# The Electricity and Gas (Energy Company Obligation) (Amendment) Order 2025, Article 4: Change to definition of “rural area”


(1) In the 2022 Order, in article 2 for the definition of “rural area” substitute—
““rural area” means—
(a) in respect of an area in England and Wales, an area classified as rural in the “2021 rural-urban classification of output areas” published by the Office for National Statistics in March 2025;
(b) in respect of an area in Scotland, an area classified as rural in the “Scottish Government Urban Renewal Classification 2022” published by the Scottish Government in December 2024;”.
(2) In the 2023 Order for article 30(3) substitute—
“(3) In this article—
“off-gas premises” has the meaning given in article 2(1) of the 2022 Order;
“rural area” means—
(a) in respect of an area in England and Wales, an area classified as rural in the “2021 rural-urban classification of output areas” published by the Office for National Statistics in March 2025;
(b) in respect of an area in Scotland, an area classified as rural in the “Scottish Government Urban Renewal Classification 2022” published by the Scottish Government in December 2024.”.
(3) The amendment made by paragraph (1) applies in relation to a measure where the Administrator is first notified, in writing, of the ECO4 project of which the measure forms part on or after the day on which this Order comes into force.
(4) The amendment made by paragraph (2) applies in relation to a measure where the Administrator is notified in accordance with article 25 of the 2023 Order of the measure on or after the day on which this Order comes into force.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2025/9780348272741/article/4 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/draft-electricity-and-gas-energy-company-obligation-amendment-order-2025/article-4
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.