"These steps include ending green levies on electrical heating, reforming how electricity is priced, and taking measures to prevent gas power companies from jacking up their profits, according to an analysis by the thinktank E3G. Heat pumps, which run on electricity, are more efficient than gas boilers and will be essential to reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions. However, they are more expensive to run in the UK than they need to be, because of the way the UK's privatised energy system is managed."
"At present, homeowners with heat pumps who are on the right tariff and have well-insulated homes should save money. But some homeowners who replace gas boilers with electric heat pumps may get no saving, or even a cost increase. Their average annual heating bill is likely to be about 920, according to E3G, compared with 820 for homes with a gas boiler. This discrepancy has held back installations, and led anti-net zero campaigners to decry heat pumps."
Heat pumps running on electricity are more efficient than gas boilers and could roughly halve average household heating bills, saving about £375 annually if electricity became cheaper. Ending green levies on electrical heating, reforming electricity pricing, and preventing gas generator profiteering would reduce running costs. Currently some households on the right tariff with well-insulated homes save, while others who switch may see no saving or higher bills (around £920 vs £820 for gas). These cost discrepancies have slowed installations and provoked political concern. Targeted policy changes could make heat pumps widely cheaper and boost deployment toward net zero.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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