The first-ever Chirpy Heat Conference took place on Thursday 27th November 2025, bringing together housing providers, regulators, consumer bodies and sector experts. It was a day full of thought-provoking speakers, lively discussion and plenty of networking.
With just two months until full Ofgem regulations go live on 27 January 2026, the conference explored what providers should expect in the first year of regulation, where efforts should be focused early on, and how to solve the most entrenched challenges in communal and district heating.
Before diving into the day, a reminder that if you’re not already a member, now is the perfect time to join The Chirpy Heat Insight Group – an exclusive community for housing associations and local authorities who want to stay ahead of regulatory change.
Members gain access to:
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Ben Guest, Managing Director at Chirpy Heat, opened the conference in conversation with Dave Newton (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero) and Mike Tisdell (Association for Decentralised Energy).
Together they explored the biggest questions on providers’ minds – from meeting technical standards to the broader regulatory environment shaping the sector.
Their message to delegates was reassuring and simple: “Don’t panic!”
Director Will Routh chaired the next panel featuring:
The discussion centred on what regulation means for consumers and how providers can respond constructively. The key takeaway: focus on consumer outcomes and work transparently with advocacy and regulatory bodies.
In the final morning session, Chirpy Heat’s Director of Client Relationships, Chris D’Arcy, spoke with:
They highlighted the importance of:
Their message was clear: people and data matter.
After lunch, Director Rachael Mills led an interactive workshop guiding delegates through the practical steps of building compliance plans.
Participants shared their experiences on:
The workshop created a collaborative environment where teams could turn regulatory insight into meaningful action.
The final panel of the day – chaired by Louise Shooter (Energy UK) – featured:
Looking beyond January 2026, the panel stressed the importance of collaboration and peer support. As Josh put it, no provider is on this journey alone:
“A whole fleet is sailing toward compliance island – and the real opportunity lies in navigating together.”
Director Nicholas Doyle closed the conference with an inspiring reflection on the vital role housing providers play – not just in heat networks, but in society.
He reminded delegates that social and affordable housing is one of the most impactful sectors in the world, having enabled millions of people to build better, safer, more secure lives. Despite unprecedented pressure – reduced resources, increasing regulation and rising expectations – the sector continues to deliver extraordinary social value.
He painted a powerful picture of what life would look like without the work of housing providers, urging the audience to imagine the It’s a Wonderful Life scenario: a world where families remain homeless, opportunities disappear and people never reach their potential.
His message: your work changes lives.
Nicholas also highlighted the unique importance of heat network teams:
He reminded the room that while recognition may be limited, their impact is immense and enduring:
“You may not get the credit, but you will know – and we will know – that you created warm, affordable homes for hundreds of thousands of households.”
And he closed with gratitude and purpose:
“Our job is simple: to make your job a little bit better and help create simply better heat networks … It is our privilege to work with you. Without you, there would be no one making that difference.”
These closing words captured the spirit of the entire day: optimism, gratitude and a shared determination to shape the future of heat networks with confidence.
If you want to stay ahead of regulatory requirements, strengthen internal capability and make confident, data-driven decisions, join the Chirpy Heat Insight Group.
As a member, you’ll receive:
> Join today and put your organisation on the front foot.
Contact our friendly Client Relationships Team at [email protected]
Let’s build better heat networks – together.
Whether you need immediate help with tackling an urgent issue or you’re ready to start your long-term strategic journey with us, please get in touch.