Below is a list of policy documents and consultations that CEE is considering making responses to (listed in date order of responses required). Draft responses will be added to this page for member comments. If you would like to input into any of our responses, please email us.
Future Homes Standard consultation
From the Ministry for Housing Communities and Local Government, this consultation is about changes to Part L (conservation of fuel and power) and Part F (ventilation) of the Building Regulations for new dwellings.
The 2019 Spring Statement includes a commitment that, by 2025, the government will introduce a Future Homes Standard for new build homes to be future-proofed with low carbon heating and worldleading levels of energy efficiency. Energy efficiency requirements for new homes are set by Part L (Conservation of Fuel and Power) and Part 6 of the Building Regulations.
This consultation sets out the government's plans for achieving the Future Homes Standard, including proposed options to increase the energy efficiency requirements for new homes in 2020 as a meaningful and achievable stepping stone to the Future Homes Standard. This consultation is the first stage of a two-part consultation about proposed changes to building regulations. It also covers the wider impacts of Part L for new homes, including changes to Part F (Ventilation), its associated Approved Document guidance, airtightness and improving ‘as built’ performance of the constructed home which will come into force in 2020.
For 2020, the proposals being consulted upon include uplifts on Part L 2013, which would result in either a 20 per cent or 31 per cent reduction in emissions from new build homes, with a noted Government preference for the latter.
It has also published outline proposals and transitional arrangements for the Future Homes Standard in 2025. The Government has indicated that the new standard will represent around a 75-80% reduction in emissions compared to Part L 2013, with further details to be developed via the convening of a Future Homes industry taskforce to be established next year.
The current consultation relates to new domestic buildings only. A further consultation is due to be published towards the end of this year, covering new non-domestic as well as existing domestic and non-domestic buildings.
The consultation proposes to scrap energy efficiency targets and seeks to restrict Local Authories ability to go beyond building regulations. This is a dangerously retrograde step.
Useful resources here
Deadline for response has been extended to 7 February 2020 They prefer responses via https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/TQW8GQ9
CEE intends to make a submission.
The Committee on Climate Change Sixth Carbon Budget and Welsh emissions targets – Call for Evidence
The UK Government and Parliament have adopted the Committee on Climate Change's (CCC) recommendation to target net-zero emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the UK by 2050 (i.e. at least a 100% reduction in emissions from 1990).
The Climate Change Act (2008, ‘the Act’) requires the Committee to provide advice to the Government about the appropriate level for each carbon budget (sequential five-year caps on GHGs) on the path to the long-term target. To date, in line with advice from the Committee, five carbon budgets have been legislated covering the period out to 2032.
The Committee must provide advice on the level of the sixth carbon budget (covering the period from 2033-37) before the end of 2020. The Committee intends to publish its advice early, in September 2020. This advice will set the path to net-zero GHG emissions for the UK, as the first time a carbon budget is set in law following that commitment.
Both the 2050 target and the carbon budgets guide the setting of policies to cut emissions across the economy (for example, as set out most recently in the 2017 Clean Growth Strategy). The Act also specifies other factors the Committee must consider in its advice on carbon budgets – the advice should be based on the path to the UK’s long-term target objective, consistent with international commitments and take into account considerations such as social circumstances (including fuel poverty), competitiveness, energy security and the Government’s fiscal position.
The CCC will advise based on these considerations and a thorough assessment of the relevant evidence. This Call for Evidence will contribute to that advice.
Section D of the consultation seeks evidence to contribute to CCC advice to the Welsh Third Carbon Budget. You do not need to answer all the questions. Please answer only those questions where you have specific expertise and evidence to share.
Please limit your answers to 400 words per question and provide supporting evidence (e.g. reference to academic literature, market assessments, policy reports, etc.) along with your responses. The call for evidence allows you to answer questions in an online webform or to download, fill in and email a Word document.
N.B. The call for evidence includes the following question:
5. How big a role can consumer, individual or household behaviour play in delivering emissions reductions? How can this be credibly assessed and incentivised?
Responses to questions are limited to 400 words. We will be pointing out that they have left out 'community action' in their thinking. Groups
Questions 6 and 8 ask for 'low-regrets options' and 'co-benefits of acting on climate change'. These are opportunities to advocate for community energy. Links to external evidence are allowed.
The deadline for responses is Wednesday, 5 February 2020
CEE intends to make a submission
Ofgem call for evidence on Business Plans for RIIO-2
The regulator issued a call for evidence on Friday 13 December for feedback on RIIO-2 business plans.
The business plans were submitted by the transmission and distribution system operators for both gas and electricity on 9 December as part of the price control process. Links to them are in the main consultation document. Ofgem is seeking views and evidence on the plans and any responses may help to inform the topics raised in the open hearings. The open hearings will then help inform the draft determinations to be published in summer 2020. There is an online form which stakeholders can use to provide responses.
For more information on the Open Hearings please visit the Eventbrite page.
The deadline for responses is Monday 10 February 2020
Ofgem Forward Work Programme 2020-2022 consultation
This consultation document sets out Ofgem's planned Forward Work Programme for the extended period of 2020-22, focusing on three new strategic objectives:
Enabling competition and innovation which drives down prices and results in new products and services;
Protecting consumers, especially the vulnerable, stamping out sharp practice and ensuring fair treatment; and
Decarbonising to deliver a net-zero economy at the lowest cost to consumers.
Deadline for responses: noon on Friday 21 February 2020. The final Forward Work Programme will be published in late March 2020.
CEE is considering making a response