What is a Heat Network?
Heat networks (also called district heating or communal heating) are systems delivering heating and hot water from a central source through insulated pipes to connected properties
Heat is generated using a variety of sources, including gas boilers, combined heat and power plants (CHP) or renewable energy.
This means there is no need for a boiler in your home, all you will have is a programmer and thermostat.
What Benefits do Heat Networks Have?
Heat networks offer several benefits for residents and wider community:
· Enhanced consumer protection: Recent legislation updates mean greater fairness and transparency for residents on heat networks. All residents are now protected by the regulator OFGEM and can raise complaints with the energy ombudsman - https://www.energyombudsman.org/how-we-can-help/heat-networks
· Lower Carbon Emissions: heat networks that are properly controlled and managed help reduce greenhouse gas emissions
· Cost Savings: Shared systems can reduce maintenance costs and lower heating bills. Customers can compare how their heat network costs perform against alternatives using this calculator - Use Our Heat Cost Calculator
· Future-Proof Heating: Heat Networks can more easily switch to greener energy sources over time, supporting the transition to low-carbon heating.
· Safer: No need for boilers or natural gas pipework within in each home – reducing the number of safety checks to your property
How do Cost Savings Work?
· Shared Infrastructure: Because heat is generated centrally and distributed to multiple homes, the cost of installing and maintaining individual boilers is avoided. This shared approach can reduce overall system costs.
· Lower maintenance costs: Residents don't need to pay for annual boiler servicing or unexpected boiler repairs, which can be expensive. The network operator typically handles maintenance for the central plant.
· Smart energy procurement: The fuel supplying each heat network is procured centrally by the heat network operator, this often results in lower and more stable energy prices than residents could purchase individually.
Resident Bills
Heat networks are paid for by residents either via service charge or by receiving a heating bill directly from their heating provider. Residents are responsible for paying for their heating and the bills will have instructions on how to pay.
Repairs
If you need to raise a repair, please refer to your home User Guide that you will have been given at the start of your tenancy.
More questions?
Please contact environment@southernhousing.org.uk
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