Ofgem heat network registration might sound like a simple compliance exercise, but as many housing providers are discovering, the reality is far more complex.

In this episode of Heat Networks with Chirpy Heat, we’re joined by Sam Lawrenson to unpack what’s really involved in getting registration right. Drawing on hands-on experience supporting housing associations and local authorities, Sam shares the insights you won’t find in official guidance, covering the organisational, governance, and data challenges that can slow progress or create risk.

Whether you’re just starting to think about registration or already gathering your data, this episode will help you understand where the real effort lies—and how to avoid common pitfalls.

🔍 What you’ll learn

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction

01:15 – What is Ofgem heat network registration?

03:30 – Why registration is more complex than it seems

05:00 – Step 1: Identifying your regulatory contact

07:00 – Step 2 and 3: Organisation details and SMRI declaration

11:30 – Step 4: Data collection and validation

14:00 – Step 5: Deadlines and timelines

15:30 – How Chirpy Heat can help

21:30 – Common challenges and misconceptions

27:00 – Final thoughts and key takeaways

🔗 Explore further

Find more information about the episode in our latest blog.

📩 Need support?

Chirpy Heat supports housing providers at every stage of Ofgem registration, from early planning through to submission.

👉 Register your interest in our Ofgem registration service to find out how we can help you get it right, first time.

Or email: [email protected]

In this episode of Heat Networks with Chirpy Heat, we’re joined by Charlotte Witso, Head of Heat Networks Policy at Citizens Advice, to explore one of the most important and evolving areas in the sector: fair pricing.

With new consumer protection regulations now in force, this conversation is packed with practical insight for housing providers looking to ensure their tariffs, billing and communications are transparent, compliant and customer-focused.

💡 What we cover in this episode

🤝 Working with Citizens Advice

Charlotte highlights the critical role Citizens Advice plays as the statutory consumer advocate and encourages housing providers to actively signpost residents:

“We encourage all heat network providers to signpost to our services… it’s really important to have that impartial advice.”

How to signpost:

📞 Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline: 0808 223 1133

🌐 Website: http://citizensadvice.org.uk/heat-networks

⚖️ Why fair pricing matters

As discussed in the episode, customers don’t need to understand every technical detail—they simply want to know:

“What am I paying, and is it fair?”

Failing to answer that clearly can lead to confusion, complaints and mistrust. Fair pricing, supported by clear communication, is key to building confidence in heat networks, especially as the sector grows.

🔍Correction note

In this episode government targets for heat networks are discussed: The government’s aim is for heat provided by heat networks to increase from 3% to 20% by 2050. This will be a transition from 500,000 HN customers to 5 million.

📖 Related reading

👉 Read our blog: Unlocking Fair Pricing for Heat Networks

If you’d like support reviewing your tariffs, improving transparency or preparing for regulation, get in touch:

In this episode of Heat Networks with Chirpy Heat, we are joined by Millie Hurault, Client Relationships Consultant at Chirpy Heat, to explore how housing providers can get their heat network priorities right for the 2026–27 financial year.

The conversation builds on Chirpy Heat’s recent free webinar on the same topic, where housing providers shared their experiences, concerns, and practical questions as heat network regulation continues to evolve.

With Ofgem now formally regulating heat networks, the HNTAS technical standards consultation recently closed, and further consumer protection requirements expected soon, the sector is firmly in its preparation year. As Millie explains, January will come around far quicker than many expect, making now the time to get organised — not to scramble later.

🔍 Key themes discussed in this episode

This episode focuses on the shift from seeing compliance as a single deadline to understanding it as ongoing business change.

Millie shares insight into how day‑to‑day operations will evolve, particularly around:

From October, housing providers will need to report around 40–50 new data metrics via the Ofgem portal, many of which have never been collected or reported in this way before.

Rather than tackling everything at once, Millie emphasises the importance of understanding your starting point and breaking the task into manageable sections.

✅ Millie’s key tips for 2026–27 priorities

1️⃣ Know your baseline

Understand your current compliance position and heat network portfolio:

2️⃣ Get your data organised early

Identify:

3️⃣ Break compliance into themes

Approach requirements separately by theme, such as:

Focus on getting the basics right first, then build towards best practice.

4️⃣ Prioritise clear customer communication

5️⃣ Prepare early for registration

Take time to understand Ofgem’s registration requirements, including:

🛠️ Ofgem registration support from Chirpy Heat

If all of this feels overwhelming, you’re not alone — and support is available.

Chirpy Heat offers a tailored, end‑to‑end Ofgem Registration Service to help housing providers prepare with confidence, including:

Whether you need help with training, filling data gaps, or managing submission itself, Chirpy Heat can support you every step of the way.

👉 Read more about the Ofgem Registration Service

If you have any immediate questions about the Ofgem Registration Service or additional details to share, feel free to email [email protected] or call 0203 8272 064.

In this episode, Chirpy Heat Director and Co-Founder, Will Routh, talks about Chirpy Heat’s B Corp journey – and the opportunity it has provided for a sharpened focus on internal and external areas of positive impact. Will also talks about his experience running a portfolio of heat networks and in the social housing sector and how that fed into the creation of Chirpy Heat.

In this episode, we’re joined by Jon Lenton, Regulatory Director at the Energy Ombudsman, to discuss the new dispute resolution regime for heat networks in social housing, which started on 1st April 2025.

We explore what has changed for housing providers, why the changes were introduced, and the practical steps operators need to take to stay compliant. Jon shares insights on registering with the Energy Ombudsman, the benefits for both consumers and heat networks, and common challenges providers face in meeting new complaints, billing, and consumer protection requirements.

Ben Guest, the new managing director of Chirpy Heat, discusses his extensive background in the energy sector and his first 10 weeks at Chirpy Heat. He reflects on seeing businesses through stages of rapid growth and the housing sector's challenges navigating new regulations. Ben also chats about what he likes to do outside of work and a very unique Christmas tradition. 

In this conversation with Chirpy Heat Director of Client Relationships, Chris D'Arcy, we discuss how optimising a heat network could save housing providers significant sums, the kinds of issues bringing efficiency down and the benefits of bringing efficiency up.