Heat Trust has responded to the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) consultation on building a market framework for heat networks. Heat Trust welcomed the consultation and supports the decision to appoint a sector regulator. Statutory regulation is a key step to ensuring customer protection for all heat network customers.

The key proposals in the consultation centre on licensing and an authorisation regime:

• The proposed legislative changes will give heat network developers equivalent statutory rights and undertakings to other utilities, such as gas and electricity. A licensing arrangement will be established for those parties that wish to secure these additional powers.
• The proposed authorisation regime for consumer protection would give Ofgem oversight and enforcement powers across quality of service, provision of information and pricing arrangements for all domestic heat network consumers. This would be funded through fees scaled according to the regulated party’s size.

Transparency, pricing and quality of service standards are key elements of the protection regime customers need. Other important aspects include access to independent redress and enforcement powers - with which heat networks can be held accountable to.

Heat Trust already sets minimum standards in many of these areas and can help suppliers prepare for the transition to regulation. We also look forward to building on our learnings and experience with government to help inform new regulation.

Heat Trust’s full response to the consultation can be found here.

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