The Electricity (Individual Exemption from the Requirement for a Transmission Licence) (Dogger Bank A) (Amendment) Order 2025
The Secretary of State made this Order under powers granted by the Electricity Act 1989 to amend the existing 2025 Order concerning the Dogger Bank A Offshore Wind Farm.
This amendment specifically extends the date until which the project is exempt from the requirement to hold an electricity transmission licence, changing the expiry date from December 19, 2025, to December 18, 2026, and the Order applies to England, Wales, and Scotland.
Arguments For
Ensures administrative continuity for the Dogger Bank A Offshore Wind Farm by extending its existing exemption from requiring a transmission licence.
Acknowledges the temporary nature of the exemption, thus avoiding the need for a full impact assessment, thereby streamlining the regulatory update process.
Maintains the legal basis under Section 5 of the Electricity Act 1989, ensuring the modification aligns with existing statutory powers.
Arguments Against
Extends a specific regulatory easement, which could be argued to provide an unfair advantage or delay the full integration of the project into the standard transmission licensing framework.
The need for subsequent extension orders suggests potential inflexibility or unforeseen complexities in the original planning or licensing process for major renewable energy projects.
Concerns might arise regarding increased administrative overhead if such temporary exemptions require frequent future amendments and extensions.
The Secretary of State makes this Order in exercise of the powers conferred by section 5(1) and (6)(b) of the Electricity Act 1989[1].
The responsible government minister, the Secretary of State, created this legal instrument using specific powers found in subsections (1) and (6)(b) of Section 5 of the Electricity Act 1989.
The Secretary of State has given notice of the proposal to make this Order in accordance with section 5(2) and (3) of that Act and has consulted with the Scottish Ministers[2], and has considered any representations made.
Before enacting this Order, the Secretary of State followed the required procedural steps under the Act, which involved giving public notice of the proposal.
Furthermore, consultation occurred with the Scottish Ministers, and any feedback received during that consultation was taken into account.
Citation, commencement and extent
1.\
(1)
This Order may be cited as the Electricity (Individual Exemption from the Requirement for a Transmission Licence) (Dogger Bank A) (Amendment) Order 2025 and comes into force on 18th December 2025.
This Article defines the legal name of this statutory instrument as the Electricity (Individual Exemption from the Requirement for a Transmission Licence) (Dogger Bank A) (Amendment) Order 2025.
It also specifies that the Order legally takes effect starting on December 18, 2025.
(2)
This Order extends to England and Wales and Scotland.
This clause outlines the geographical area where this amendment is legally applicable, covering England, Wales, and Scotland.
Amendment of the Electricity (Individual Exemption from the Requirement for a Transmission Licence) (Dogger Bank A) Order 2025
2.\
(1)
The Electricity (Individual Exemption from the Requirement for a Transmission Licence) (Dogger Bank A) Order 2025[3] is amended as follows.
This Article begins the process of making changes to the previous 2025 Order that initially dealt with the exemption for Dogger Bank A. The following subsections detail the specific modifications being implemented.
(2)
In article 2(2)(b) (exemption from section 4(1)(b) of the Electricity Act 1989), for “19th December 2025” substitute “18th December 2026”.
This is the core substance of the amendment.
In the previous document, specifically within article 2(2)(b), the exemption related to the requirement under Section 4(1)(b) of the Electricity Act 1989 was set to expire on December 19, 2025.
This modification officially replaces that date with a new expiry date of December 18, 2026.
Explanatory Note
(This note is not part of the Order)
The Electricity (Individual Exemption from the Requirement for a Transmission Licence) (Dogger Bank A) Order 2025 granted exemption to Doggerbank Offshore Wind Farm Project 1 Projco Limited from the requirement to hold an electricity transmission licence in respect of Dogger Bank A Offshore Wind Farm. That Order provided for exemption until 19th December 2025. This Order extends the duration of that exemption until 18th December 2026.
This note clarifies that the original 2025 Order provided a temporary exemption for the Dogger Bank A Offshore Wind Farm, owned by Doggerbank Offshore Wind Farm Project 1 Projco Limited, from needing a transmission licence.
This current amending Order simply extends that previously set exemption period by approximately one year, ending on December 18, 2026.
A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as it is a temporary measure.
The government explains that a full impact assessment, which analyzes the effects on various sectors, was not created for this Order because it serves only as a short-term temporary regulatory adjustment.
No, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.
Government expects that this amendment will result in either no impact or a negligible impact on bodies operating in the private, voluntary, or public sectors.
An Explanatory Memorandum has been published alongside this instrument and is available at www.legislation.gov.uk.
A detailed Explanatory Memorandum, which provides further background context, has been released alongside this legislative instrument and can be accessed on the official legislation website.
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