24 March 2026
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The government has taken decisive action in response to the conflict in the Middle East to fight for consumers and businesses on the cost of living, and is speeding up plans for more clean, homegrown energy that the UK controls to ensure energy sovereignty and security.
This is alongside new rules coming into force implementing the Future Homes Standard, which includes common-sense measures to ensure the majority of new homes are built cheaper to run, with solar panels and clean heating as standard.
These measures on new homes could save families up to £830 a year on their energy bills, compared to a standard home with an EPC rating of C. This will ensure they are more comfortable and affordable – and create at least 75% less carbon emissions than those built to the 2013 standards.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: “The government is determined to fight people’s corner in this crisis, which is why we have acted to prevent unfair practices like price gouging and provided immediate help for the most vulnerable facing spiralling heating oil prices.
“The Iran War has once again shown our drive for clean power is essential for our energy security so we can escape the grip of fossil fuel markets we don’t control.
“Whether through solar panels fitted as standard on new homes or making it possible for people to purchase plug-in solar in shops, we are determined to roll out clean power so we can give our country energy sovereignty.”
Housing Secretary Steve Reed said: “Building 1.5 million new homes also means building high-quality homes that are cheaper to run and warmer to live in.
“As we make the switch to clean, homegrown energy, today’s standard is what the future of housing can and should look like. Not only will these changes protect hardworking families from shocks abroad but will also slash hundreds of pounds off their energy bills every year.
“The government is also announcing and innovative new approach, predominantly benefiting Scotland and East of England, and launching in time for this winter, enabling energy companies to offer discounted energy bills to customers on windy days, rather than continuing the previous default practice of paying wind turbines to turn off.
“Historic underinvestment in Britain’s electricity grid means wind farms in these areas are being paid to switch off on windy days when the network cannot carry all the clean power they produce. Government will look to bring forward new legislation to ensure more homegrown, clean energy can be passed on as discounted electricity to consumers during these periods.”
Future Homes Standard
- The Future Homes Standard turns the page on over a decade of failure by previous governments. More than a million homes were built with higher bills following the cancellation of the Zero Carbon Homes standard in 2015 - leaving families exposed to the energy price spike after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
- today we are laying the regulations for the Standard and publishing its details
- it will put energy in the hands of the British people and help cut bills for good, protecting against fossil fuel price spikes like those triggered by the conflict in Iran
“Discounted energy”
- At the moment, wind farms are often paid to switch off on windy days, because the system can’t use all the power being generated, due to historic underinvestment in the grid required to match this supply with demand across the country
- to tackle these so-called “constraint payments”, we are launching a new, innovative trial, which would mean that using the generated power would become a more cost-effective option compared to turning turbines off
- this will enable suppliers and flexibility service providers to offer households and businesses in areas with constrained renewable generation discounted power during these periods, so that more of the extra electricity can be used rather than wasted. It will predominantly apply to areas in Scotland and the East of England
And it comes ahead of households across the country seeing a significant cut to their energy bills next week, with a £117 reduction coming into effect on 1 April, which will be in place until the end of June, saving families money for years to come, whatever the international situation.
Charlotte Lee, Chief Executive, HPA UK, said: “We are delighted to get confirmation that following a transition period, all new homes and buildings will benefit from low carbon heating such as heat pumps and heat networks. Coupled with solar PV, heat pumps and connections to heat networks provide a future proofed solution which will strengthen the UK’s energy security.
“Whilst the sector has been scaling up, with over a quarter of new homes built in the UK in 2025 having a heat pump, this clarity will unlock further investment into the supply chain, supporting thousands of highly skilled jobs, and contribute to the UK’s wider economic growth.”
Garry Felgate, CEO of The MCS Foundation, said: “The confirmation that the majority of all new homes in England will have solar panels and low carbon heating systems such as heat pumps is very good news – for energy security, for the UK’s progress toward a carbon-free future, and for the countless households that will benefit as a result.
“What matters now is implementation, and ensuring households have confidence in the technologies their new home will come with. So, it’s vital that housebuilders consider quality and consumer protection, by ensuring every installation is delivered by an MCS certified installer, to MCS standards.”
To read the story in full visit: www.gov.uk/government/news/government-to-make-plug-in-solar-available-within-months
