Coming up on this week's news, rising voltages are beginning to cause disruption across the UK network. The MCS is insisting that installers sign a new contract directly with the organisation, and demand for plug-in solar soars, with major outlets running out of stock.

Welcome to Electrical News Weekly. Whether you're listening in the van, on site, or down at the wholesale counter, I'm Joe Robinson, and I've been through the best of the electrical industry news to save you the trouble.

And if you think you've spotted the two words that I've been challenged to slip into this week's show, comment with them below for the chance to win this exclusive cap branded with friends of the show, Quickwire and Chumptools. And while you're there, click the link to our show notes to check out what our sponsors offer.

And stay tuned to the end of the show to catch up on our regular features, including the weather from Fox ESS, the lighter side of the news with Quickwire, and the return of Learner of the Week in association with Dovetail and Slate.

Britain's electricity network has a voltage problem, and it's already starting to knock solar inverters and EV chargers offline.

Data from smart charger maker Ohme suggests more than one in ten UK consumers are experiencing excessive voltage spikes. And if the trend continues, that figure could rise to 7.5 million households by 2030.

The problem is being driven by a changing grid. The spectacular rise in rooftop solar is pushing power back into local networks, while EV chargers, batteries and other new loads are changing how electricity flows through the system.

When voltage rises too high, protective systems can kick in. A lot of kit shuts down in self-protection mode once it detects voltages approaching the upper limit of 253 volts. That means EV chargers may stop charging and solar inverters no longer export surplus electricity.

But the industry is now looking at changes to the rules, including proposals to give network operators more flexibility to run supplies at lower voltages.

And this isn't just a future headache. Ofgem has acknowledged that high voltages are increasingly causing devices to disconnect. And DNOs complain that they're operating with voltage at the top end of its legal limits, where there's little headroom to cope with the rise.

Last year, grid chiefs proposed dropping the lower legal limit of mains voltage to just 207 volts, bringing the UK in line with European standards. They say this would enable them to reduce average grid voltages by around 2%, or 5 volts, freeing up capacity for more renewable generation.

For now, however, the message to the trade is clear. If a charger or inverter keeps tripping, don't automatically blame the equipment or the installation. Supply voltage could be the miscreant.

I'll post a link to the full deep dive in the show notes.

And if you're serious about doing deep dives when you carry out an EICR, but hate spending Friday nights generating paperwork, then check out TestFast. It's built to give thorough, comprehensive electrical installation condition reports without spending hours at the laptop.

From clever features like automated schedules from scans of consumer units to scribbled notes converted into perfectly coded BS 7671 defects, it's designed to give you your evenings back.

Installers certified with the Microgeneration Certification Scheme are facing tougher contractual obligations under a new agreement that gives the certification scheme more direct control over complaints, compliance and consumer protection.

Under the old arrangement, installers held a sub-licence through their certification body, but now you'll have to sign a direct contract with the organisation.

One of the biggest changes is a six-year liability for putting right faulty or non-compliant installations. Remediation costs are capped at 125% of the original installation cost.

Contractors must also provide an approved financial protection product for domestic installations, giving consumers greater protection if work goes wrong or the installer goes out of business.

The agreement also gives MCS a more direct role in handling complaints, including access to free alternative dispute resolution. Any resulting decision is binding on the member.

There are tougher monitoring and reporting requirements too. Members must cooperate with audits and provide access to relevant records, staff and installations.

The agreement sets a 30-day deadline after commissioning for creating an MCS certificate and specifies minimum public liability insurance of £2 million.

MCS says the wider scheme changes are designed to improve consumer confidence and make assessments more risk-based, with compliant businesses potentially facing fewer inspections.

The result of the changes is that being MCS-certified now comes with more responsibilities and potentially greater financial exposure if installations go wrong. I'll put a link to the details in the show notes.

Demand for plug-in solar panels has soared in the UK since the technology got the green light in August.

Energy giant Octopus says it was forced to restock twice in the first month as homeowners went crazy for the kit. Company spokeswoman Rebecca Dibb-Simkin says that it's flown off the shelves.

City Plumbing also ran out of stock but has since replenished and now has six variants for sale. Nine out of ten buyers are opting for a double-panel setup.

The charity Electrical Safety First is, however, urging householders to consider the implications of buying the kit. It's just published a guidance document which urges anyone unsure about the suitability of their electrical installation to get advice from an NICEIC-registered electrician before purchase.

I've put a link to that document in the show notes.

Eltako has introduced a clever bit of kit which allows you to monitor the energy consumption of a host of electricity meters.

The DIN-rail-mounted gateway lets you talk to 16 compatible Eltako Modbus meters. The ZGW16WL-IP connects to a network using either Wi-Fi or Ethernet cables.

It transfers meter data in a range of formats, including MQTT, REST API and Modbus TCP. This allows readings to be integrated into building management, energy monitoring and other connected systems.

The device stores historical data locally for up to three years, allowing you to review consumption even when an internet connection is unavailable. Current readings and historical data can be viewed through Eltako's Connect app or on the web.

The gateway measures just 36mm wide and 58mm deep, so it will occupy two modules on a standard DIN rail. It operates from a wide AC supply and has a standby power consumption of just 0.9 watts.

While on switchgear, I need to let you know that we've just dropped a special CPD video course on consumer units.

This ultimate guide to the subject explores their development from open fuse boards and rewireable fuses to modern all-RCBO assemblies, RCDs, SPDs and AFDDs.

To get your certificate, watch the video and complete the assessment. The link, as ever, is in the show notes.

Now, how about this for a bright idea? It's the Paul Russells Lamp of the Week.

This week, we've got a chunky globe lamp from the Prestige range. It's got a super-warm colour appearance at 1,800 Kelvin and is fully dimmable.

The LED filament is an eye-catching helix, and the base is E27.

As you've gathered by now, this is a statement lamp and one that we reckon would look great in hospitality projects like cafés, pubs and restaurants. You can see the full range of lamps at paulrussells.com.

And now it's time to celebrate the next generation of electricians with our Learner of the Week, proudly sponsored by Dovetail and Slate.

Fancy a new challenge and want to help the future of the industry? Why not make the jump to teaching them? Dovetail and Slate are ready and waiting to help you make the leap to a better pension, generous holidays and the chance to inspire the next generation.

This week's eFIXX Learner of the Week goes to Kieran Downey from Derby College.

Kieran has already completed his Level 2 electrical installation qualification and is now studying towards a T Level in building services engineering.

But what really caught our attention was his enthusiasm for getting stuck into the practical side of the trade. From consumer unit replacements and lighting installations to cable management and electrical testing, Kieran has been documenting his work experience on LinkedIn, sharing what he's learned along the way.

And it's not just the range of work that's impressive. It's his attention to detail, pride in doing a neat job and determination to keep improving.

He's also actively looking for an electrical apprenticeship, and with that kind of attitude, we reckon he'll be a real asset to any employer.

Kieran, congratulations. You are the eFIXX Learner of the Week in association with Dovetail and Slate.

And now to the lighter side of the electrical news. Yes, it's time for a tea break with Quickwire and its range of incredibly rapid electrical connectors.

Most electricians are happy to work at height with a decent ladder and the right safety kit, but Matthew Clark took a different approach.

The 24-year-old electrician from Victoria, Canada, has been awarded the Carnegie Hero Medal after scaling a near-vertical cliff to rescue an injured hang-glider pilot.

The drama unfolded when 75-year-old Stephen Parson crashed into a tree, leaving him suspended in his harness and badly injured. Clark, who had been paragliding nearby, heard the emergency call on his radio and went to help.

With no climbing equipment, he scrambled up a narrow, slippery rock chimney, using his back against one wall and his feet against the other to haul himself upwards.

Once he reached Parson, Clark cut him free of his harness, treated his injuries and stayed with him until a rescue helicopter arrived.

Now, the Canadian electrician has received one of North America's highest civilian honours for bravery and intrepidity.

So next time someone asks you to tackle a tricky installation, remember, at least you're unlikely to have to free-climb a cliff to get to the job.

That's the lighter side of the news in our tea break with Quickwire and their range of incredibly rapid electrical connectors. Click the link in the show notes to check them out for yourself.

Now, just before we get to your favourite bit of the show where I reveal last week's challenge words and winners, we want to thank our premium partners. We couldn't make the news without you.

First up, one of our favourite new innovations here at eFIXX, especially now it's in sexy new packaging for rock-solid fixings in flimsier materials. Don't just fix it when you can ChumpFix it.

And the best thing to come out of Yorkshire since stainless steel, the home of EV Ultra and other groundbreaking and quality products, it's Doncaster Cables. Click the links in the show notes to find out more about these great brands.

If you think you know the words I've smuggled into this week's show, pop your guess into the comments. We'll take all the correct guesses and select one at random to be the winner of an eFIXX goodie bag prize.

Answers submitted after midnight on the Wednesday after release will not be entered into the draw. And as this episode has been recorded a week early to allow me a much-needed breather, we'll actually reveal this week's winners in next Monday's episode.

And now it's time for this week's weather from Joe3PO and Fox ESS.

It's that time of the year when, as a nation, we remember a botched attempt to blow up Parliament by launching fireworks into the sky, building enormous fires and burning an effigy of one of the men involved. That weird? Probably.

But will the weather be staging its own plot against Bonfire Night? Well, we're going to come to that shortly. But before we light the fuse, a quick shout-out to this week's Fox ESS premier partner, Solar Sparky Electrical.

Based in London and serving the capital and the Home Counties, this family-run team designs and installs solar PV and battery storage systems for homes and businesses.

And as a certified Fox ESS Elite Installer, they're going to help customers generate, store and make better use of their own electricity.

And for this week's solar barometer, we're staying in London and heading to Westminster. There's certainly no shortage of valuable roof space here, including roofs that could potentially benefit from a southerly aspect.

But when we look from above, is the home of the UK government really capitalising on that solar potential? If the government wants the rest of the country to embrace clean energy, should it be leading from the roof down?

Right, the weather. And on to Tuesday. High pressure is firmly in charge.

Northern and eastern Scotland could catch an early shower, but Inverness should brighten up through the morning.

From Belfast, Manchester, down through Cardiff, Birmingham, Norwich and London, it's a largely dry day with sunny intervals. The cloud will interrupt generation at times, but there should be some useful windows for those panels to get working.

Wednesday follows a similar theme. There may be the odd coastal shower, but most places stay dry with further sunny spells.

Wales and southern England will be rather breezy, although not enough to disturb the panels unless they've been installed with sticky tape.

Thursday is, of course, Bonfire Night, and the forecast is looking surprisingly cooperative.

London, Norwich, Birmingham, Cardiff, Manchester and Belfast should all see a dry mixture of sunshine and cloud during the day. Edinburgh and eastern Scotland look greyer, with a small chance of a light shower.

But by the time the fireworks begin, temperatures will generally be around eight to ten degrees, feeling a little colder in the breeze.

So are we set for a good Bonfire Night? Well, by early November standards, yes. Most displays should stay dry. Visibility should be reasonable away from any stubborn fog, and there's no sign of a widespread washout.

Friday keeps that settled weather, although there is likely to be more cloud across Scotland, Northern Ireland, northern England, Wales and the Midlands. East Anglia and the southeast have the best chance of brighter breaks and useful solar generation.

Into Saturday, cloud becomes more widespread. Most places remain dry, but there could be a little drizzle in the northwest or southwest, along with patches of morning fog. Solar output might be rather modest where that cloud refuses to move.

And Sunday looks similarly quiet and mostly dry. There may be occasional brighter spells, but cloud and fog could once again make generation slow to get going.

Now, any movement towards wetter weather from the Atlantic still looks uncertain at this stage. So the good news is that the plot to ruin Bonfire Night appears to have failed.

And that's your weather.

Thanks for that update, Joe. And thank you for listening to this episode of Electrical News Weekly.

Until next time, have a great week. Stay safe out there. And remember, there's no such thing as a torque-calibrated arm.