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UK Climate Watchdog Warns Slow Electrification is Leading to Higher Household Energy Bills

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Britain's Climate Change Committee has urged the government to accelerate its transition towards clean energy, warning that slow progress in electrification is leaving households exposed to rising energy costs, despite remarkable gains being made in renewable energy deployment and electric vehicle adoption.

In its report published on Wednesday, the committee noted that electrification had slowed, with heat pump installations in existing homes up just 7% in 2025, compared to 56% a year ago.

Even the share of electricity in industrial energy consumption declined slightly, it said, while noting that overall emissions had declined 1.8% in 2025, with record new renewable energy projects being contracted.

The committee warned that the slower pace of electrification is increasing households' exposure to fossil fuel price volatility and could jeopardize future emissions targets unless the government adopts a more ambitious strategy.

It further added that households could save as much as 1,200 British Pounds ($1,582) annually by combining the use of EVs, heat pumps, solar panels, "and a time-of-use tariff," where power costs vary based on the time of day, rising to 1,900 pounds for rural households.

"The transition to clean electricity is not happening fast enough," CCC Chair Nigel Topping said. "Government support to accelerate the shift to electric vehicles and heat pumps is critical, not only to keep our climate targets within reach but to unlock savings."

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