Residential buildings in heat network zones won’t have to pay a connection charge under new energy legislation.
The Energy Independence Bill, published last week, allows the government to cap connection charges for buildings that are required to connect to a heat network because they are located in one of the proposed zones.
A factsheet published alongside the bill says this capped charge will be set at £0 for residential buildings.
Connection charges for non-domestic buildings will be capped so they are no higher than the building’s alternative heating technology and subject to consultation before they are introduced.
The bill also equips local authorities with new and stronger powers to enforce minimum energy-efficiency standards in private rented homes, including being able to impose fines of up to £30,000 on landlords.
These powers are designed to support the government’s recently introduced requirement that all rented homes meet Energy Performance Certificate Band C from October 2030.
