Change to fuel pricing in Domestic EPCs (new build and existing)
The rating on a new dwelling’s Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is an indicator of the energy cost of running and it provides a comparison with other dwellings. With the current energy crisis and high cost of living in the UK, the government has agreed to a “significant change in fuel prices associated with the running costs and savings shown on Domestic EPCs” (Note that non-domestic EPCs are based on carbon emissions and not cost of running.)
Domestic EPCs currently use two sets of fuel prices:
- The first is set by the SAP methodology (Table 12 of SAP 10.2 Document). This set of fuel prices only changes when the methodology is updated and directly affects the EPC rating.
- The second, is set by the BRE’s Product Characteristics Database (PCDB) which is updated every 6 months and is based on a rolling average of the last 3 years’ fuel prices.
Due to the dramatic and rapid increase in fuel costs during the energy crisis, the fuel costs within the PCDB are now considered inaccurate. Elmhurst Energy, our accreditation body, has successfully raised the issue with the government and BRE resulting in this decision to bring the prices in line with current fuel costs.
What does this mean?
On February 15th, fuel prices for Domestic EPCs (new build and existing properties) were updated. This will impact all EPCs submitted after this date, giving a more accurate representation of the property’s running costs and savings for heating, water heating, and lighting.
The comparative table shows the proposed fuel prices to be used against the current fuel prices, however, these proposed changes will not change the EPC rating factors until an updated model of Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) is released.
It will not have any effect on Part L compliance, whether new or previous regulations, because that is dependent on carbon emissions, not fuel costs.
| Proposed new set (with 3-year rolling average removed) | Current set (in use since 1st Jan 2023) | |||
| Fuel | Standing charge £/year | Unit price p/kWh | Standing charge £/year | Unit price p/kWh |
| Mains gas | 104.00 | 9.74 | 96 | 4.26 |
| Bulk LPG | 59 | 8.69 | 63 | 6.98 |
| Bottled LPG | 14.49 | 11.94 | ||
| Heating oil | 8.99 | 5.12 | ||
| Standard tariff | 185 | 36.85 | 118 | 22.55 |
| 7-hour tariff high rate | 0.00 | 43.39 | 0 | 26.01 |
| 7-hour tariff low rate | 12.14 | 11.38 | ||
| 10-hour tariff high rate | 0 | 44.19 | 0 | 23.22 |
| 10-hour tariff low rate | 19.70 | 12.96 | ||
| 18-hour tariff high rate | 14.00 | 34.36 | 0 | 19.32 |
| 18-hour tariff low rate | 29.31 | 15.95 | ||
| 24-hour heating tariff | 14.65 | 25.10 | 0 | 15.61 |
Should you have any questions regarding this update, and want to clarify how your project may be affected, please get in touch with us.