Electrification

Speed up ‘spark gap’ reform to aid heat pump uptake, ministers urged

The government has been urged to improve disappointing heat pump uptake rates by pushing ahead with projects to rebalance levies placed on gas and electricity bills. Ofgem unveiled figures showing a £61 million underspend on the 2023/24 budget for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS), despite grant levels being increased. Bean Beanland, director for growth & external affairs at the Heat Pump Federation (HPF), told Utility Week that the main factor hindering uptake of heat pumps is the continuing “spark gap” between electricity and gas prices due to the additional environmental and social policy costs and levies, which apply to the former but not the latter.

2 weeks ago