Guide
Registering a heat network with Ofgem: who, what and by when
Updated
Registration is the visible half of the new regime. It is also the half with a fixed date attached, which makes it the right place to start.
The duty
Ofgem states it plainly: "Operators and suppliers of relevant heat networks must give us details about their heat network's organisation, ownership, financial resilience and consumer protection arrangements by 26 January 2027. This is called registration." Registration is done through the Comply with heat networks consumer protection regulations service (Ofgem).
What the service is for
- Registering heat networks.
- Adding or updating your organisation's details.
- Managing users.
- In future, submitting regular data about your organisation and heat network.
The private beta, and why it is worth joining
Ofgem has been running the service in private beta before public launch. Its own pitch to operators is that joining lets you "comply with regulations early" and shape a service you will interact with frequently, and it confirms that "If you register your heat networks during the testing phase, you will not need to register them again when we launch the full service." It adds that although the service is in a test phase, it is reliable to use and the data will be secure.
New networks register before they supply
DESNZ guidance is explicit that "New networks should be ready to register with Ofgem before commencing supply of heating, cooling and hot water to customers" (gov.uk). For a development programme that means registration sits alongside commissioning and handover, not after first occupation.
Ofgem's published guidance
Ofgem has published guidance covering registration, regular data reporting, financial resilience, fair pricing and cost allocation, consumer protection, enforcement guidelines and its penalty policy, alongside further guidance on who needs to register, how to prepare for registration, what to do after registering, making changes to a registration, preparing for data reporting, and help and support. Read the registration and consumer protection guidance together: registration is where you tell Ofgem what your consumer protection arrangements are, so the two have to agree.
Enquiries about heat networks regulation go to Ofgem's heat networks regulation mailbox, published on its heat networks page.