UK Act of Parliament 2023 United Kingdom

Energy Act 2023

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At a glance

Enforced by

Ofgem, NSTA, OPRED

What's here

55 compliance obligations, 9 practical guides · 1 journey · 6 statutory instruments

Penalty landscape

8 of 55 obligations carry an unlimited fine. 8 carry different penalties and 39 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.

Who this Act binds

Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.

  • Any Person 20
  • Director or Officer 3
  • Licence Holder 2
  • Responsible Person 1

Plus 29 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.

Step-by-step journeys using this legislation

Walkthroughs that take you from a real business situation to compliance.

Relevant guidance

Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.

Direct — cites this Act

2 guides

Supporting — topic alignment

7 guides

Other Acts binding the same actors

For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.

Any Person also bound by 749 other Acts (top 5 shown)
Directors and Officers also bound by 224 other Acts (top 5 shown)
Licence Holders also bound by 50 other Acts (top 5 shown)
Responsible Persons also bound by 56 other Acts (top 5 shown)

What this Act requires

Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.

Part 1 — Licensing of carbon dioxide transport and storage

s.019

Consenting to transfer

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Economic regulator must follow strict procedures before transferring a licence Statutory regulator
s.022

Determination by CMA of appeal

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • CMA must determine energy regulator appeals based on specific grounds Tribunal / Court
s.038

Sections 36 and 37 : supplementary

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Regulators must consult and coordinate on energy storage and transport Statutory regulator
s.039

Forward work programmes

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Ofgem must publish an annual forward work programme for transport and storage Statutory regulator
s.051

Consultation in relation to transfers

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Secretary of State must consult before making energy transfer schemes Crown / Minister / Government department
Browse 41 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Part 2 — Carbon dioxide capture, storage etc and hydrogen production, transport and storage

s.093

Section 92 : supplementary

2 years imprisonment
  • Breach carbon dioxide storage or decommissioning funding regulations Any Person
Browse 41 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Part 3 — Licensing of hydrogen pipeline projects

s.132

Designation: procedure

Amended 1 time
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Secretary of State must follow set procedures for hydrogen project designation Crown / Minister / Government department

Part 4 — New technology

Part 5 — Independent System Operator and Planner

s.162

Designation etc

Amended 2 times
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Secretary of State must designate and maintain an ISOP Crown / Minister / Government department
s.165

Functions relating to network connections: duty to have regard to designated plans

Amended 2 times

Part 6 — Governance of gas and electricity industry codes

Part 7 — Market reform and consumer protection

Part 8 — Heat networks

Part 9 — Energy smart appliances and load control

Part 10 — Energy performance of premises

Part 11 — Energy Savings Opportunity Schemes

Part 12 — Core fuel sector resilience

s.267

General objective

Amended 2 times
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Secretary of State must prevent fuel disruptions and supply emergencies Crown / Minister / Government department

Part 13 — Offshore wind electricity generation, oil and gas

Part 14 — Civil nuclear sector

s.322

Annual report

Amended 1 time
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Great British Nuclear must submit an annual report to the Secretary of State Statutory regulator

Part 15 — General

Schedules

Browse 21 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
Read the full Act on legislation.gov.uk (opens in a new tab)

Official guidance

Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.

Enforcement and responsible bodies

The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.

Ofgem

Primary

Office of Gas and Electricity Markets

Regulates gas and electricity markets in Great Britain. Issues licences for generation, transmission, distribution, and supply. Protects consumers and promotes competition. Also …

NSTA

North Sea Transition Authority

Licenses and regulates the UK oil and gas, offshore hydrogen, and carbon storage industries. Issues petroleum production licences and CO2 storage licences. …

OPRED

Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning

Regulates environmental aspects of offshore oil and gas, carbon storage, and gas unloading/storage. Issues environmental permits, approves oil spill response plans, and …

Connected legislation

6 statutory instruments

These instruments amend, apply, or refer to this Act. They may not all create direct business obligations.

Explore more

Browse legislation

Find other UK business legislation with related guidance.

Regulators

Learn more about the bodies that enforce this legislation.