Business guidance
Rules, requirements and how-tos for running your business — organised by topic, with industry-specific guidance on the sector pages.
Guidance for energy & utilities
Show all guidanceApply for a Contract for Difference
A Contract for Difference pays a generator the gap between a fixed strike price and the market reference price, and takes the gap back when the market price is higher. Projects in Great Britain apply in an annual allocation round run by the National Energy System Operator.
Energy & UtilitiesApply for an electricity or gas licence in Northern Ireland
Generating, transmitting, distributing or supplying electricity, or supplying, conveying or storing gas, in Northern Ireland needs a licence from the Utility Regulator, and operating without one is a criminal offence. A GB licence from Ofgem does not cover Northern Ireland, so apply separately.
Manufacturing & EngineeringApply for an environmental permit for a Part A(1) installation
If you run a Part A(1) installation in England, such as a combustion plant of 50MW thermal input or more, you need a bespoke permit from the Environment Agency before you operate. You must show best available techniques and, for new electricity-generating plant, decarbonisation readiness. Most new permits are decided within 4 months.
Energy & UtilitiesComply as an energy supplier
Supplying electricity or gas to customers needs an Ofgem licence, and supplying without one is a criminal offence. Domestic default tariffs must stay within Ofgem's quarterly price cap, and licence breaches can cost up to 10% of turnover.
Manufacturing & EngineeringComply with UK Emissions Trading Scheme
If you run a regulated installation or aviation operation, or from 1 July 2026 qualifying ships, monitor your greenhouse gas emissions through the year, submit a verified report by 31 March and surrender enough allowances to cover them by 30 April. Missing these triggers automatic penalties.
Manufacturing & EngineeringControl and monitor air emissions
If your industrial activity releases pollutants to air, you need an environmental permit from the Environment Agency or your local authority, depending on its tier. The permit sets emission limits, monitoring and reporting duties, and operating without it or breaching it is an offence carrying up to five years in prison.
Energy & UtilitiesEnvironmental Permit - Medium Combustion Plant
Medium combustion plant (MCP) with thermal input between 1MW and 50MW require an environmental permit from the Environment Agency.
Energy & UtilitiesGas network and gas safety rules
You need an Ofgem gas transporter licence and an HSE-accepted safety case before you convey gas through a network. Pipelines operating above 7 barg are major accident hazard pipelines with extra duties.
Energy & UtilitiesGet an electricity generation licence
Generating electricity in the UK needs a licence from Ofgem in Great Britain or the Utility Regulator in Northern Ireland unless you are exempt, and unlicensed generation is a criminal offence. Most stations below 50MW are exempt under the Class Exemptions Order, but may still need permits and a grid connection.
Energy & UtilitiesGet an Ofgem licence to supply, ship or transport gas
You need an Ofgem licence to supply gas, arrange its transport, convey it through pipes or help run a gas interconnector in Great Britain. Acting without one is a criminal offence with an unlimited fine on indictment. Gas transporters also need a safety case accepted by HSE.
Food, Drink & HospitalityGet authorisation for a water activity in Scotland (EASR)
In Scotland, any activity affecting surface water or groundwater, such as abstraction, engineering or discharges, needs SEPA authorisation, and doing it without one is a criminal offence. SEPA decides which of four risk-based tiers your activity falls into, from general binding rules to a permit.
Energy & UtilitiesGet development consent for an offshore wind farm
An offshore wind farm of more than 100MW in English waters needs a Development Consent Order from the Secretary of State. The order can deem the marine licence, but not the seabed rights from the Crown Estate or a grid connection, which you secure separately.
Energy & UtilitiesGet paid for renewable electricity you generate
The Smart Export Guarantee pays you for renewable electricity exported to the grid from solar PV, wind, hydro, anaerobic digestion or micro-CHP up to 5MW. Large suppliers must offer a tariff above zero. You need MCS certification and an export meter, and cannot also take Feed-in Tariff export payments.
Energy & UtilitiesGet the permits and safety consents for a hydrogen production site
A hydrogen production site needs planning permission and an environmental permit, and the hydrogen you hold on site sets the safety duties. Dangerous substances rules apply at any quantity, hazardous substances consent from 2 tonnes, and COMAH from 5 tonnes. Government support requires the Low Carbon Hydrogen Standard.
Energy & UtilitiesGrid Connection Agreement
All electricity generators connecting to the GB electricity network require a connection agreement with either NESO (National Energy System Operator) (transmission) or a Distribution Network Operator (DNO).
Energy & UtilitiesGrid Connection for Energy Projects
How to connect electricity generation projects to the UK grid. Understand the difference between DNO and National Grid routes, the G99 connection standard, and the April 2025 Ofgem reforms that promise £5 billion in savings and faster connection timelines.
Energy & UtilitiesMarine Licence
Activities in the marine environment (below Mean High Water Springs) require a Marine Licence from the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) in England.
Manufacturing & EngineeringMeet your annual UK ETS obligations
If you run an installation covered by the UK Emissions Trading Scheme, you need a permit and registry account, must monitor emissions all year, submit a verified report by 31 March and surrender allowances to cover them by 30 April. Missing the surrender deadline brings a penalty for every allowance not surrendered.
Energy & UtilitiesMeet your water industry regulatory duties
In England and Wales, water undertakers must be appointed by Ofwat, and all drinking water must meet the wholesomeness standards enforced by the Drinking Water Inspectorate. Taking raw water above the threshold needs an abstraction licence, and large raised reservoirs must be registered and inspected.
Energy & UtilitiesRegister a large reservoir and keep it safe
If your reservoir can hold 25,000 cubic metres or more of water above the natural level of the surrounding land, you must register it with the Environment Agency, appoint panel engineers, follow their safety directions and keep a certified flood plan. Failing to do so is a criminal offence.
Construction & PropertyRespond to an infrastructure project that affects your property
If a nationally significant infrastructure project would take or affect your land or business premises, you can register to take part in the examination and ask for hearings. You may be able to make the promoter buy your property early, and you can claim compensation if land is taken.
Energy & UtilitiesRun a heat network or steam supply business
The Energy Act 2023 brings heat networks under Ofgem, which authorises operators and enforces consumer protection in phases from 2024. Your steam and boiler plant also needs a written scheme of examination, and cooling plant with F-gases needs company and engineer certification.
Energy & UtilitiesRun an electricity network business
Operating an electricity transmission or distribution network in Great Britain without an Ofgem licence is a criminal offence. Your licence brings price controls, industry codes and performance standards, and in Northern Ireland the networks are regulated by UREGNI instead.
Energy & UtilitiesUnderstand how UREGNI regulates energy and water in Northern Ireland
One regulator, the Utility Regulator (UREGNI), covers electricity, gas and water in Northern Ireland. You need its licence to generate, transmit, distribute or supply electricity, or to convey, store or supply gas. Water comes from NI Water, whose prices it controls.
Energy & UtilitiesUse land 300 metres or deeper for petroleum or geothermal work
Section 43 of the Infrastructure Act 2015 gives a right to use land at least 300 metres below the surface to search for, prepare for and exploit petroleum or deep geothermal energy, without the surface owner's consent. The right does not replace your licence, planning permission or environmental permits.
Manufacturing & EngineeringWater abstraction licences and drinking water quality in Northern Ireland
How water is regulated in Northern Ireland for two different kinds of business: a mill or other user that takes water from a river, lough or borehole and needs an abstraction and impoundment licence from NIEA, and a water undertaker that supplies drinking water and must meet the 2017 Water Quality Regulations enforced by the Drinking Water Inspectorate.
Energy & UtilitiesWorking in the civil nuclear industry
Regulatory compliance requirements for businesses operating in the civil nuclear industry including site licensing, security vetting, liability insurance, and decommissioning obligations under Office for Nuclear Regulation oversight.
General rules
Common requirements shown separately from guidance directly classified to this sector.
Check if you need to register for VAT
You must register for VAT when your taxable turnover passes the registration threshold in any rolling 12 months, or when you expect it to pass the threshold within the next 30 days alone. Under the first test, register within 30 days of the end of the month. Late registration brings penalties and backdated VAT.
Compliance & LegalFile your confirmation statement
File a confirmation statement every 12 months, within 14 days after your review period ends. Filing late is a criminal offence for the company and its officers.
Premises & OperationsMeet your business waste duty of care
Every business that produces, stores or disposes of waste has a duty of care under section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, and stays responsible after it hands the waste on. Use only registered waste carriers, complete waste transfer notes correctly, and follow the stricter rules for hazardous waste.
Compliance & LegalVerify your identity for Companies House as a director or PSC
Yes, if you are an individual director or PSC of a UK company, or an individual director of an overseas company registered in the UK. Corporate directors and officers of corporate PSCs are not yet required to verify. The transition for existing directors and PSCs ends on 17 November 2026.
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