New rules are set to be introduced that could help households save over £100 on their energy bills each year. The new rules – which form part of the government’s Clean Power Action Plan – will require heat pumps and certain other electric heating appliances to be sold with smart functionality.
This will allow consumers to shift to cheaper deals on their energy, as smart appliances must operate across different suppliers. The Department for Energy says giving households with heat pumps the ability to choose a cheaper tariff will allow them to save over £100 each year on their energy bills, compared to the costs of a gas boiler.
In addition, energy-smart appliances allow consumers to shift their electricity usage to times when it is less costly for the energy system. When an appliance’s smart function is activated, it will respond to price signals and can then use energy when it is cheapest, such as overnight.
Many British households have signed up to “off-peak” tariffs over the last few years as they work to try and cut their energy bills.
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These regulations are already in place for electric vehicle chargers, which the energy department says is helping electric vehicle owners with a typical annual mileage save over £330 a year by charging their cars overnight using a time-of-use tariff.
The government has said it will also ensure that a range of appliances, including electric vehicle smart charge points, heat pumps, and battery energy storage systems, can operate across different tariffs.
This means that devices are not tied to one energy supplier and consumers are not locked into one plan. The energy department says this will help by “encouraging competition” and allowing customers to shop around for the best deals – regardless of their device.
Finally, tougher new cybersecurity standards will also be introduced for smart appliances to protect customers and their data from cyberattacks.
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The energy department says these new measures will not only help cut bills, but will also lower peak electricity demand on the grid. This would “minimise the electricity infrastructure that needs to be built” and could potentially contribute to a saving of between £40-50billion between now and 2050.
Energy Minister Michael Shanks said: “From EV chargers to heat pumps, smart appliances can do the hard work for consumers by automatically using energy when the price is low. We want to put more money in people’s pockets as part of Our Plan for Change by making it easier for people to benefit from cheaper off-peak tariffs in their home.
“These new standards will also bring a common-sense approach to smart appliances by ensuring different brands and models can operate across different energy suppliers, allowing consumers to shop around for the best deals.”
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