Heat networks – a fair deal for Londoners?
Energy for heating contributes to around 18 per cent of the UK’s climate emissions.1 Heat networks can be less carbon-intensive than individual gas boilers because they use shared and more efficient infrastructure and can use low-carbon energy sources, or heat that is otherwise wasted.2
Recent research between December 2024 and March 2025, commissioned by Citizens Advice, found that heat network consumers have experienced “significant detriment due to substantial increases in their heating and hot water bills over the past 2-3 years, often doubling or tripling since the energy crisis began in autumn 2021”.3 The report gives an example from London of a social tenant where:
- Annual heating and hot water costs rose £2840 between 2022/23 and 2023/24 (an increase of 367%)
Currently, over 477,000 households – representing more than 1.1 million people in the UK - are connected to a heat network,4 with around 30 per cent of heat networks in England currently in London, and around half of heat network users.5
The government is introducing new consumer protections, including regulation by Ofgem from 27 January 2026. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) is also expected to introduce new rules shortly around heat network zoning to make it easier to expand heat networks.6
The London Assembly Environment Committee will meet tomorrow to speak to organisations responsible for delivering heat networks about the planned growth of heat networks through zoning in London to meet climate targets, and the cost implications this will have on Londoners.
The guests are:
Panel 1 (10am to 11.00am):
- Thomas Brooke Bullard, Principal Policy Manager, Citizens Advice
- Richard Ellis, Director of Sustainability, Peabody
- David Stronge, Design Director, Peabody
Panel 2 (11.05am to 12.50pm):
- Ludo Tolu, Deputy Director, Heat Networks Policy, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ)
- John Allison, Deputy Director, Heat Networks Delivery, DESNZ
- Natasha Valladares, Head of Energy, Greater London Authority (GLA)
- Gabriele Caprotti, Joint Interim Head of Infrastructure, GL
The meeting will take place on Thursday 8 January 2026 from 10am in the Chamber at City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, E16 1ZE.
Media and members of the public are invited to attend.
The meeting can also be viewed LIVE or later via webcast or YouTube.
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Notes to editors
- NAO Decarbonising home heating March 2024
- UK government Heat networks
- Citizens Advice Customer experience of heat networks p19
- DESNZ/Ofgem Heat networks regulation: government response August 2025
- Calculation based on: UK government Heat Networks registered under the Heat Network (Metering and Billing) Regulations statistics: December 2022
- Heat networks regulation is coming | Ofgem
- Leonie Cooper AM, Chair of the Environment Committee, is available for interview.
- Find out more about the work of the Environment Committee.
- Read the agenda in full.
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For more information, please contact Tony Smyth in the Assembly Media Office on 07763 251727 or [email protected]. For out of hours media enquiries please call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the Assembly duty press officer.