of the UK Government's Feed in Tariff has significantly reduced the payback time of photovoltaic, and wind/hydro turbine renewable energy capital costs. The most in-depth review of the Merton Rule was undertaken by Bath University in 2008. Monitoring the Merton Rule (and London Plan Policy 5.2) After several years of implementing prescriptive renewable policies like the Merton Rule, UK boroughs realized they had a problem with keeping track of what renewable equipment had been installed – and whether the 10% target was actually being met. In 2013, Ealing Council in London implemented a policy (the Ealing Condition) that requires the automated remote monitoring of renewable/low-carbon energy in order to confirm compliance with their Local and London Plan (5.2) policies. In 2014, Ealing's Automated Energy Monitoring Platform initiative was quoted as an example of Best Practice in the Mayor of London's Sustainable Design & Construction Supplementary Planning Guidance Guidance. Proposed repeal (partial) of the Planning and Energy Act The Government raised the possibility of repealing the Planning and Energy Act as part of the Housing Standards Review in 2013. The rationale was to place all renewable energy requirements under the Building Regulations. Proponents of this approach believed that this would create a level playing field for the house building sectors, whilst opponents believed it would stifle innovation and adversely impact the low-carbon engineering sectors. However, the proposal was finally rejected in 2014 and the Merton Rule remains in place, though the ability of Councils to require additional energy efficiency measures in new buildings was removed. See also Energy policy of the United Kingdom Environmental planning Renewable Energy References External links The Merton Rule (ICAX) The Merton Rule (Merton Council) Merton Rule