Heat networks should be subject to regulation in the UK to ensure they provide both value for money and stronger protections for customers, the government’s consumer competition watchdog has recommended. Publishing the initial findings of its heat networks study yesterday, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said projects that utilise waste heat often offered prices similar if not lower to those from traditional gas or electricity tariffs. The technology is also known to curb greenhouse gas emissions and enhance efficiency. In the UK around 14,000 heat networks currently supply roughly 500,000 homes, and by 2030 the sector is expected to swell to cover around 20 per cent of the UK population. But the watchdog warned it still had several concerns about the strength of consumer protection across the nascent sector, which it said was currently unregulated. Yesterday the agency published for consultation a set of provisional recommendations to establish a new regulatory framework for heat networks.
Business Green 11th May 2018 read more »
