Heat Network Heat‑Fight: How Heat Trust Says 500,000 Households Might Chill Out
Ofgem’s “Fair Pricing” Proposals Could Spike Costs for Warm‑Up Words
Heat Trust, the champion for users on community and district heating systems across the UK, has slammed Ofgem’s latest proposal for “fair pricing.” According to the organisation, a half‑million households that depend on shared heating could see their bills balloon while consumers lose the protection they enjoy with gas and electricity.
Stephen Knight, Head of Heat Trust, stated, “Regulation is a good start, but the cheapest prices we are talking about are still a shockwave for many. Half the cost of a gas boiler and the bill isn’t the headline – it’s the whole package.” He warned that without tighter controls, the trust could lose public faith at a crucial time when heat networks are a key piece of Britain’s low‑carbon puzzle.
Key Ingredients of Heat Trust’s Take‑away
- Commercial Energy Jitters – Heat suppliers face wildly fluctuating wholesale costs that are too often passed straight onto consumers.
- Cost‑Allocation Chaos – A clear rule set is missing. Maintenance fees that landlords should pay could sneak back onto customers’ quotes.
- Price Fog – Standing charges and heat prices are hard to read, hard to predict – and, frankly, some can be downright costly.
- Transparency Opportunity Missed – Heat Trust urges a public price register for every network, an idea few suppliers support.
Stakeholder Voices & Statistics
Stephen Knight added, “We’re hearing that some households are paying up to 77p per kWh – that’s a 10‑fold hike compared to a gas boiler.” He calls for a stronger, enforceable safety net that goes beyond the current proposals.
What Heat Trust Is Doing
- Continuing Britain’s only independent consumer protection scheme for heat networks.
- Encouraging more suppliers to register in anticipation of the new statutory regulation slated for January 2026.
Both the government and Ofgem have endorsed the push for suppliers to step up. Heat Trust’s plea is clear: communities depend on heat, not on hikes. Let’s keep the warmth flowing without letting prices get the upper hand.
Get Involved
If you’re on a heat network, keep your ears open and your bills in check. Subscribe to updates from the Heat Trust and voice your concerns directly – because when it comes to heat, everyone deserves a fair share of warmth.
