Everyday Benefits of Living on a Heat Network

Instead of having a traditional gas combi boiler in your home, your heating and hot water can be supplied by a heat network, also known as a community heating scheme or district heating system.

With a heat network, the heat is generated in a central energy centre or plant room, usually managed by your energy supplier. It’s then delivered to your home through insulated pipes. Inside your home, a Heat Interface Unit (HIU), which looks a lot like a combi boiler, controls your heating and hot water.

You’ll still have full control over your heating, just like you would with a traditional boiler. The key difference? There’s no gas boiler in your home, which means fewer safety concerns and a more efficient, modern way to stay warm.

Everyday benefits of living in a home supplied by a heat network

• Your meter readings are taken remotely, so no more estimated bills or manual checks.
• Engineers are available 24/7 if anything goes wrong.
• You don’t need to worry about boiler servicing or replacements as this is covered as part of your standing charge.
• You’re part of a growing number of communities across the UK enjoying a more sustainable way to heat their homes.

What do other people say?

Hear from Maureen Lilywhite, who lives on our Leeds PIPES project, as she describes the difference being connected to a heat network has made to her.

Paying for your heating

Depending on the agreement with your energy supplier, you’ll either receive a regular bill or have a prepayment meter installed in your home.  You can manage everything through the Glass smart app or website, online, by phone, or at a PayPoint terminal. Your tariff is made up of two parts, a standing charge and a unit charge.

• A standing charge: a fixed daily amount that covers maintenance and equipment replacement costs.
• A unit charge: Accurate information from your meter, is read remotely and used to calculate the unit charge. This means you are only charged on the energy you use, so the less you use, the less you pay and no more estimated bills!

Have more questions or need support?

There are multiple ways to get in touch, check out our help and support page,  refer to your welcome pack or call our customer service team on 0808 208 0063. You can also log in to the Glass app to view your usage and manage payments.