Great Britain. Ofgem regulated
Do the heat network regulations apply to you?
Ofgem regulates heat networks in Great Britain. Every operating network has already been automatically authorised to continue supplying, which Ofgem calls deemed authorisation, and operators and suppliers of relevant heat networks must register with Ofgem by 26 January 2027. Separately, the 2014 metering and billing notification duty was partially revoked in Great Britain on 27 January 2026 and remains in force only in Northern Ireland. Answer a few questions to see which duties are yours.
Question 1
Where is the heat network?
The regimes diverged on 27 January 2026. Great Britain moved to Ofgem authorisation; Northern Ireland stayed on the 2014 metering and billing regulations.
What it does and does not check
- Whether you are a heat supplier, a building owner or a customer
- Ofgem authorisation conditions and deemed authorisation
- Registration with Ofgem by 26 January 2027
- Energy Ombudsman redress scheme membership
- What survives of the 2014 metering and billing regulations in Great Britain
- The separate position in Northern Ireland
- Based on Ofgem's heat networks regulation pages and DESNZ guidance on gov.uk
Heat Network Check is an independent information site operated by Ellul Solutions Ltd. It is not affiliated with Ofgem, DESNZ, the Energy Ombudsman or any government body, and nothing here is legal advice. This regime is phasing in and the source pages linked above are the authoritative version, so confirm the current position with Ofgem and DESNZ before acting on anything here.
Heat network duties in Great Britain: in force, scheduled, or revoked
Last updated
The heat network regime is phasing in, and the most common mistakes come from reading guidance written before 27 January 2026. This table separates what binds a GB heat supplier today from what is scheduled and what has been taken away, with the source for each line.
Compiled on the updated date above from Ofgem's heat networks regulation pages, Ofgem's Comply with heat networks consumer protection regulations service page, and the DESNZ guidance 'Regulations: heat networks (metering and billing)' on gov.uk, last updated 11 February 2026. Status is stated as at the updated date and this regime is phasing in, so check the two source pages before relying on any row. Nothing here is a substitute for the authorisation conditions themselves, which Ofgem publishes in full.
| Duty | Who it falls on | Status as at August 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Deemed authorisation to continue supplying | All operating heat networks in Great Britain | Granted automatically. Ofgem states all operating heat networks have been automatically authorised to continue to supply heating, cooling or hot water |
| Authorisation conditions | Operators and suppliers of most heat networks in GB | In force. Ofgem has published the full authorisation conditions and supporting guidance, and says it will apply a fair and pragmatic compliance approach |
| Registration with Ofgem | Operators and suppliers of relevant heat networks in GB | In force, with a deadline of 26 January 2027 for existing networks. New networks should be ready to register before they start supplying |
| Energy Ombudsman redress scheme membership | All heat networks in Great Britain | In force since 27 January 2026, giving customers a free and independent dispute resolution route |
| Duty to notify DESNZ under the 2014 metering and billing regulations | Heat suppliers in Great Britain | Revoked. DESNZ states the duty to notify and the cost-effectiveness tool have been revoked and there is no longer a requirement to send notifications to the HNMB Regulations Authority |
| Duty to notify DESNZ under the 2014 metering and billing regulations | Heat suppliers in Northern Ireland | Still in force. The 2014 and 2020 obligations are unaffected in Northern Ireland, including the cost-effectiveness tool and notification to DESNZ |
| Obligation to install and maintain meters | GB heat suppliers, by building class | In force but narrowed. The open class was revoked in January 2026; operational networks must maintain meters already present; heat cost allocators no longer demonstrate compliance in GB |
| Regular data reporting to Ofgem | Registered operators and suppliers | Guidance published March and April 2026. Ofgem states the Comply service will in future be used to submit regular data about your organisation and heat network |
| Heat Network Technical Assurance Scheme (HNTAS) | Heat suppliers, network operators and industry | Not yet a duty. DESNZ presents it as the regulatory direction of travel and asks the sector to stay informed and give feedback as technical standards evolve |
- Operators and suppliers of relevant heat networks in Great Britain must register with Ofgem by 26 January 2027, giving details of the network's organisation, ownership, financial resilience and consumer protection arrangements (Ofgem).
- All operating heat networks in Great Britain were automatically authorised to continue supplying, which Ofgem calls deemed authorisation, so there was nothing to apply for at the start of the regime.
- The duty to notify heat networks to DESNZ under the Heat Network (Metering and Billing) Regulations 2014 was revoked in Great Britain on 27 January 2026 and remains in force only in Northern Ireland (gov.uk).
- Since 27 January 2026 all heat networks in Great Britain must register with the Energy Ombudsman redress scheme, giving customers free and independent dispute resolution including for unplanned outages (gov.uk).
Cite this page
“Heat network duties in Great Britain: in force, scheduled, or revoked”, Heat Network Check, https://heatnetworkcheck.co.uk/ (updated 2026-08-14). Compiled on the updated date above from Ofgem's heat networks regulation pages, Ofgem's Comply with heat networks consumer protection regulations service page, and the DESNZ guidance 'Regulations: heat networks (metering and billing)' on gov.uk, last updated 11 February 2026. Status is stated as at the updated date and this regime is phasing in, so check the two source pages before relying on any row. Nothing here is a substitute for the authorisation conditions themselves, which Ofgem publishes in full.
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Worth knowing
The longer answers, with sources.
Questions, answered directly
Who regulates heat networks in the UK?
Ofgem regulates heat networks in Great Britain, meaning England, Scotland and Wales. Its regulation focuses on good customer service, reducing the impact of reliability of supply issues, transparent and easy to understand energy bills, and fair pricing. Northern Ireland remains on the Heat Network (Metering and Billing) Regulations 2014 and 2020, with DESNZ receiving notifications.
Do I have to register my heat network with Ofgem?
If you are an operator or supplier of a relevant heat network in Great Britain, yes. Ofgem requires details of the network's organisation, ownership, financial resilience and consumer protection arrangements by 26 January 2027, submitted through the Comply with heat networks consumer protection regulations service. New networks should be ready to register before they start supplying.
What is deemed authorisation?
Ofgem states that all operating heat networks have been automatically authorised to continue to supply heating, cooling or hot water. There was no application to make: authorisation was granted by default, and the obligations arrive through the authorisation conditions and the registration duty instead.
Who counts as a heat supplier?
DESNZ defines a heat supplier as any person or organisation that supplies and charges for the supply of heating, cooling or hot water to customers through a heat network or communal heating. Where multiple parties run a network, the heat supplier is the beneficiary of the customers' payments, typically the party using those payments to keep the network running.
Is the 2014 metering and billing notification still required?
Not in Great Britain. DESNZ states that the duty to notify and the cost-effectiveness tool have been revoked there, and that notifications are no longer sent to the HNMB Regulations Authority. In Northern Ireland the 2014 and 2020 obligations are unaffected and notification to DESNZ continues.
What happens if a heat network does not comply?
Ofgem has published enforcement guidelines and a penalty policy for the authorisation regime, alongside a stated intention to support compliance over time with a fair and pragmatic approach. DESNZ separately retains enforcement of the remaining metering and billing regulations across Great Britain and Northern Ireland on behalf of the Secretary of State.
Know your position before January 2027
Four questions, and you will know which duties are yours and which belong to someone else.
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