PHAM NEWS | NOVEMBER 2026 22 HeatPumps
How regulatory certainty helps smart heating
Stuart Callow examines why the government has extended the smart heating compliance deadline, giving manufacturers and installers more time to prepare for the regulations and explaining how the decision off ers the industry greater certainty as it moves towards smarter heating.
T
he heating industry has been holding its breath for months, waiting to hear the outcome of a
consultation that includes smart heating technology. In a welcome piece of news for the industry, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has adjusted the mandatory compliance schedule to better suit the unique demands of Electrical Heating Appliances (EHAs) including heat pump and hybrid technology. After at least three years of
developing its Smart Secure Electricity Systems (SSES) policy, DESNZ offi cials have given the industry the early certainty it needed. Rather than working toward an infl exible target date that was pushing development schedules to the limits, mandatory compliance for EHAs, including heat pumps and hybrids, hot water heat pumps, standalone direct electric hot water cylinders, storage heaters and heat batteries, has been moved to 31st October 2028, or two years after fi nal regulations are made, whichever is later. By abandoning previous
infl exible target dates in favour of a guaranteed two-year lead time post-legislation, the government has provided a realistic timeframe for manufacturers and installers to prepare. So, why has this happened, and what does it mean for the industry?
Understanding SSES To understand this decision, it helps to look at the bigger picture. The Smart Secure Electricity Systems (SSES) framework is the government’s master plan to set domestic consumer-led fl exibility standards across the UK. By setting clear requirements for interoperability, cybersecurity, and grid stability across EHAs,
that EHAs incorporating storage such as standalone direct electric hot water cylinders or storage heaters, or heat pumps or hybrids as part of a central heating system, will respond to grid instructions by turning their power demand up or down depending on real-time network conditions. For example, on a sunny or windy day when renewable energy can be in abundance, appliances can be prompted to run earlier or boost heating to absorb that excess power. This helps prevent the need to ‘curtail’ (turn off ) wind turbines, saving money across the network. As well as this, during peak demand periods, EHAs could subtly reduce power consumption to relieve grid strain. Aggregated across thousands of homes, these minor adjustments add up to signifi cant grid fl exibility, reducing the need for costly physical grid reinforcement projects.
Stuart Callow New technologies standards expert at Worcester Bosch
In contrast, particularly heat Additional
development time is needed to account for real-world household complexities
SSES aims to create a fl exible, dynamic energy system. The goal is simple: allow appliances to automatically shift their electricity consumption to periods when renewable energy is plentiful and away from times of constraint, keeping grid reinforcement costs down and lowering energy bills for consumers (at least hopefully).
Tailored timelines A common question in the industry has been why heating received an extension when Electric Vehicle Charge Points (EVCPs) and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) did not. DESNZ recognised that domestic heat is inherently more complex than EV chargers or battery storage, with both already being mature enough to deliver grid fl exibility today.
pumps and hybrid systems form part of a wider, multi- component central heating system infl uenced by hydraulic characteristics, property insulation, and everyday consumer behaviour. The case for smart heat is less mature, and even within smart heat, some appliances have greater fl exibility potential than others, meaning additional development time is needed to account for these real-world household complexities.
Realistic development For manufacturers, standard product development cycles take two to three years from initial concept to market delivery. You can’t engineer and certify products to meet regulations before those regulations are fi nalised in law. The revised timeline does not alter what manufacturers must build, but it gives them the necessary window to properly design, test, and certify smart functionality once requirements are confi rmed. For installers, this breathing
room provides time to build awareness of SSES policy before smart heating products hit the market. Once regulations are fi nalised later this year, manufacturers will roll out targeted communications and training to support installer
knowledge. Heating engineers looking to start exploring SSES can review the government’s consultation updates on the DESNZ SSES Programme site.
Eliminating friction In a decision widely welcomed across the sector, DESNZ has confi rmed that equivalent European Union regulations will be accepted as valid proof of compliance for cybersecurity and energy metering here in the UK. This marks a signifi cant victory for manufacturers, replacing the previously proposed GB-specifi c routes with a far more fl exible, streamlined approach. For manufacturers with
products already certifi ed under EU standards, this removes the burden of duplicate testing and recertifi cation. Recognising EU equivalence keeps compliance workfl ows moving smoothly, protects against test-lab bottlenecks, and speeds up the delivery of compliant products to the market.
In practice The transition to lower-carbon heating is fantastic news for the environment, but connecting millions of new electrical appliances to the grid creates a whole new challenge: managing unprecedented electricity demand. This is where smart heat steps in as a solution. In practice, smart heat, be
Consumer protection While it’s not happening yet, installers can fully reassure customers that participating in grid fl exibility will never mean losing control of their heating. SSES policy is explicitly designed around ‘consumer- led fl exibility,’ where the homeowner remains central and retains ultimate authority over their thermal comfort. Participating in smart tariff s, like EV owners do today, should off er fi nancial rewards without compromising home comfort. Additionally, these smart
standards won’t restrict how installers specify appliances, controls and thermostats today. The smart functionality built into the heating appliance will handle grid fl exibility signals behind the scenes. Installers will continue providing user controls to manage indoor heating and hot water comfort. As the two-year development window progresses, the possibilities for devices capable of managing both comfort control and grid interaction within a single interface will become clearer. Ultimately, DESNZ’s timeline
shift gives the heating sector the certainty it needs to innovate with confi dence. By striking the right balance between grid fl exibility, manufacturing realities, and consumer protections, the SSES framework lays a strong foundation for the future. With realistic milestones now in place, manufacturers and installers can work together to deliver smarter, greener, and more resilient heating and hot water in UK homes.
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