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Energy Bill's return marks first critical step in the climb out of crisis

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The return of the Energy Bill is a critical step in reducing the UK’s vulnerability to both ongoing and future energy crises, as well as in delivering national net zero commitments, says the Association for Decentralised Energy (ADE).

The landmark piece of legislation was put on pause under the Truss administration in September – this left its future uncertain, but the news that the Bill will now continue its passage through Parliament is already spurring a wave of renewed confidence across industry.  

The key parts of the bill that the ADE has been urging the Government to maintain include:

  • Heat networks: Maintain Bill provisions around the introduction of a heat network market framework and heat network zoning.
  • Flexibility: Maintain Bill provisions around the introduction of an Independent System Operator and Planner (ISOP), and introduce regulations for energy smart appliances so that devices meet minimum technical requirements for cyber security, interoperability, data privacy and grid stability.

The ADE also notes that the Bill must set out:

  • Energy efficiency: Bill provisions around the introduction of Owner Occupier Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES), which would see the Government commit to introducing primary legislation. The MEES would likely be enforced upon the sale of a home.

Caroline Bragg, Director of Policy and Research at the ADE, said: “It’s great to see the return of the Energy Bill, an absolutely essential piece of legislation for the Decentralised Energy sector. The Bill will enable the rapid scale up energy efficiency deployment, accelerate the rollout of heat networks and make the energy market truly flexible – slashing bills and boosting energy security not only in the short term, but over the next thirty years.

“We hope the Government will now move the Bill through Parliament without delay and that it will continue to consult with industry on how to get the most out of this landmark piece of legislation. The revival of the bill marks a huge opportunity for not just the decentralised energy sector, but the nation as a whole, and we cannot allow this opportunity to slip through our fingers.”