Risk of involvement in anti-competitive conduct in the UK home heating sector

ClientEarth has issued formal warnings to major UK gas networks, boiler manufacturers, and the Energy and Utilities Alliance (EUA), alleging that they have engaged in anti-competitive conduct. The organization argues that these entities coordinated to mislead consumers about the viability of hydrogen home heating and disparaged heat pumps to maintain the dominance of gas-based heating. Additionally, ClientEarth identifies potential price-fixing agreements regarding 'hydrogen-ready' boilers and synchronized price increases in response to the Clean Heat Market Mechanism (CHMM). The document asserts that these practices distort competition, harm consumers by preventing informed choices, and obstruct the UK's climate targets.

• A group of companies launched the 'Hello Hydrogen' advertising campaign in October 2022 to promote hydrogen as a widespread low-carbon heating alternative, despite expert consensus that it is not viable at scale in the UK.
• The Energy and Utilities Alliance (EUA) is alleged to have coordinated a campaign to disparage heat pumps, including publishing a 2021 report claiming 37-54% of UK gas-powered homes are unsuitable for heat pumps, a claim contradicted by government-funded research.
• The EUA engaged the WPR Agency from 2021 to 2024 to generate negative press about heat pumps, with the agency stating its aim was to 'spark outrage' around the technology.
• In August 2021, the 'Big Four' boiler manufacturers (Ideal, Baxi, Worcester Bosch, and Vaillant) reportedly agreed to price 'hydrogen-ready' boilers at the same up-front cost as natural gas boilers to influence perceptions of hydrogen's viability.
• Between December 8-15, 2023, several companies synchronized price increases for boilers sold from April 2024 by an extra £95-120 per unit, labeling this as a 'CHMM levy' or 'boiler tax' in response to the Clean Heat Market Mechanism.
• ClientEarth argues that these coordinated practices may violate the Chapter I Prohibition of the Competition Act 1998 by preventing, restricting, or distorting competition within the UK.
• The alleged conduct is claimed to cause consumer harm by preventing informed choice, locking users into higher gas costs, and depriving them of the greenhouse gas emission benefits of heat pumps.

APA

ClientEarth (2026). Risk of involvement in anti-competitive conduct in the UK home heating sector. https://www.clientearth.org/media/df0cwkml/clientearth-letters-to-companies-active-in-the-uk-gas-industry-sector-dated-23022026-2.pdf

Chicago

ClientEarth. Risk of involvement in anti-competitive conduct in the UK home heating sector. 2026. https://www.clientearth.org/media/df0cwkml/clientearth-letters-to-companies-active-in-the-uk-gas-industry-sector-dated-23022026-2.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=ClientEarth |title=Risk of involvement in anti-competitive conduct in the UK home heating sector |date=23 February 2026 |url=https://www.clientearth.org/media/df0cwkml/clientearth-letters-to-companies-active-in-the-uk-gas-industry-sector-dated-23022026-2.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{clientearth2026risk, author = {{ClientEarth}}, title = {{Risk of involvement in anti-competitive conduct in the UK home heating sector}}, publisher = {ClientEarth}, year = {2026}, month = feb, url = {https://www.clientearth.org/media/df0cwkml/clientearth-letters-to-companies-active-in-the-uk-gas-industry-sector-dated-23022026-2.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }