All new heat pumps sold in Britain will need to include smart functionality under new rules designed to help households lower their energy bills.
The regulation, announced by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, will apply to hydronic heat pumps, hybrid systems and other electric heating devices up to 45kW. These appliances must be sold “smart-ready”, meaning they can be set to automatically operate when electricity is cheapest, typically during off-peak hours or periods of high renewable generation.
The smart function will be optional for users, but available on all compliant models. Government analysis suggests that households using a heat pump on a time-of-use tariff could save around £100 a year compared with a standard gas boiler.
The move builds on similar rules already in place for electric vehicle chargers, but officials say the focus on heating is aimed at making low-carbon alternatives more attractive as the UK moves away from fossil-fuel heating systems.
The new standards will also require smart heat pumps to work across all energy suppliers, preventing appliances from being locked to a single tariff or provider. This is intended to increase consumer choice and make switching energy companies easier, encouraging competition and potentially further savings.
No start date for the new regulation has yet been confirmed.
The measures are part of the government’s broader Clean Power Action Plan, which aims to improve flexibility in the energy system by encouraging the use of electricity at times when demand is low. Officials say this could reduce pressure on the grid and limit the need for costly infrastructure upgrades.
New cybersecurity requirements will also be introduced to ensure smart heat pumps and other connected appliances meet baseline protections against data breaches or cyberattacks.
