Overview

In this project, Data Energy was brought in early to provide expertise on the heat network system for a large residential development of 765 apartments. The development was completed in phases, and as of now, 645 apartments are set up and billing.

The Challenges

Early Involvement (2019)
From the initial stages in 2019, Data Energy contributed to the metering strategy by attending meetings with the developers and heat network designers. This proactive engagement ensured that the metering system would be aligned with the overall design and operational goals of the heat network.

Addressing Legalities and Social Housing
Later in the project, Data Energy participated in discussions around the legalities of heat supply for social housing units, specifically focusing on how to recover costs from subtenants. Data Energy provided an example Heat Supply Agreement, ensuring compliance with relevant regulations and providing guidance to protect the interests of all parties involved.

Heat Network Handover Audit and Tariff Modelling
In 2022, we conducted a heat network handover audit and a tariff modelling exercise. This process involved deep collaboration with the developer, M&E contractors, and heat network designers. Several key issues were identified during the audit, and through in-depth meetings, actionable changes were made.

Improved Network Performance
One of the most significant improvements included adjusting the size of the Combined Heat and Power (CHP) engine, a modification that aligned the system with the planning conditions and improved the overall network performance. These changes were expected to:

• • Reduce overall costs for residents

  • Minimise energy waste

Ongoing Support and Energy Conservation
In 2023, Data Energy continued its support by completing a follow-up audit. This time, the focus shifted to Energy Conservation Measures, further refining the heat network for greater efficiency.

Metering Data and Management Coordination
We collaborated with contractors to bring the metering data online, enhancing visibility and management of energy usage. In addition, we held monthly meetings with the developer and managing agent to discuss any ongoing issues, including metering, debt collection, and other operational challenges.

Financial and Tariff Management
Data Energy has been responsible for conducting annual tariff reviews and completing a full financial reconciliation to ensure that the heat network remains cost-effective for both residents and the development.

Debt Collection Service Implementation
Recently, we implemented an enhanced debt collection service, working directly with debt collectors to recover outstanding debts. This system bypasses the managing agent, saving them time and hassle while ensuring timely recovery of unpaid bills.

The Results

• Optimised Heat Network performance: System adjustments have led to reduced energy waste and cost saving for residents.

• Steamlined Debt Collection: An enhanced service has improved debt recovery, minimising the involvement of the managing agent.

• Ongoing Efficiency Improvements: Energy conservation measures continue to improve the system’s efficiency, benefiting all stakeholders.

This comprehensice enagagement highlights the importance of early involvement, thorough audits and continuous support in ensuring the long-term success of heat networks for large residential developments.

The Impact

Our involvement allowed the client and managing agents to focus on their core responsibilities, knowing that the situation was being handled with integrity and attention to detail. By taking full ownership of the supplier communication and overseeing every step of the resolution, we minimised the burden on the client and ensured a smooth, transparent process.

Thanks to our relentless commitment to service and transparency, we resolved the issue without unnecessary stress on the client. In recognition of our efforts, we were proud to receive a 5-star review from the property manager—a testament to our dedication and the trust we build with our clients.

Maintain It champions preventative maintenance, helping operators spot small issues early so they can keep heat networks running efficiently and avoid costly reactive repairs.

He has a simple philosophy.

Don’t wait for something to break.

By the time a pump fails or a resident starts complaining, the warning signs have been there for months.

One of those warning signs is VWART.

Why return temperature matters

Maintain It likes to think of VWART as the network’s health check.

A healthy heat network extracts as much useful heat as possible before the water returns to the plant room.

The cooler that return temperatire is, the more efficiently the system is operating.

When return temperatures begin to rise, it’s often the first sign that something within the network isn’t performing quite as it should.

It doesn’t necessarily identify the exact fault, but it tells Maintain It where to start looking before the issue becomes more serious.

Small problems become big problems

Maintain It knows that major performance issues rarely appear overnight and issues could be varied.

It could be a poorly commissioned HIU, a passing control valve, a fouled plate heat exchanger or a system that’s drifted out of balance.

On their own, each issue may have only a small impact. But across dozens or even hundreds of dwellings, those inefficiencies quickly add up.

High return temperatures can lead to:

• • Increased fuel consumption

  • Higher pump energy costs

  • Reduced network capacity

  • Higher operating costs

For Maintain It, these are early warning signs that the network needs attention.

That’s why VWART is such a valuable maintenance tool.

It highlights that something isn’t right, giving operators the opportunity to investigate before performance deteriorates further.

Planned maintenance pays off

Maintain it has one simple rule: don’t wait until something breaks.

Regular servicing and inspections help keep return temperatures under control and networks operating efficiently.

Preventative maintenance can reduce energy waste, improve equipment lifespan, lower reactive maintenace costs and minimise resident complaints.

Better still, it helps operators spend their maintenace budgets more effectively by focusing attention where it’s needed most.

For Maintain it, VWART isn’t just another performance metric. It’s another tool that helps prevent tomorrow’s problems by identifying today’s opportunities for improvement.

Early intervention is the best prevention

VWART won’t fix a network.

But it helps Maintain It identify where attention is needed first, prompting a proactive approach.

Prevention is always better than reactive repair.

Stay ahead and make sure your maintenance is top level by contacting us here or visit our sister company DMG Delta to learn more about their maintenance services.

Got a Heat Network Challenge? Ask Daniel.

Have a question you’d love to see covered in a future post? Submit it below and Daniel might just take it on.

If you found this useful, we’re just getting started.

Subscribe for future insights from our Technical Project Consultant, Daniel Davies – tackling the real-world challenges of compliance, performance and fair billing.

We’re delighted to announce the successful pilot launch of our partnership with GoCardless, as Data Energy adopts Recurring Pay by Bank to make paying for energy simpler, more reliable and more convenient for our customers.

The partnership was officially announced by GoCardless, with the press release outlining how the technology is helping us simplify billing and improve the payment experience for our clients.

Making payments simpler

Recurring Pay by Bank takes that experience a step further.

Powered by open banking, the technology will allow flexible meter top-ups to be automated, removing the need for customers to remember to make manual payments. This can help reduce the risk of unexpected service interruptions while allowing customers to retain control over their payments.

For Data Energy, automation also means reducing the time our teams spend manually tracking and administering payments, allowing us to focus more of our time on supporting our clients.

Making headlines across the industry

We’ve also been delighted to see the partnership featured across the financial and banking sectors.

The announcement has been covered through publications by:

• • FinTech Finance News

  • Financial IT

  • The Paypers

  • IT Brief

  • Open Banking Expo

This demonstrates the wider interest in how new payment technology can improve the experience of managing and paying for energy.

For us, that recognition is particularly exciting because this isn’t about introducing technology for technology’s sake. It’s about finding practical ways to improve customer experiences and make heat networks simpler to manage.

As the heat network sector continues to evolve, we’ll keep looking for opportunities to combine our industry expertise with innovative technology to deliver better outcomes for our clients and their residents.

Manage It helps operators stay in control by focusing on compliance, performance and the day-to-day management of efficient heat networks.

If there’s one thing Manage It knows, it’s that running a successful heat network isn’t just about keeping the heating on.

It’s about demonstrating performance.

With Ofgem regulation and HNTAS reshaping the industry, operators are increasingly expected to prove their networks are efficient, reliable and delivering value.

Performance is becoming measurable

Manage It understands that expectations for heat network performance are changing.

Not long ago, success was largely judged by one simple question: Does the heating work?

Today, that’s no longer enough.

As Ofgem regulation develops, operators will be required to demonstrate how efficiently their networks are performing using objective measures rather than assumptions.

That’s exactly why Manage It sees VWART becoming such an important indicator.

It provides a consistent way of measuring network performance and identifying where improvements may be needed.

The role of HNTAS

For Manage It, good decisions start with measurable evidence.

The Heat Network Technical Assurance Scheme (HNTAS) is helping move the industry towards measurable standards focused on efficiency, reliability and data quality.

The proposed KPIs cover a range of technical areas, including:

• • Energy efficiency

  • Reliability

  • Data quality

  • Consumer outcomes

  • Network performance

VWART sits comfortably alongside those ambitions because it provides a clear indication of how effectively heat is being transferred around the network.

While it won’t identify every underlying fault, it often provides the first indication that further investigation is required.

Managing for the long term

For Manage It, successful heat network management isn’t about responding to today’s issues, it’s about planning for tomorrow’s performance.

Operators who continuously monitor their networks, use data to guide maintenance decisions and optimise performance over time will be far better placed to demonstrate compliance and deliver value to residents.

As regulation continues to evolve, performance management will become an ongoing process rather than a one-off exercise.

That’s where metrics like VWART become invaluable, helping operators understand not just whether their network is working, but how well it’s working.

By keeping performance under constant review, Manage It helps ensure heat networks remain efficient, compliant and ready for the future.

Management success

The best performing heat networks don’t just deliver heat; they continuously measure and improve performance.

Understanding VWART is only the first step. Guru Pinpoint helps turn performance data into practical insight, so you can make informed decisions, improve efficiency and stay one step ahead of changing regulations.

Well-managed heat networks deliver better outcomes for everyone.

Book a Guru Pinpoint demo here to discover how it can support your heat networks.

Got a Heat Network Challenge? Ask Daniel.

Have a question you’d love to see covered in a future post? Submit it below and Daniel might just take it on.

If you found this useful, we’re just getting started.

Subscribe for future insights from our Technical Project Consultant, Daniel Davies – tackling the real-world challenges of compliance, performance and fair billing.

Bill It focuses on turning accurate network performance into fair, transparent billing, helping build confidence for both operators and residents.

Whenever someone asks Bill It what makes a good heat bill, the answer is never “the invoice”.

It’s everything that happens before the bill is produced.

Because accurate, transparent billing starts with an efficiently operating heat network.

That’s why Bill It pays close attention to VWART, even if residents never hear the term themselves.

The hidden cost of poor performance

Bill It knows that residents rarely think about return temperatures. What they notice are the costs.

When VWART is higher than it should be, it’s often a sign that the heat network is working much harder than necessary.

Pumps run for longer, more fuel is consumed and more heat is lost before it ever reaches residents.

None of this is obvious from inside an apartment.

Heating and hot water may still seem perfectly normal. But behind the scenes, those inefficiencies can gradually increase the cost of operating the network, ultimately affecting the charges residents see.

Fairer costs start behind the scenes

For Bill It, transparent billing starts long before a bill is generated.

A well-performing heat network wastes less energy, operates more efficiently and helps keep avoidable costs under control.

That creates a stronger foundation for fair, transparent charging.

When operators understand their network’s performance through metrics like VWART, they can explain costs with greater confidence and demonstrate that charges reflect the genuine cost of supplying heat, rather than hidden inefficiencies.

That gives operators greater confidence in the way charges are calculated while helping residents better understand the costs they pay.

Regulation is raising expectations

Bill It has noticed a shift across the industry.

Residents increasingly expect more than reliable heating. Operators are expected to provide more than reliable heating. They are also expected to provide clear communication, fair pricing and give confidence that their networks are being operated responsibly.

This is no longer optional. There are consequences for not providing these, so change will have to prove adherence.

With Ofgem now regulating heat networks, operators are expected to demonstrate that they’re delivering value for money as well as reliable service.

VWART helps provide that evidence.

While residents may never see the metric itself, it gives operators another way to show they’re actively monitoring efficiency and continuously looking for opportunities to improve performance.

VWART and residents

VWART may never appear on a resident’s bill.

But the efficiencies it helps uncover can have a lasting impact on the confidence residents have in the charges they receive.

Clear, accurate billing gives residents greater confidence in their charges and helps build long-term trust.

Contact us here to talk about your billing.

Got a Heat Network Challenge? Ask Daniel.

Have a question you’d love to see covered in a future post? Submit it below and Daniel might just take it on.

If you found this useful, we’re just getting started.

Subscribe for future insights from our Technical Project Consultant, Daniel Davies – tackling the real-world challenges of compliance, performance and fair billing.

Over the coming weeks and months, you may notice a few changes to the way we look.

We’re busy making improvements behind the scenes to make it easier for you to find information, manage your account and get the support you need and expect.

So, you’ll start to see a fresh new look across our website, emails and online services.

But while our appearance is changing, one thing isn’t.

You’ll still receive the same friendly support from the same team, with the same commitment to helping you understand your bills and manage your account.

We’ll keep you updated as we roll out these improvements, and we hope you’ll enjoy the new experience.

We look after more than 200 developments

We help look after communal heating and hot water systems in more than 200 developments across the UK, working with building managers to keep things running smoothly.

We serve more than 20,000 residents

From billing and meter readings to answering your questions, we’re here to make managing your energy account as simple and straightforward as possible.

We’re rated “Great” on Trustpilot with 4.5/5 ⭐ 

We’re proud of the service we provide, and we’re always listening to your feedback so we can keep  improving.

Your feedback really matters to us. Every review helps us understand what’s working well and where we can make your experience even better.

Big news! We’ve now launched a brand new Instagram page for you!

It’s your newest home for quick tips, helpful updates, behind the scenes content and some fun.

Follow us for:

• • Billing and account tips

  • Common resident questions

  • Service updates

  • Heat network news and guidance

  • Useful information about managing your energy account

  • and more!

Come and join our community and say hi. We’d love to see you there!

Whether you’ve just moved in or have been with us for years, some questions come up time and time again. Here are three of the ones we hear most often.

How is my tariff calculated?

Wondering what makes up your bill? Your tariff is usually made up of three parts:

• • Unit Rate – what you pay for the energy you use

  • Standing Charge – a daily charge that helps cover the operation of your communal heating system

  • Administration Fee – covers billing, meter reading and customer support services

Your tariff is approved by your Building Owner or Managing Agent and is usually reviewed annually.

👉 Read the full article here.

How do I create a Customer Portal account?

Your Customer Portal gives you everything you need in one place. Once you’re registered, you can:

• • View bills and letters

  • Make payments

  • Track your energy usage

  • Submit meter readings

  • Update account details

You’ll need your PayPoint number and PIN, which can be found on your bill.

👉 Read the registration guide here.

Who’s responsible for what in my building?

Not sure who to contact? You’re not alone.

Different organisations look after different parts of your building.

• • Building Owner / Freeholder – owns the heat network

  • Managing Agent – manages the building day-to-day

  • Data Energy – manages billing and customer support

  • Leaseholder – responsible for utility charges under the lease

👉 Read the full guide here.

The Government is continuing its plans to introduce Ofgem regulation for heat networks.

The aim is to provide residents with protections similar to those already available to gas and electricity customers, including clearer billing information, stronger customer service standards and improved complaint handling processes.

While the regulations are being introduced in stages, we’ll be here to help you understand what they mean every step of the way.

We’ve launched a new series on our website and Instagram, breaking down the new regulations into simple, easy-to-understand guides. We’ll explain what each change means, why it matters and, most importantly, what it means for you as a resident.

👉 Read the first blog here.

If you have a disability, long-term health condition, accessibility needs, or are experiencing circumstances that make managing your energy account more difficult, you may be eligible to join our Priority Services Register.

You may be asked to provide evidence to support your application.

Read our Vulnerable Residents Policy and find out how to register here.

It’s now easier than ever!

At Data Energy, we want you to have simple, straightforward control of your utility account.

That’s why we’ve improved the way you can let us know when a tenant moves in or out.

Instead of sending emails, making calls or completing online forms, you can now do it quickly through your Customer Portal. The new form takes just a minute to complete and helps us update your account faster. Once you’ve submitted the form, our team will update the account and process the change for you. 

To ensure uninterrupted service, please begin using the new form as soon as possible. After 10 August 2026, the previous form will no longer be available.

Don’t have a Customer Portal account yet? 

You can register here.

All you need is your PayPoint number and PIN, from the first page of your bill. Once you’re set up, you’ll be able to manage your account, make payments and view your bills and consumption anytime.

Working behind the scenes for you.

While you might not see it, we’re always looking for new ways to improve your experience as a resident.

That’s why our team attended The Property Institute (TPI) Annual Seminar earlier this summer.

It gave us the chance to talk to Property Managers and learn about the latest industry developments, upcoming heat network regulations and new ideas that can help us deliver an even better service.

Every conversation and insight helps us stay ahead of change, so we can keep you informed, improve the support we offer and make managing your account that little bit easier.

Take a look at our behind-the-scenes video and see what we got up to.

👉 Watch the video.

We’re proud to be rated ‘Excellent’ with **4.5 out of 5 starts on Trustpilot**, with more than 870 reviews from residents and customers across the UK.

Residents regularly tell us they value our clear communication, friendly support and helpful team.

From praising team members like Chloe, Taya, and Sara, to our general service and approach, here are some excerpts from satisfied customers:

⭐ **”Calm, kind and knowledgeable.”**

“I was confused about my account and usage, but everything was explained so clearly that all my confusion disappeared.”

– Yasmin, June 2026

⭐ **”Exceptionally helpful and professional.”**

“The support I received was reassuring, helpful and professional throughout.”

– Paul, June 2026

⭐ **”Quick, clear and reassuring.”**

“My enquiry was followed up promptly, with clear communication and regular updates throughout.”

– Dan, April 2026

👉 Read more reviews on Trustpilot.

You can access your account 24 hours a day through our Customer Portal.

Once registered, you can:

• • View and download bills and letters

  • Track your energy usage

  • Make payments online

  • Submit meter readings

  • Update your account details

  • Check your balance and payment history

If you haven’t registered yet, you’ll find your PayPoint Number and PIN on your latest bill.

👉 Register for the Customer Portal.

Did you know?

During the summer, your heating may be switched off, but your hot water is still working hard.

For many homes on a heat network, hot water becomes the biggest part of their energy use during the warmer months and a dripping hot tap can waste thousands of litres of water over a year!

The good news? A few small changes can help keep your energy use under control:

• • Keep showers shorter where possible

  • Wait until you have a full load before using dishwashers or washing machines

  • Fix dripping hot taps promptly

  • Avoid running hot water unnecessarily when cold water will do

A few small habits can make a real difference by the end of summer.

👉 Visit our Help Centre for more energy-saving advice.

If you  have any questions, please contact us through the Help Centre or give us a call on 01279 810 119.

You can also submit a ticket here.

Stay informed and explore everything from resources and insights to company news, all in one place.

Meter It specialises in turning heat network data into practical insight, helping operators understand what’s happening behind the scenes so they can make informed decisions.

“If you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it”

That’s something Meter It says almost every day. Because while heat networks generate huge amounts of information, not all of it is useful unless you’re collecting the right data the right way.

As heat network regulation evolves, one metric is moving into the spotlight: VWART (Volume Weighted Average Return Temperature).

Although it’s a technical metric, Meter It knows that understanding this metric helps operators make better decisions about network performance.

It’s another piece of evidence that helps reveal how efficiently a heat network is performing.

What is VWART?

Meter It’s job is to turn complex data into practical insight and keep things simple.

VWART measures the temperature of the water returning to the energy centre, taking into account how much water is flowing through the network.

It gives operators a clear picture of how effectively heat is being transferred around the system.

Though it sounds complicated, the principle is straightforward.

As hot water travels around the building, residents extract heat through their HIUs before the cooler water returns to the plant room. The more heat that’s transferred into homes, the cooler the return temperature becomes.

Think of a typical heat network designed to operate at 75°C flow and 45°C return.

For Meter It, a consistently low return temperature is one of the clearest signs that a heat network is operating efficiently.

Why measurement matters

This is where Meter It really comes into his own.

VWART isn’t something you can estimate. It relies on accurate heat meters, reliable measurements and precise readings working together to tell the full story.

Without that information, operators may know the network is supplying heat, but they can’t see how efficiently it’s doing so.

Meter It looks beyond the meter readings themselves.

Reliable data gives you confidence that decisions about maintenance, operation and compliance are based on evidence rather than assumptions.

As regulation develops, having reliable data will become just as important as the systems it’s measuring.

Seeing what others miss

Meter It knows that the biggest problems aren’t always the easiest to spot.

Many operators already know how much electricity the network is consuming and what residents are being billed each month. But those figures only tell part of the story.

What they don’t always see is which HIUs are beginning to underperform, where return temperatures are creeping upwards or how efficiency changes throughout the seasons.

With proper metering and data collection, those hidden issues become much easier to identify.

This means you can investigate earlier, prioritise maintenance more effectively and imrpove performance before residents are affected.

Data and decisions

VWART isn’t just another metric.

It’s evidence.

And like any good evidence, it’s only as reliable as the information behind it.

As Meter It always says:

Better data leads to better decisions.

To learn more about the importance of your data, get in touch here.

Got a Heat Network Challenge? Ask Daniel.

Have a question you’d love to see covered in a future post? Submit it below and Daniel might just take it on.

If you found this useful, we’re just getting started.

Subscribe for future insights from our Technical Project Consultant, Daniel Davies – tackling the real-world challenges of compliance, performance and fair billing.

The Heat Network Industry is Changing.

With Ofgem regulations now underway and the Heat Network Technical Assurance Scheme (HNTAS) on the horizon, there’s an increasing focus on proving that heat networks are not just delivering heat, but delivering it efficiently, reliably and fairly.

Alongside these changes, one technical metric is becoming increasingly important: VWART (Volume Weighted Average Return Temperature).

If you’ve heard the term but aren’t quite sure what it means, you’re not alone.

That’s why we’ve created this four-part blog series, guided by our Heat Network Heroes.

Each hero represents a different area of heat network expertise, helping to explain why VWART matters from their own perspective.

Together, they’ll show how this single metric can support better data, fairer billing, smarter maintenance and stronger network management.

Meet Meter It

Better data leads to better decisions.

Meter It is all about data.

From heat networks to monitoring performance, Meter It explains how accurate information helps operators understand what’s really happening across a heat network.

In the next blog, Meter It explores what VWART is, how it’s measured and why good data is the foundation of better decision making.

Meet Bill It

Clear, accurate billing builds trust.

Bill It focuses on how efficient heat networks support fair and transparent billing.

While residents may never hear the term VWART, they way a network performs can have a real impact on operating costs and confidence in the charges they receive.

Meet Maintain It

Prevention is always better than reactive repair.

Maintain It believes the best way to solve a problem is to prevent it from happening in the first place.

By using VWART as an early indicator of network health, operators can identify small issues before they become costly repairs, helping improve efficiency and reduce disruption.

Meet Manage It

Well-managed heat networks deliver better outcomes for everyone.

Manage It looks at the bigger picture.

As regulation evolves, performance monitoring and compliance are becoming an increasingly important part of the day-to-day heat network management.

Manage It explains how VWART can help operators demonstrate performance, make informed decisions and prepare for the future.

Follow the Series

Over the coming weeks, each of our Heat Network Heroes will take a closer look at VWART from their expertise, breaking down the technical detail into practical insights you can apply to your own heat networks.

Whether you’re responsible for metering, billing, maintenance or overall network management, this series will help you understand why VWART is becoming one of the industry’s most talked-about performance metrics and why it’s a metric worth paying attention to.

Want to know what your VWART is telling you? Get in touch with our technical specialist below.

Got a Heat Network Challenge? Ask Daniel.

Have a question you’d love to see covered in a future post? Submit it below and Daniel might just take it on.

If you found this useful, we’re just getting started.

Subscribe for future insights from our Technical Project Consultant, Daniel Davies – tackling the real-world challenges of compliance, performance and fair billing.