Division 35 5,995 enterprises
Electricity, Gas & Steam
Requirements for all electricity, gas & steam
These requirements apply to all business activities in this division.
Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
General duties to employees and others. Particularly significant in the energy sector given major hazard risks. HSENI enforces in Northern Ireland.
Employers' Liability Insurance
Required for all employers. Sole traders with no employees exempt.
Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016
Required for activities with emissions to air, water, or land. Equivalent regime in Scotland (SEPA under Pollution Prevention and Control (Scotland) Regulations 2012), Wales (NRW), and Northern Ireland (NIEA). Large combustion plant operators require specific IED permits.
UK Emissions Trading Scheme — surrender and reporting
Applies to installations above the ETS threshold (generally >20 MW thermal input). Operators must monitor emissions, submit verified annual report, and surrender allowances by 30 April each year. SEPA administers in Scotland; NRW in Wales. Northern Ireland participates separately.
Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH) Regulations 2015
Applies to energy sites holding dangerous substances (liquefied natural gas, hydrogen, flammable gases) above threshold quantities. Lower-tier sites must notify the competent authority and produce a major accident prevention policy; upper-tier sites must also produce a safety report and emergency plan.