Source · Select Committees · Energy Security and Net Zero Committee
1st Report - Retrofitting homes for net zero
Energy Security and Net Zero Committee
HC 453
Published 22 May 2025
Recommendations
15
Deferred
Produce engagement strategy to build confidence in electric heating for consumers and installers
Recommendation
The Government must produce an engagement strategy to set out the costs and benefits of electric heating and build confidence for consumers, installers and the supply chain. This should include a plan to tackle misinformation and introduce consumer and workforce …
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Government Response Summary
The government states its focus on incentivizing cleaner, affordable heating and has announced measures via the Warm Homes Plan to support investment in heat pumps and energy efficiency, with further details on an engagement strategy to be set out later.
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
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16
Deferred
Continued delay on hydrogen's role in heating creates profound market uncertainty
Recommendation
Delaying a decision on the role of hydrogen for domestic heating until 2026 continues to create profound uncertainty. This means that consumers are delaying their switch to low carbon heating systems and Ofgem is unable to prepare to regulate our …
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Government Response Summary
The government will assess the latest evidence and consult later this year on the role of hydrogen in home heating, awaiting conclusions from an independent HSE safety review expected later this year.
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
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17
Deferred
Set clear guidelines for ending new fossil fuel heating system installations
Recommendation
We are concerned that the Government has not set clear guidelines for the end of the installation of new fossil fuel heating systems on and off the gas grid. Without certainty, consumers, manufacturers and the wider supply chain lack the …
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Government Response Summary
The government is focused on incentivising moves to cleaner heating through the Warm Homes Plan, having already announced measures, with more detail on specific guidelines for phasing out fossil fuel heating to be set out later this year.
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
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18
Deferred
Develop an urgent plan for repurposing the national gas network infrastructure
Recommendation
The Government urgently needs to develop a plan for repurposing the gas network. Whether hydrogen plays a role in our future heating system or not, much of the gas network will need repurposing, presenting an enormous and costly infrastructural challenge …
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Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the urgent need to consider the future of the gas network but states a longer timeline is required to build a comprehensive evidence base. They will publish a Call for Evidence in 2026 to explore optimal operational transition and future uses of the gas system.
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
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19
Deferred
Decide on hydrogen's role for domestic heating by summer 2025 with Warm Homes Plan
Recommendation
We urge the Government to take a decision on the possible role of hydrogen for domestic heating no later than summer 2025, alongside the publication of its Warm Homes Plan. This should be informed by the existing evidence gathered through …
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Government Response Summary
The government is assessing the latest evidence and will consult later this year on the role of hydrogen in home heating, pending an independent HSE safety review expected later this year.
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
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20
Deferred
Provide certainty on future electric home heating and clarify fossil fuel installation dates
Recommendation
The Government must provide consumers, installers and the supply chain with certainty that most home heating will be powered by electricity in future. It must also set out its view on whether new on-grid and off-grid fossil fuel heating systems …
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Government Response Summary
The government states its focus on incentivising cleaner heating through the Warm Homes Plan, where more details on these issues are expected later this year, but does not explicitly provide certainty on future electricity use for heating or the status of fossil fuel systems from 2035.
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
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21
Deferred
Require Government to publish plans and cost analysis for gas network repurposing by 2025.
Recommendation
The Government must set out comprehensive plans and an analysis of the costs and benefits for repurposing the gas network and clarifying who would bear the costs. It should set out a preliminary analysis by the end of 2025, including …
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Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the need to consider the gas network's future but states a longer timeline is needed due to the complexity and need for evidence gathering. They will publish a Call for Evidence in 2026 to explore optimal operational transition and future uses of the network.
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
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29
Deferred
Consumer protection gaps and lacking standards permit rogue traders in non-grant retrofit work.
Recommendation
We are especially concerned about the lack of consumer protections and mandatory standards for retrofit work not covered by government grants. This is allowing rogue traders to operate unimpeded. We believe that those who fail certification to carry out government-funded …
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Government Response Summary
The government announced its intention to conduct a sweeping overhaul of standards and consumer protections for retrofit, exploring options and promising an update in the Warm Homes Plan.
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
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Conclusions (2)
11
Conclusion
Deferred
Uncertainty over the UK’s technological direction for decarbonising heat is undermining consumer confidence and supply chain development. In particular, the Government’s failure to decide on the role of hydrogen for home heating is obstructing the rollout of proven electric technologies such as heat pumps. Consumers, installers and the supply chain …
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the need for strategic clarity on decarbonising home heating and will consult later this year on the role of hydrogen, following the expected conclusions of an independent safety review by the Health and Safety Executive.
13
Conclusion
Deferred
Levels of public awareness of electric heating systems are worryingly low. Many consumers are simply unaware of technologies such as heat pumps, let alone their benefits and support available to them. This is compounded by misinformation and factionalism in parts of the home heating sector, which undermines the credibility of …
Government Response Summary
The government states its focus on incentivizing cleaner, affordable heating and has announced measures via the Warm Homes Plan to support investment in heat pumps and energy efficiency, with further details on public awareness strategies to be set out later.