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Energy Act 2008 in Scotland

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

Up to date with all changes known to legislation.gov.uk, revised to 22 October 2026.

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. 45Duty to submit a funded decommissioning programme
  78. 47Prohibition on use of site in absence of approved programme
  79. 48Modification of approved programme
  80. 51Time when modification takes effect
  81. 52Provision of information and documents
  82. 53Power to review operation of programme
  83. 55Funded decommissioning programmes: verification of financial matters
  84. 56Protection of security under approved programme
  85. 57Offence to fail to comply with approved programme
  86. 58Secretary of State's power of direction
  87. 60Offence of supplying false information
  88. 61Restriction on prosecutions under this Chapter
  89. Miscellaneous
  90. 65Amendment of Nuclear Installations Act 1965 Repealed
  91. 67Meaning of “associated”
  92. 67AMeaning of “associated”: supplementary
  93. 68Interpretation
  94. Chapter 2: Offshore renewables installations
  95. 69Decommissioning notices relating to offshore renewable energy installations
  96. 70Security for decommissioning obligations
  97. 71Provision of information to Secretary of State
  98. Chapter 3: Oil and gas installations
  99. 72Persons who may be required to submit abandonment programmes
  100. 73Financial resources etc
  101. 74Protection of abandonment funds from creditors
  102. Chapter 4: Wells
  103. 75Information about decommissioning of wells
  104. Part 4: Provisions relating to oil and gas
  105. Petroleum licences
  106. 76Transfers without the consent of the Secretary of State
  107. 77Model clauses of petroleum licences
  108. Third party access
  109. 78Third party access to infrastructure
  110. 79Modification of pipelines
  111. 80Third party access to oil processing facilities Repealed
  112. 81Directions under section 80: supplemental Repealed
  113. 82Meaning of “associate” Repealed
  114. Part 4A: Works detrimental to navigation
  115. Consent required for carrying out of certain operations
  116. 82ARestriction of works detrimental to navigation
  117. 82BApplications for consent under section 82A
  118. 82CDetermination of applications for consent under section 82A
  119. 82DAuthorised exploration or exploitation operations: consent conditions
  120. Directions by the Secretary of State
  121. 82ESecretary of State's power of direction
  122. Emergency safety requirements
  123. 82FDamage to, or changes in, the works: emergency safety notices
  124. 82GEmergency safety notices: supplementary provisions
  125. 82HFailure to comply with condition: immediate action notice
  126. Enforcement
  127. 82ICarrying out operation without consent etc
  128. 82JOffences relating to consents
  129. 82KFailure to comply with direction under section 82E
  130. 82LFailure to comply with notice under section 82F or 82H
  131. 82MInjunctions restraining breaches of section 82A(1)
  132. 82NInspectors
  133. 82OCriminal proceedings
  134. Supplementary provisions
  135. 82OAFees
  136. 82PPower to extend the application of this Part
  137. 82QInterpretation of this Part
  138. Part 5: Miscellaneous
  139. Duties of Gas and Electricity Markets Authority
  140. 83Duties of the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority
  141. Transmission systems
  142. 84Power to amend licence conditions etc: transmission systems
  143. 85Section 84: procedure
  144. 86Section 84: supplemental
  145. Energy reports
  146. 87Energy reports
  147. Smart meters : modification of licence conditions etc by Secretary of State
  148. 88Power to amend licence conditions etc: smart meters
  149. 89Power to amend licence conditions etc: procedure
  150. 90Smart meters: supplemental
  151. 91Licensing of activities relating to smart meters
  152. Grant of smart meter communication licences
  153. 91AGrant of smart meter communication licences
  154. 91BRegulations under section 91A(1): further provision
  155. 91CPower of Gas and Electricity Markets Authority to amend licence conditions etc
  156. 91DPower under section 91C: procedure
  157. Gas meters
  158. 92Gas meters
  159. 93Section 92: consequential amendments
  160. 94Power to amend licence conditions: gas
  161. Electricity meters
  162. 95Electricity meters
  163. 96Section 95: consequential amendments
  164. 97Power to amend licence conditions: electricity
  165. Connection offer expenses
  166. 98Costs connected with making an offer of connection
  167. Electricity safety Not yet in force
  168. 99Electricity safety Not yet in force
  169. Renewable heat incentives
  170. 100Renewable heat incentives
  171. Nuclear information
  172. 101Security of sensitive nuclear information Repealed
  173. Application of general duties
  174. 102Application of general duties to functions relating to licences
  175. Part 6: General
  176. 103Offences by bodies corporate etc
  177. 104Subordinate legislation
  178. 105Parliamentary control of subordinate legislation
  179. 106Interpretation
  180. 107Minor and consequential amendments
  181. 108Repeals
  182. 109Transitional provision etc
  183. 110Commencement
  184. 111Financial provisions
  185. 112Extent
  186. 113Short title
  187. Schedule 1: Amendments relating to Chapters 2 and 3 of Part 1
  188. Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 (c. 48)
  189. 1Paragraph 1
  190. 2Paragraph 2
  191. 3Paragraph 3
  192. Petroleum Act 1987 (c. 12)
  193. 4Paragraph 4
  194. Gas (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (S.I. 1996/275 (N.I.2))
  195. 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
  196. Petroleum Act 1998 (c. 17)
  197. 6Paragraph 6
  198. 7Paragraph 7
  199. 8Paragraph 8
  200. 9Paragraph 9
  201. 10Paragraph 10
  202. 11Paragraph 11
  203. 12Paragraph 12
  204. Energy Act 2004 (c. 20)
  205. 13Paragraph 13
  206. Schedule 2Property schemes
  207. Schedule 3: Petroleum licences: amendments to model clauses
  208. Part 1: Petroleum (Production) (Landward Areas) Regulations 1995
  209. 1Paragraph 1
  210. Part 2: Petroleum (Current Model Clauses) Order 1999
  211. 2Paragraph 2
  212. 3Paragraph 3
  213. 4Paragraph 4
  214. 5Paragraph 5
  215. 6Paragraph 6
  216. 7Paragraph 7
  217. 8Paragraph 8
  218. 9Paragraph 9
  219. 10Paragraph 10
  220. 11Paragraph 11
  221. 12Paragraph 12
  222. 13Paragraph 13
  223. 14Paragraph 14
  224. Part 3: Petroleum Licensing (Exploration and Production) (Seaward and Landward Areas) Regulations 2004
  225. 15Paragraph 15
  226. 16Paragraph 16
  227. 17Paragraph 17
  228. 18Paragraph 18
  229. 19Paragraph 19
  230. 20Paragraph 20
  231. Schedule 4: Smart meters: licensable activities
  232. Part 1: Gas
  233. 1Paragraph 1
  234. Part 2: Electricity
  235. 2Paragraph 2
  236. Schedule 5: Minor and consequential amendments
  237. Pipe-lines Act 1962 (c. 58)
  238. 1Paragraph 1
  239. Gas Act 1986 (c. 44)
  240. 2Paragraph 2
  241. Electricity Act 1989 (c. 29)
  242. 3Paragraph 3
  243. 4Paragraph 4
  244. 5Paragraph 5
  245. 6Paragraph 6
  246. Petroleum Act 1998 (c. 17)
  247. 7Paragraph 7
  248. 8Paragraph 8
  249. 9Paragraph 9
  250. 10Paragraph 10
  251. 11Paragraph 11
  252. Utilities Act 2000 (c. 27)
  253. 12Paragraph 12
  254. 13Paragraph 13
  255. 14Paragraph 14
  256. 15Paragraph 15
  257. Energy Act 2004 (c. 20)
  258. 16Paragraph 16
  259. 17Paragraph 17
  260. 18Paragraph 18
  261. 19Paragraph 19
  262. 20Paragraph 20
  263. 21Paragraph 21
  264. Schedule 6Repeals