John O’Leary
John O’Leary

John O'Leary has worked in electrical for 20 years and specialised in renewables and retrofit for the last five. A qualified Retrofit Assessor, Retrofit Coordinator and Domestic Energy Assessor, he runs a solar, battery and heat pump installation company in the North West.

52% at night: the Economy 7 split Ofgem doesn’t recheck

Oct 27, 2026

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3 min read

52% at night: the Economy 7 split Ofgem doesn’t recheck

Ofgem's own example says the averaged cap charges heat pump owners less than they cost. Responses close 20 November.

John O’Leary
John O’Leary
£134 of a £151 saving: the switching charge is back

Oct 20, 2026

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3 min read

£134 of a £151 saving: the switching charge is back

Fixing this winter? A new fix with your current supplier avoids the charge. Ofgem decides in mid-November.

John O’Leary
John O’Leary
Heating oil up 90%: when a heat pump now wins

Oct 13, 2026

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3 min read

Heating oil up 90%: when a heat pump now wins

Five break-even prices, from 91p for a typical install to 49p for the best, plus the one question to ask any installer.

John O’Leary
John O’Leary
86% of new-build solar is up to 4 kW: the rule behind it

Oct 6, 2026

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2 min read

86% of new-build solar is up to 4 kW: the rule behind it

Developers can fit two panels where eight would go. Buying off-plan? Ask three questions before the roof goes on.

John O’Leary
John O’Leary
£6.88m in court. GB Energy just hired Ripple's founder

Sep 29, 2026

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3 min read

£6.88m in court. GB Energy just hired Ripple's founder

Ripple's members paid for a wind farm that went to someone else. The question to ask before buying any energy share.

John O’Leary
John O’Leary
£293 apart: nobody has set your January bill yet

Sep 22, 2026

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3 min read

£293 apart: nobody has set your January bill yet

UK gas jumped 3.9% on Friday. If you're weighing a fixed tariff, EDF's own break-even is £1,997.

John O’Leary
John O’Leary
30% smaller heat pump, same house

Sep 15, 2026

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3 min read

30% smaller heat pump, same house

The old sizing method guessed how leaky your house is. It guessed high, and you paid for the difference.

John O’Leary
John O’Leary
The bigger inverter isn't the better one

Sep 8, 2026

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4 min read

The bigger inverter isn't the better one

Same kit works on any tariff. Sized to your house, not this month's cheap rate.

John O’Leary
John O’Leary
Refundable deposits to clear the queue. The catch: if you're waiting on a connection, nothing's moved yet.

Aug 4, 2026

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3 min read

Refundable deposits to clear the queue. The catch: if you're waiting on a connection, nothing's moved yet.

John O’Leary
John O’Leary
VAT on electricity hits £0. Your bill won't feel it.

Jul 28, 2026

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3 min read

VAT on electricity hits £0. Your bill won't feel it.

A £45 saving the October cap is set to swallow, a grid under investigation, and a plug-in solar catch.

John O’Leary
John O’Leary
60–70% grid reduction. One battery, one building.

Jun 30, 2026

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3 min read

60–70% grid reduction. One battery, one building.

A Cardiff block of flats cut grid use by 60–70%. The regulatory framework to do it at scale closes for comment in 32 days.

John O’Leary
John O’Leary
Grid transmission costs up 65%. It was in the small print.

Jun 16, 2026

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4 min read

Grid transmission costs up 65%. It was in the small print.

The transmission element of your electricity standing charge rose 9p a day in April. Wales made solar the law the same month. Both in this issue.

John O’Leary
John O’Leary
£31bn into UK grid: what it means for your assets

Jun 9, 2026

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4 min read

£31bn into UK grid: what it means for your assets

Four AI Growth Zones, 500MW each, grid infrastructure ringfenced. The asset premium lands before the announcement.

John O’Leary
John O’Leary
July price cap: gas up 24%, electricity up 5%.

Jun 1, 2026

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3 min read

July price cap: gas up 24%, electricity up 5%.

Ofgem says your bill moved 1.3%. If you heat on gas, that figure isn't yours.

John O’Leary
John O’Leary