Energy Legislation
Legislative framework for energy production, distribution, renewable sources, nuclear power, and energy efficiency standards.
The Energy Prices Act 2022 (Extension of Time Limit) (No. 2) Regulations 2026
- Department: Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
- Made under: Energy Prices Act 2022
- Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland
Extended the sunset date for the government's energy cost support powers by six months to 25 April 2027.
These Regulations extend the period during which the Secretary of State may exercise powers under section 13 of the Energy Prices Act 2022 to provide financial support for energy costs.
By moving the expiration date from 25 October 2026 to 25 April 2027, the instrument allows the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero to continue funding a portion of the Renewables Obligation costs normally passed to consumers.
This authority applies to the Secretary of State and affects domestic electricity suppliers who receive grant funding to lower household energy bills.
The Warm Home Discount (Reconciliation) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
- Department: Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
- Made under: Energy Act 2010
- Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland
Updated the Warm Home Discount reconciliation methodology to calculate supplier market shares based on energy unit volumes instead of customer numbers.
These Regulations amend the reconciliation framework for the Warm Home Discount scheme to align cost redistribution with energy unit-rate recovery.
The instrument directs the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority to calculate suppliers' market shares based on gas and electricity unit volumes delivered to domestic customers rather than the previous method based on customer numbers.
These changes apply to licensed electricity and gas suppliers in Great Britain for scheme years 16 through 20, starting in September 2026.
The Value Added Tax (Supplies of Domestic Electricity) Order 2026
- Department: HM Treasury
- Made under: Value Added Tax Act 1994
- Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland
Reduced the VAT rate on domestic electricity in Great Britain from 5% to 0% for the period between October 2026 and March 2027.
This Order introduces a temporary zero rate of Value Added Tax (VAT) for qualifying supplies of domestic electricity in England, Wales, and Scotland for a six-month period.
It modifies the Value Added Tax Act 1994 to reclassify electricity supplied for domestic use or non-business charity use from the 5% reduced rate to a 0% rate between 1 October 2026 and 31 March 2027.
The instrument applies to electricity suppliers and residential consumers in Great Britain, while specifically maintaining the 5% reduced rate for electricity supplies in Northern Ireland.
The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) (Amendment) Order 2026
- Department: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
- Made under: Town and Country Planning Act 1990
Amended planning rules for domestic solar equipment to introduce new height limits, protrusion restrictions, and safety-related prohibitions for timber-clad buildings.
This Order modifies the permitted development rights for domestic renewable energy installations in England, establishing distinct regulatory criteria for dwellinghouses and blocks of flats.
It introduces height, protrusion, and surface area limits for solar photovoltaic (PV) and solar thermal equipment, while specifically prohibiting the installation of plug-in solar equipment on wooden or timber-clad exterior surfaces.
The Order applies to residential developers and homeowners, mandating that equipment installed in sensitive locations—such as conservation areas or near highways—meets stricter visual and dimensional standards to qualify for planning permission without a full application.
The Net Zero Teesside (Amendment) Order 2026
- Department: Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
- Made under: Planning Act 2008
Increased the permitted inner diameters for the heat recovery steam generator and absorber stacks at the Teesside infrastructure site.
This Order modifies the design parameters for the Net Zero Teesside carbon capture and power project by increasing the permitted inner diameters of two specific stacks.
It directs that the inner diameter for the heat recovery steam generator stack be increased from 6.5 meters to 9.0 meters and the absorber stack be increased from 6.6 meters to 7.0 meters.
The order applies to the developers and operators authorized under the original 2024 development consent order, administered by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
The Energy Act 2023 (Commencement No. 5, Saving Provisions) Regulations 2026
- Department: Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
- Made under: Energy Act 2023
Commenced new offshore abandonment charging provisions and established transitional protections for pending fee determinations.
These Regulations bring into force provisions of the Energy Act 2023 that reform how the UK government charges for the decommissioning of offshore oil and gas installations and pipelines.
The order repeals existing fee-setting powers in the Petroleum Act 1998 and brings into effect new expenditure recovery mechanisms, while maintaining the older fee structure for projects that are already underway or have submitted formal requests by 30 September 2026.
These rules apply to offshore installation operators and owners of submarine pipelines, excluding those dedicated to carbon capture and storage.
The Offshore (Oil and Gas) Installation and Pipeline Abandonment Charges (Revocation) Regulations 2026
- Department: Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
- Made under: Petroleum Act 1998
Replaced fixed decommissioning fees with a system of hourly charges and cost recovery for government work on offshore oil and gas abandonment programmes.
These regulations establish a new charging regime for the decommissioning and abandonment of offshore oil and gas installations and pipelines in the United Kingdom.
They authorize the Secretary of State to recover costs from persons who have been served with a 'section 29 notice' by applying hourly rates for administrative, decommissioning, and environmental specialist staff, plus additional expenses for commissioned work.
The regulations apply to all holders of abandonment notices for offshore installations and submarine pipelines, excluding carbon dioxide pipelines, and clarify that all such holders are jointly and severally liable for the accrued charges.
The Nuclear Safeguards (EU Exit and Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
- Department: Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
- Made under: Energy Act 2013
Updated nuclear material reporting deadlines, extended record retention to 30 years, and revised facility design questionnaires to align UK safeguards with international obligations.
These Regulations amend existing nuclear safeguards and fee structures to update reporting requirements, terminology, and administrative timelines for operators of qualifying nuclear facilities in the United Kingdom.
They direct operators to provide more detailed design information, extended records retention, and adjusted notice periods for the import and export of nuclear material while authorizing the Office for Nuclear Regulation to recover costs for its expanded oversight activities.
These rules apply to all nuclear facility operators, carriers, and agents handling qualifying nuclear material across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.