Our response to the Heat Network Technical Assurance Standards consolation

Recently, the government published a consultation on the draft technical specifications and assessment procedures here. This outlined proposals that would require heat network operators to roll out more metering, bring existing heat networks up to higher standards, and analyse the ongoing performance of networks.

The NHF supports the aims of the government to improve the efficiency of heat networks, lower consumer bills, and improve consumers’ experiences with heat networks. However, we believe that Heat Network Technical Assurance Standards (HNTAS), as proposed, will not achieve the outcomes that the government is hoping for; the regulations are too fast, costly, and complex for the sector at large to comply with, and risks the sector decommissioning heat networks instead of upgrading them to compliance.

Our response recommended that decisions on HNTAS should be paused until a full review of the outlined governance and assurance requirements is undertaken, and allow time for consumer protections to become more established. The NHF also recommended that metering requirements be Metering and Monitoring Standard should be decoupled from HNTAS.