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The Heat Networks (Market Framework) (Great Britain) Regulations 2025

S.I. 2025/269 · Made 2 March 2025 · Extends to England, Wales and Scotland

Up to date with all changes known to legislation.gov.uk, revised to 28 January 2026.

Energy

Made 2nd March 2025

Coming into force in accordance with regulation 1(2) to (5)

The Secretary of State, in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 217(2), 219(1) and (4), 223(1) and 224 of, and Parts 2, 3, 6, 7 and 11 to 13 of Schedule 18 to, the Energy Act 2023f1, makes the following Regulations.

In accordance with sections 219(7) and 220 of that Act, the Secretary of State has—

(a)

consulted such persons or bodies as the Secretary of State considers appropriate; and

(b)

given notice to and considered the representations of the Scottish Ministers.

In accordance with sections 217(6), 221(1), 223(2) and 224(5) of that Actf2, a draft of this instrument was laid before Parliament and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.

Annotations to the whole text

Footnotes

f1

2023 c. 52; see section 219(9) for the meaning of “the appropriate authority” in section 219(1).

f2

See section 331(3) of the Energy Act 2023 for the meaning of the affirmative procedure.

Contents

  1. Part 1: Introductory
  2. 1Citation, commencement and extent
  3. 2Interpretation
  4. 2ARegulations do not apply to certain communal heat networks providing air-conditioning
  5. 3Service of notices
  6. Part 2: The Regulator
  7. 4Specified functions to be carried out by the Secretary of State
  8. 5Power for the Regulator to delegate functions
  9. 6Principal objective of the Regulator
  10. 7General duties of the Regulator
  11. 8Interests of other utility consumers
  12. 9Monitoring and review
  13. 10Collecting information
  14. 11Records
  15. 12Publication of advice, guidance, information and list of authorised persons by the Regulator
  16. Part 3: Authorisations
  17. 13Meaning of regulated activity
  18. 14Prohibition on carrying on a regulated activity without authorisation
  19. 15Regulator’s regulations in relation to application for a heat network authorisation
  20. 16Conferral of heat network authorisations
  21. 17Temporary authorisations
  22. 18General authorisation conditions
  23. 19Specific authorisation conditions
  24. 20Scope of authorisation conditions
  25. 21Procedure for modifying general authorisation conditions
  26. 22Procedure for modifying specific authorisation conditions
  27. 23Modification of conditions under regulation 21 or 22: early effective date
  28. 23ACosts of heat network administration orders: Secretary of State may modify authorisation conditions
  29. 24Transfer of heat network authorisations
  30. 25Review and revocation of heat network authorisations
  31. 26Initial period
  32. 27Deemed heat network authorisations
  33. Part 3A: Supply to premises
  34. 27ADeemed contracts
  35. Part 4: Enforcement of conditions and requirements
  36. 28Orders for securing compliance
  37. 29Procedure for final and provisional orders
  38. 30Validity and effect of orders
  39. 31Imposition of a penalty
  40. 32Requirement to publish statement of policy with respect to penalties
  41. 33Time limits on the imposition of penalties
  42. 34Payment of interest and payment in instalments
  43. 35Appeals against penalties
  44. 36Recovery of penalties
  45. 37Consumer redress orders
  46. 38Remedial action under a consumer redress order
  47. 39Other procedural requirements in relation to consumer redress orders
  48. 40Requirement to publish statement of policy with respect to consumer redress orders
  49. 41Time limits for making consumer redress orders
  50. 42Enforcement of consumer redress orders
  51. 43Appeals against consumer redress orders
  52. 44Consumer redress orders: miscellaneous
  53. 45Maximum amount of penalty or compensation
  54. 46Functions with respect to competition
  55. 47Procedure for concurrent exercise of functions
  56. Part 5: Investigation
  57. 48Powers to require information, etc.
  58. 49Inspections
  59. Part 6: Consumer protection
  60. Chapter 1: Standards of performance
  61. 50Standards of performance in individual cases
  62. 51Standards of performance in individual cases: disputes
  63. 52Overall standards of performance
  64. 53Procedure for establishing standards of performance
  65. Chapter 2: Consumer advocacy and redress schemes
  66. 54Application of Part 1 of the Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Act 2007 with modifications
  67. 55Certain documents to be sent to Citizens Advice and Consumer Scotland
  68. 56Application of Part 2 of the Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Act 2007 with modifications
  69. Part 7: Financial arrangements
  70. 57Expenses relating to consumer advocacy and advice
  71. 58Directions to the Regulator relating to expenses under regulation 57
  72. 59Payment into Consolidated Fund
  73. Part 7A: Special administration regime
  74. 59AInterpretation of Part 7A
  75. 59BHeat network administration orders
  76. 59CObjectives of heat network administration order
  77. 59DHeat network administration orders: application of certain provisions of Energy Act 2004
  78. Part 8: Offences
  79. 60Carrying on a regulated activity without authorisation
  80. 61Failure to provide information in response to a notice
  81. 62Provision of false or misleading information
  82. 63Obstructing inspection
  83. 64Impersonation of person entitled to entry
  84. 65Corporate liability
  85. 66Scottish partnerships
  86. Part 9: Provision in relation to licensing authority in Scotland
  87. 67Designation of licensing authority in Scotland
  88. 68Part 1 of the Heat Networks (Scotland) Act 2021 amended
  89. Part 10: Review
  90. 69Review
  91. Signature
  92. Schedule 1: Service of notices, etc. by the Regulator
  93. 1Paragraph 1
  94. 2Paragraph 2
  95. 3Paragraph 3
  96. 4Paragraph 4
  97. 5Paragraph 5
  98. Schedule 2: Inspections
  99. 1Paragraph 1
  100. 2Paragraph 2
  101. 3Paragraph 3
  102. 4Paragraph 4
  103. 5Paragraph 5
  104. 6Paragraph 6
  105. Explanatory note