OpenLegislation

Energy Act 2008

2008 c. 32 · Enacted 26 November 2008 · Extends to United Kingdom

Not fully up to date. 1 change made by later legislation has not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 19 June 2025.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
s. 100(4)(ha)insertedThe Boiler Upgrade Scheme (Amendment to the Energy Act 2008 etc.) Regulations 2026 reg. 2
An Act to make provision relating to gas importation and storage; to make provision in relation to electricity generated from renewable sources; to make provision relating to electricity transmission; to make provision about payments to small-scale generators of low-carbon electricity; to make provision about the decommissioning of energy installations and wells; to make provision about the management and disposal of waste produced during the operation of nuclear installations; to make provision relating to petroleum licences; to make provision about third party access to oil and gas infrastructure and modifications of pipelines; to make provision about reports relating to energy matters; to make provision about the duties of the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority; to make provision about payments in respect of the renewable generation of heat; to make provision relating to gas meters and electricity meters and provision relating to electricity safety; to make provision about the security of equipment, software and information relating to nuclear matters; and for connected purposes.[26th November 2008]

Be it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

Contents

  1. Part 1: Gas Importation and Storage
  2. Chapter 1: Gas Importation and Storage Zones
  3. 1Exploitation of areas outside the territorial sea for gas importation and storage
  4. Chapter 2: Importation and storage of combustible gas
  5. Activities requiring a licence
  6. 2Prohibition on unlicensed activities
  7. 3Exception for activities carried on partly on land etc
  8. 3AException for unloading to an installation in certain circumstances
  9. Licensing
  10. 4Licences
  11. 5Applications
  12. 6Terms and conditions
  13. 7Model clauses
  14. Enforcement
  15. 8Offence to carry on unlicensed activities
  16. 9Offences relating to licences
  17. 10OGA's power of direction
  18. 11Failure to comply with a direction under section 10
  19. 12Injunctions restraining breaches of section 2(1)
  20. 13Inspectors
  21. 14Criminal proceedings
  22. Supplementary
  23. 15Interaction with the petroleum licensing requirements
  24. Interpretation
  25. 16Chapter 2: interpretation
  26. Chapter 3: Storage of carbon dioxide
  27. Activities requiring a licence
  28. 17Prohibition on unlicensed activities
  29. Licensing
  30. 18Licences
  31. 19Requirements relating to grant of licences
  32. 20Terms and conditions
  33. 21Content of licences: regulations
  34. Enforcement
  35. 22Offence to carry on unlicensed activities
  36. 23Offences relating to licences
  37. 24Licensing authority's power of direction
  38. 25Failure to comply with a direction under section 24
  39. 26Injunctions restraining breaches of section 17(1)
  40. 27Inspectors
  41. 28Criminal proceedings
  42. Registration
  43. 29Requirement for public register
  44. Information about change in control of licence holder
  45. 29AOGA’s power to require information about change in control of licence holder
  46. Abandonment of offshore infrastructure
  47. 30Abandonment of installations
  48. 30AChange of use relief for certain installations
  49. 30BChange of use relief: carbon storage network pipelines
  50. 30CRelief under sections 30A and 30B: supplementary
  51. Termination of the licence
  52. 31Termination of licence: regulations
  53. Miscellaneous
  54. 32Safety zones
  55. 33Enhanced petroleum recovery: power to make orders
  56. 34Power of Secretary of State etc to transfer functions
  57. 34ACooperation with economic regulator
  58. 34BInformation sharing with economic regulator
  59. Interpretation
  60. 35Chapter 3: interpretation
  61. Chapter 4: General provisions about gas importation and storage
  62. 36Chapters 2 and 3: consequential amendments
  63. Part 2: Electricity from renewable sources
  64. The renewables obligation
  65. 37The renewables obligation
  66. 38Section 37: supplemental provision
  67. 39Existing savings relating to section 32 of the Electricity Act 1989
  68. 40The Northern Ireland renewables obligation
  69. Feed-in tariffs for small-scale generation of electricity
  70. 41Power to amend licence conditions etc: feed-in tariffs
  71. 42Power to amend licence conditions etc: procedure
  72. 43Feed-in tariffs: supplemental
  73. Offshore electricity transmission
  74. 44Offshore electricity transmission
  75. Part 3: Decommissioning of energy installations
  76. Chapter 1: Nuclear sites: decommissioning and clean-up
  77. Funded decommissioning programmes
  78. 45Duty to submit a funded decommissioning programme
  79. 45ACosts incurred in considering proposed programmes
  80. 46Approval of a programme
  81. 47Prohibition on use of site in absence of approved programme
  82. Modification of approved programmes
  83. 48Modification of approved programme
  84. 49Procedure for modifying approved programme
  85. 50Power to disapply section 49
  86. 51Time when modification takes effect
  87. Information
  88. 52Provision of information and documents
  89. 53Power to review operation of programme
  90. Regulations and guidance
  91. 54Nuclear decommissioning: regulations and guidance
  92. 55Funded decommissioning programmes: verification of financial matters
  93. Protection of decommissioning funds
  94. 56Protection of security under approved programme
  95. Enforcement
  96. 57Offence to fail to comply with approved programme
  97. 58Secretary of State's power of direction
  98. 59Offence of further disclosure of information
  99. 60Offence of supplying false information
  100. 61Restriction on prosecutions under this Chapter
  101. Miscellaneous
  102. 62Power to apply this Chapter to other nuclear installations
  103. 63Co-operation with other public bodies
  104. 64Continuity of obligations
  105. 65Amendment of Nuclear Installations Act 1965 Repealed
  106. 66Disposal of hazardous material
  107. General
  108. 67Meaning of “associated”
  109. 67AMeaning of “associated”: supplementary
  110. 68Interpretation
  111. Chapter 2: Offshore renewables installations
  112. 69Decommissioning notices relating to offshore renewable energy installations
  113. 70Security for decommissioning obligations
  114. 71Provision of information to Secretary of State
  115. Chapter 3: Oil and gas installations
  116. 72Persons who may be required to submit abandonment programmes
  117. 73Financial resources etc
  118. 74Protection of abandonment funds from creditors
  119. Chapter 4: Wells
  120. 75Information about decommissioning of wells
  121. Part 4: Provisions relating to oil and gas
  122. Petroleum licences
  123. 76Transfers without the consent of the Secretary of State
  124. 77Model clauses of petroleum licences
  125. Third party access
  126. 78Third party access to infrastructure
  127. 79Modification of pipelines
  128. 80Third party access to oil processing facilities Repealed
  129. 81Directions under section 80: supplemental Repealed
  130. 82Meaning of “associate” Repealed
  131. Part 4A: Works detrimental to navigation
  132. Consent required for carrying out of certain operations
  133. 82ARestriction of works detrimental to navigation
  134. 82BApplications for consent under section 82A
  135. 82CDetermination of applications for consent under section 82A
  136. 82DAuthorised exploration or exploitation operations: consent conditions
  137. Directions by the Secretary of State
  138. 82ESecretary of State's power of direction
  139. Emergency safety requirements
  140. 82FDamage to, or changes in, the works: emergency safety notices
  141. 82GEmergency safety notices: supplementary provisions
  142. 82HFailure to comply with condition: immediate action notice
  143. Enforcement
  144. 82ICarrying out operation without consent etc
  145. 82JOffences relating to consents
  146. 82KFailure to comply with direction under section 82E
  147. 82LFailure to comply with notice under section 82F or 82H
  148. 82MInjunctions restraining breaches of section 82A(1)
  149. 82NInspectors
  150. 82OCriminal proceedings
  151. Supplementary provisions
  152. 82OAFees
  153. 82PPower to extend the application of this Part
  154. 82QInterpretation of this Part
  155. Part 5: Miscellaneous
  156. Duties of Gas and Electricity Markets Authority
  157. 83Duties of the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority
  158. Transmission systems
  159. 84Power to amend licence conditions etc: transmission systems
  160. 85Section 84: procedure
  161. 86Section 84: supplemental
  162. Energy reports
  163. 87Energy reports
  164. Smart meters : modification of licence conditions etc by Secretary of State
  165. 88Power to amend licence conditions etc: smart meters
  166. 89Power to amend licence conditions etc: procedure
  167. 90Smart meters: supplemental
  168. 91Licensing of activities relating to smart meters
  169. Grant of smart meter communication licences
  170. 91AGrant of smart meter communication licences
  171. 91BRegulations under section 91A(1): further provision
  172. 91CPower of Gas and Electricity Markets Authority to amend licence conditions etc
  173. 91DPower under section 91C: procedure
  174. Gas meters
  175. 92Gas meters
  176. 93Section 92: consequential amendments
  177. 94Power to amend licence conditions: gas
  178. Electricity meters
  179. 95Electricity meters
  180. 96Section 95: consequential amendments
  181. 97Power to amend licence conditions: electricity
  182. Connection offer expenses
  183. 98Costs connected with making an offer of connection
  184. Electricity safety Not yet in force
  185. 99Electricity safety Not yet in force
  186. Renewable heat incentives
  187. 100Renewable heat incentives
  188. Nuclear information
  189. 101Security of sensitive nuclear information Repealed
  190. Application of general duties
  191. 102Application of general duties to functions relating to licences
  192. Part 6: General
  193. 103Offences by bodies corporate etc
  194. 104Subordinate legislation
  195. 105Parliamentary control of subordinate legislation
  196. 106Interpretation
  197. 107Minor and consequential amendments
  198. 108Repeals
  199. 109Transitional provision etc
  200. 110Commencement
  201. 111Financial provisions
  202. 112Extent
  203. 113Short title
  204. Schedule 1: Amendments relating to Chapters 2 and 3 of Part 1
  205. Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 (c. 48)
  206. 1Paragraph 1
  207. 2Paragraph 2
  208. 3Paragraph 3
  209. Petroleum Act 1987 (c. 12)
  210. 4Paragraph 4
  211. Gas (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (S.I. 1996/275 (N.I.2))
  212. 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
  213. Petroleum Act 1998 (c. 17)
  214. 6Paragraph 6
  215. 7Paragraph 7
  216. 8Paragraph 8
  217. 9Paragraph 9
  218. 10Paragraph 10
  219. 11Paragraph 11
  220. 12Paragraph 12
  221. Energy Act 2004 (c. 20)
  222. 13Paragraph 13
  223. Schedule 2: Property schemes
  224. Schedule 3: Petroleum licences: amendments to model clauses
  225. Part 1: Petroleum (Production) (Landward Areas) Regulations 1995
  226. 1Paragraph 1
  227. Part 2: Petroleum (Current Model Clauses) Order 1999
  228. 2Paragraph 2
  229. 3Paragraph 3
  230. 4Paragraph 4
  231. 5Paragraph 5
  232. 6Paragraph 6
  233. 7Paragraph 7
  234. 8Paragraph 8
  235. 9Paragraph 9
  236. 10Paragraph 10
  237. 11Paragraph 11
  238. 12Paragraph 12
  239. 13Paragraph 13
  240. 14Paragraph 14
  241. Part 3: Petroleum Licensing (Exploration and Production) (Seaward and Landward Areas) Regulations 2004
  242. 15Paragraph 15
  243. 16Paragraph 16
  244. 17Paragraph 17
  245. 18Paragraph 18
  246. 19Paragraph 19
  247. 20Paragraph 20
  248. Schedule 4: Smart meters: licensable activities
  249. Part 1: Gas
  250. 1Paragraph 1
  251. Part 2: Electricity
  252. 2Paragraph 2
  253. Schedule 5: Minor and consequential amendments
  254. Pipe-lines Act 1962 (c. 58)
  255. 1Paragraph 1
  256. Gas Act 1986 (c. 44)
  257. 2Paragraph 2
  258. Electricity Act 1989 (c. 29)
  259. 3Paragraph 3
  260. 4Paragraph 4
  261. 5Paragraph 5
  262. 6Paragraph 6
  263. Petroleum Act 1998 (c. 17)
  264. 7Paragraph 7
  265. 8Paragraph 8
  266. 9Paragraph 9
  267. 10Paragraph 10
  268. 11Paragraph 11
  269. Utilities Act 2000 (c. 27)
  270. 12Paragraph 12
  271. 13Paragraph 13
  272. 14Paragraph 14
  273. 15Paragraph 15
  274. Energy Act 2004 (c. 20)
  275. 16Paragraph 16
  276. 17Paragraph 17
  277. 18Paragraph 18
  278. 19Paragraph 19
  279. 20Paragraph 20
  280. 21Paragraph 21
  281. Schedule 6: Repeals