Energy Legislation

Legislative framework for energy production, distribution, renewable sources, nuclear power, and energy efficiency standards.

The Warm Home Discount (England and Wales) Regulations 2026

These Statutory Instruments continue the Warm Home Discount Scheme in England and Wales until March 31, 2031, re-enacting and amending provisions from the 2022 Regulations to combat fuel poverty.

The scheme mandates obligations on energy suppliers, primarily through a core spending obligation requiring the provision of a £150 prescribed rebate to eligible 'core group customers' identified by the Secretary of State, and a non-core spending obligation covering industry initiatives like energy efficiency improvements, advice provision, and debt write-off, all administered and enforced by the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority (the Authority).

The Electricity and Gas (Energy Company Obligation) (Amendment) (Specified Period) Order 2026

This Statutory Instrument, made on March 25th, 2026, amends the preceding Electricity and Gas (Energy Company Obligation) Order 2022 by extending the overall period of the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme by nine months, shifting the end date for the home-heating cost reduction target from March 31st, 2026, to December 31st, 2026.

The Order also adjusts several associated deadlines for remaining procedural steps, applications, and measure approvals under the ECO scheme across England, Wales, and Scotland, ensuring consistency with the newly defined final date.

The Electricity Supplier Payments (Amendment) Regulations 2026

Published: Wed 25th Mar 26

The Electricity Supplier Payments (Amendment) Regulations 2026 amend three existing regulations establishing levies on electricity suppliers that fund government energy schemes: the 'operational costs levy' for Contracts for Difference (CfD) and Nuclear Regulated Asset Base (RAB) schemes, and the 'settlement costs levy' under capacity market regulations.

These amendments specifically introduce new, varying rates for these levies, effective from April 1st, 2026, extending forward across several subsequent periods to ensure ongoing financial support for these crucial energy infrastructure projects.

The Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage and Offshore Hydrogen Production (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2026

These Regulations, made on 10th March 2026 and effective 6th April 2026, introduce amendments across six major pieces of UK health and safety legislation governing offshore installations and pipelines, primarily to formally incorporate activities related to Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) and offshore hydrogen production into existing safety, management, regulatory, and reporting frameworks, ensuring these nascent energy sectors are regulated under consistent safety standards previously applied to the offshore oil and gas industry.

The Climate Change Levy (Fuel Use and Recycling Processes) (Amendment) Regulations 2026

Published: Wed 11th Mar 26

The Treasury enacted these Regulations on March 11, 2026, immediately amending the Climate Change Levy (Fuel Use and Recycling Processes) Regulations 2005 to specify certain industrial uses as exempt from the Climate Change Levy.

Specifically, the amendments introduce hydrogen production via electrolysis and the use of natural gas as a carbon dioxide source in sodium bicarbonate production as 'wholly non-fuel uses', thereby removing the levy charge on the energy inputs for those specific processes.

The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (Application outside Great Britain) (Variation) Order 2026

This Statutory Instrument, enacted by Order in Council, amends the 2013 Order which applies sections of the Health and Safety at Work etc.

Act 1974 outside of Great Britain.

Specifically, the Order updates the definition of 'offshore installation' within Article 4 of the 2013 Order to explicitly include structures used for the production of hydrogen, thereby extending UK health and safety legislation to these specific offshore activities starting from April 6, 2026.

The Utilities Act 2000 (Amendment of Section 105) Order 2026

Published: Mon 23rd Feb 26

This Statutory Instrument, the Utilities Act 2000 (Amendment of Section 105) Order 2026, amends Section 105 of the Utilities Act 2000, which generally restricts the disclosure of certain information.

The Order inserts new provisions creating specific exemptions from this restriction to facilitate the performance of functions under sections 13 and 19 of the Energy Prices Act 2022, and to allow compliance with directions issued under section 22 of that same Act, thereby enabling smoother execution of specific energy policy measures.

The Wireless Telegraphy (Direct to Device Satellite Communications) (Exemption) Regulations 2026

Published: Wed 18th Feb 26

OFCOM created these Regulations, which came into force on February 25, 2026, to exempt the establishment, installation, and use of wireless telegraphy apparatus for direct-to-device satellite services from standard licensing requirements under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006, provided strict technical conditions regarding operating frequencies, mandated ETSI standards, maximum power levels, and non-airborne operation are met, while specifically excluding apparatus that qualifies as a commercial multi-user gateway device.