{"id":1027,"date":"2025-06-09T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-06-09T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.vecimasupport.com\/?p=1027"},"modified":"2025-06-10T00:13:01","modified_gmt":"2025-06-10T00:13:01","slug":"im-trapped-on-a-pricey-heat-network-and-cant-switch-to-a-cheaper-energy-supplier","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.vecimasupport.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/09\/im-trapped-on-a-pricey-heat-network-and-cant-switch-to-a-cheaper-energy-supplier\/","title":{"rendered":"I\u2019m trapped on a pricey heat network and can\u2019t switch to a cheaper energy supplier"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\t\t\"THE\t<\/div>
Heat networks provide about 3% of nationwide heat consumption\u00a0(Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you’re paying over the odds for energy, the typical advice is to switch provider – but that’s not an option for some.<\/p>\n

Around 500,000 people in the UK are connected to a heat network, a system that supplies multiple properties from a single central source rather than each individual home.<\/p>\n

London-based Alfonso, 39, is one of them. And like more than half<\/a> of his fellow heat network customers<\/a>, he feels his bills are too high<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In this week’s Metro’s Money Problem<\/a>, personal finance journalist and consumer champion Sarah Davidson<\/a> gives him the no-nonsense advice he needs.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\tGot a Money Problem of your own?\t\t\t<\/h2>\n
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Have you been ripped off by a romance scammer? Fighting with family or friends over who should pay for what? Struggling to get by despite a decent income? Or simply want to vent about how you’ve been treated by a major company?<\/p>\n

If you’ve got a money problem you’d like Sarah to look into, fill in this form<\/a> or email sarah.davidson@metro.co.uk<\/strong>, providing as much detail about your situation as possible. <\/p>\n

No issue is too big or small, and all submissions will be treated with the strictest confidence.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

The problem…<\/h2>\n

I moved into a new build rental flat last year and am really struggling with cost of heating and hot water. When we viewed the place, the letting agent mentioned it was part of an energy-efficient communal heat network, which sounded like a good thing. <\/p>\n

However, the reality has been very different. Not only are my bills much higher than in my previous place of around the same size, no-one seems to be able to give me any answers as to why.<\/p>\n

From what I can tell, the amount I pay is down to how much the operator bulk-buys the gas for, but my bills don’t explain how this is decided, why my unit rate is more than Ofgem’s price cap, or whether I’m paying for heating in hallways and other communal areas. It’s so confusing. <\/p>\n

Normally I’d switch to a different provider but this isn’t an option for heat network customers, so I’m effectively locked in. Aside from reducing my consumption even further (I’m already wearing jumpers and timing my showers) or moving somewhere new, it feels like I’m out of options<\/a>. Is there anything else I can do?<\/p>\n

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Comment now<\/title><span class=\"metro-comment-cta__text\">Are you stuck in a heat network too? Share your experiences below!<\/span><\/span><a class=\"metro-comment-cta__button\" href=\"#metro-comments-container\">Comment Now<\/a><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The advice…<\/h2>\n<p>An interesting and important question Alfonso, thank you for raising it.<\/p>\n<p>The problem you\u2019re facing is a serious one and it\u2019s going to start mattering to more of us over the next few years, as in order to slash meet net zero, the government wants one in five British homes to ditch gas boilers and join a heat network by 2050. That’s 6 million households across the country.<\/p>\n<p>For those who haven\u2019t yet come across them, a heat network is a single centralised source of heating, cooling systems and hot water that supplies multiple households \u2013 from a block of flats to an entire town. The theory is that the heat network can buy energy in bulk, thereby keeping costs down for each household.<\/p>\n<div class=\"metro-poll\" id=\"1749466747032-23341372\" data-option1=\"Yes, it's necessary\" data-option2=\"No, it's unnecessary\" data-option3=\"Unsure, depends on circumstances\" data-url=\"https:\/\/api.metro.co.uk\/polls\/v2\/\" data-track-module=\"poll\">\n<h3 class=\"metro-poll__title\">Should heat networks be regulated to prevent overpriced bills?<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"metro-poll__list\">\n<li data-option=\"option1\" class=\"metro-poll__option\">\n<div class=\"metro-poll__score-bar-wrapper\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-poll__content\">\n<div class=\"metro-poll__text\">Yes, it's necessary<\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-poll__score\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-option=\"option2\" class=\"metro-poll__option\">\n<div class=\"metro-poll__score-bar-wrapper\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-poll__content\">\n<div class=\"metro-poll__text\">No, it's unnecessary<\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-poll__score\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-option=\"option3\" class=\"metro-poll__option\">\n<div class=\"metro-poll__score-bar-wrapper\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-poll__content\">\n<div class=\"metro-poll__text\">Unsure, depends on circumstances<\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-poll__score\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"metro-poll__share\">\n<div class=\"metro-poll__share-buttons\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"metro-button share-button facebook\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fmetro.co.uk%2F2025%2F06%2F09%2Fim-trapped-a-pricey-heat-network-cant-switch-a-cheaper-energy-supplier-23341372%2F%3Fito%3Darticle.desktop.share.poll.facebook\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-platform=\"facebook\" data-vars-position=\"poll\" data-share-type=\"facebook\" rel=\"noopener\"><title>Share on Facebook<\/title><span>Share your results<\/span><\/a><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"metro-button share-button twitter\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmetro.co.uk%2F2025%2F06%2F09%2Fim-trapped-a-pricey-heat-network-cant-switch-a-cheaper-energy-supplier-23341372%2F%3Fito%3Darticle.desktop.share.poll.twitter&text=&via=MetroUK\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-platform=\"twitter\" data-vars-position=\"poll\" data-share-type=\"twitter\" rel=\"noopener\"><title>Share on X<\/title><span>Tweet your results<\/span><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>In practice, as you are clearly only too aware, that\u2019s far from the reality.<\/p>\n<p>There are several reasons for this. First, heat networks have been unregulated for years, making (some of) them effectively a wild west. Currently, there are no rules dictating how heat networks set their prices, why or when they can increase prices, or even <em>what<\/em> they charge for, so you may well be paying for heating communal areas without being aware.<\/p>\n<p>Second, as you correctly point out, they don\u2019t have to stick to the Ofgem energy price cap, and can charge whatever they like without explanation. This also means that when wholesale energy prices are very high \u2013 as they have been in recent years \u2013 heat networks will likely pass that extra cost straight onto homeowners and tenants.<\/p>\n<p>And third, not all heat networks are particularly efficient \u2013 they can lose an awful lot of heat in the process of transferring it from the central source to your home, meaning you are probably being lumped with the bill for that wastage on top of what you\u2019re actually using.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"431\" src=\"http:\/\/www.vecimasupport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/GettyImages-1345308035.jpg\" class=\"article-image wp-image-23348008\" alt=\"Close-up of Gas and Electric bills.\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t<\/div><figcaption>There are ways to keep costs down (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Now, your question is what you can do to bring the costs of your heating down. For the moment, the answer is possibly not a huge amount more than you\u2019re doing already. However, if you haven\u2019t yet, try these options:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Contact your landlord explaining the situation<\/strong>. Ask if they will agree to subsidise your heating bills for a period of time \u2013 they might even be prepared to take on some of the cost permanently if it means you stay a tenant.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Tell your heat network you\u2019re struggling<\/strong> \u2013 they might be able to lower your bills temporarily or have some other form of support available. Don\u2019t hold your breath but <em>do<\/em> ask the question.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Check whether your electricity is supplied centrally<\/strong>. Heat networks only provide heating, hot water and air cooling systems, and some buildings may allow individuals to switch electricity provider. Electricity is more expensive than gas, so switching to a cheaper tariff is likely to see you save. Additionally, being with a mainstream electricity supplier will also mean you\u2019re protected by the Energy Price Cap for this part of your bill. Take a look at the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.energysavingtrust.org.uk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Energy Saving Trust<\/a> or use any of the comparison sites to find the best deals on offer.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The usual advice also applies: turn off appliances when not in use instead of leaving on standby; only use the washing machine and dishwasher when you\u2019ve got a full load and run a lower temperature wash; shower rather than bath; use an air fryer or microwave to cook smaller portions instead of the oven.<\/p>\n<p>Consider asking your landlord to have a smart meter installed too, as that will give you an accurate real time view of the energy you\u2019re using and what it\u2019s costing you. This will help you understand where you can make tweaks to keep costs down.<\/p>\n<p>The other thing you can now do is complain \u2013 and with rather more teeth than you would have had just a couple of months ago. The law changed at the start of April, meaning you now have the option to challenge your heat network bills with the Energy Ombudsman.<\/p>\n<div class=\"factbox\" data-ico=\"factbox_article\" data-track-module=\"factbox_article\">\n<h2 class=\"factbox-title\">\n\t\t\t\tComplain about your heat network provider\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<div class=\"factbox-content\">\n<p>If you feel you\u2019ve been unfairly charged and want to complain, you\u2019ll need to follow these steps.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If you haven\u2019t had a response from your heat network after eight weeks or they send you a ‘deadlock letter’, you can take your complaint to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.energyombudsman.org\/how-we-can-help\/heat-network\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the Energy Ombudsman<\/a> which will investigate independently and may be able to force your network to give you some money back depending on what they find. <\/li>\n<li>Get some free help and advice from <a href=\"http:\/\/www.citizensadvice.org.uk\/about-us\/contact-us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Citizens Advice<\/a> if you live in England or Wales and from Consumer Scotland if you\u2019re north of the border.<\/li>\n<li>Write to your landlord (or managing agent) lodging a formal complaint. This should include evidence, perhaps using data from your smart meter to compare your usage and unit costs to some of the better deals on offer from other suppliers. They may be able to take this up with the heat network for you.<\/li>\n<li>If not, lodge your complaint with the heat network directly \u2013 they should have a formal complaints procedure on their website and on your bills.<\/li>\n<li>You could also contact your neighbours to see if they would also be prepared to join a complaint. Some buildings or communities have official residents\u2019 associations or Facebook groups. There can be power in numbers.<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>More rules will start to come in from January next year, when the industry regulator Ofgem takes on responsibility for heat networks. This should mean customers get better service, more reliable energy supplies, fair pricing and bills that are easier to understand.<\/p>\n<p>Right now, that may be cold comfort for you, but it does at least hint at a fairer future for heat network customers. <\/p>\n<p>In the meantime, talk to your landlord. If it\u2019s a choice between them covering \u00a320 a month of your heating bills or losing you as a tenant, I reckon they\u2019ll go with the former.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Sarah Davidson is an award-winning financial editor and head of research at WPB<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Got a money worry or dilemma? Email <\/em><\/strong><a href=\"mailto:sarah.davidson@metro.co.uk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><em>sarah.davidson@metro.co.uk<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"\"><strong>Do you have a story to share?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"\"><strong>Get in touch by emailing <a href=\"mailto:MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk\">MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Heat networks provide about 3% of nationwide heat consumption\u00a0(Picture: Getty Images) If you’re paying over the odds for energy, the typical advice is to switch provider – but that’s not an option for some. Around 500,000 people in the UK are connected to a heat network, a system that supplies multiple properties from a single […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1029,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[12],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.vecimasupport.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1027"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.vecimasupport.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.vecimasupport.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.vecimasupport.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.vecimasupport.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1027"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/www.vecimasupport.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1027\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1032,"href":"http:\/\/www.vecimasupport.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1027\/revisions\/1032"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.vecimasupport.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1029"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.vecimasupport.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1027"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.vecimasupport.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1027"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.vecimasupport.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1027"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}