is the 27th of October 2025.
If you would like to be kept abreast of Ofgem updates, please email: heatnetworksregulation@ofgem.gov.uk and the team will add you to their heat networks regulation mailing list.
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Would you like more information on new legal powers for heat network developers?
New legislation will make it easier for heat network developers to build networks via new rights. This is intended to make work on streets, crossing railways, canals and private open land simpler to plan and deliver.
To support the development of this work, we are looking to hold information sessions and to share the supporting legislation for your comment and feedback. Please provide us with a contact email here if you’re interested in attending these sessions.
Contacts will be deleted at the end of this process, or you may request a deletion at any time by emailing: heatnetworks@energysecurity.gov.uk with the subject 'Rights and Powers'.
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Technical standards pilot for existing heat networks launched
The introduction of new technical standards will ensure that new and existing heat networks are designed, built and operated to a good standard. We have been piloting the Heat Network Technical Assurance Scheme (HNTAS) on new build networks since January 2025 and in August started a pilot on eight existing heat networks. This pilot is evaluating the Performance Improvement Plan process, in which the actions that the existing network would need to take to meet HNTAS certification requirements are set out. The learnings will be applied to the process being developed to ensure proportionality and deliverability.
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In other news
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