Thousands of social housing tenants are facing prolonged delays in accessing heat pumps due to capacity constraints on the electricity grid, according to housing sector reports. Social landlords seeking to install these energy-efficient systems in their properties are encountering significant waiting times for grid connection approvals, limiting the uptake of heat pumps among low-income households.

One housing association in the North of England reported wait times of more than two years for permission to connect new heat pumps to the grid. Together Housing, managing approximately 39,000 homes, has consistently fallen short of its annual installation target of 1,500 heat pumps, achieving no more than 650 installations in any single year.

The delays are attributed to the strain on the electricity grid as demand for connections rises, complicating efforts to transition social housing away from gas heating. The capacity bottleneck affects not only the speed of grid connection approvals but also restricts the number of properties that can be upgraded within set timeframes, adversely impacting energy affordability for vulnerable populations.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero acknowledged the issue and indicated ongoing collaboration with the energy regulator Ofgem to address connection delays. Officials noted efforts to increase accountability for network operators in order to expedite grid connections, aiming to support broader objectives of decarbonising heating and reducing household energy costs.

This situation highlights a critical challenge in the rollout of renewable heating technologies across social housing, as infrastructure limitations impede progress on national clean energy goals and social equity objectives.