Heat Trust says it is seeing a growing number of heat suppliers signing up to offer its consumer protection standards to customers, with 100 sites now part of the scheme.
The heat network at Clapham Park, operated by Pinnacle Power under its With Energy brand, is the latest to join Heat Trust, meaning that more than 57,000 people living on 100 different heat networks across the country are now offered protection through the scheme.
Heat networks are set to play a key role in meeting carbon reduction targets and helping to create a sustainable energy future. Up to five million homes could be reliant on heat network infrastructure by 2050.
Heat Trust launched in November 2015 as an independent, non-profit voluntary consumer protection scheme for heat networks that holds the industry to account for the benefit of everyone involved. In the absence of statutory regulation, it ensures that customers of participating heat suppliers enjoy the benefits of strict customer service standards, similar to those for gas and electricity suppliers, and have access to independent alternative dispute resolution (ADR) through the Energy Ombudsman.
Heat Trust monitors and audits participating suppliers to ensure they live up to their commitments and also works to promote best practice in customer service in the heat network sector.
Over the last year Heat Trust has seen the number of sites registered with the scheme grow by 30%, as the industry prepares for government regulation.
New Managing Director, Stephen Knight, said: “Heat is an essential service and customers deserve the same rights and protections as those living and working in properties in the regulated sector. Over the last six years Heat Trust has delivered that for tens of thousands of customers. The news that we have reached our 100th registered site is testament to the benefit we have delivered. That benefit is only going to grow as the sector moves towards the introduction of a new regulated market framework.
“I’d like to thank Pinnacle Power — suppliers at Clapham Park — and the suppliers of all our other registered sites, for their ongoing commitment to the highest standards of customer protection in the sector. Other suppliers should follow their example and register their sites with us now, ahead of the introduction of statutory regulation in the next few years.”
Toby Heysham, Managing Director of Pinnacle Power, added: “This is a landmark district heating network that has taken a number of years for our team to develop with our client Metropolitan Thames Valley Homes. We are thrilled to be the 100th site to have registered with Heat Trust and hope to have many more registered with the scheme in the future.
“The Heat Trust registration further cements our ambition and commitment to delivering a market leading customer proposition which is fair and reasonable to customers. Pinnacle builds, owns and operates high quality low carbon heat networks.”
