Energy Act

Status of the bill: Enacted

Main purpose of the bill:

To tackle barriers to investment in energy efficiency, enhance energy security, and enable investment in low carbon energy supplies.

Main points of the bill

Provides for the implementation of the 'Green Deal' to facilitate and finance the installation of energy efficiency measures in homes and businesses.

Establishes a Green Deal financing framework enabling customers to pay for energy saving improvements to their property in instalments via their energy bills.

Provides for a register of authorised Green Deal installers and assessors to be established and maintained in order to reinforce consumer confidence.

Provides for the introduction of a new Energy Company Obligation from 2012 to underpin the Green Deal.

Introduces measures to enhance security of energy supplies through improved monitoring of future electricity security and strengthened market incentive mechanisms to ensure sufficient gas is available during a Gas Supply Emergency.

Improves third party access to UK oil and gas infrastructure.

Creates a Special Administration Regime for gas and electricity suppliers.

Enables designations under the Continental Shelf Act 1964 to be revoked, amended and re-enacted in order to maximise the UK's ability to exploit the UK Continental Shelf.

Introduces measures to strengthen investment in low carbon energy generation including enabling implementation of the enduring offshore electricity transmission regime beyond 2010 and giving investors in new nuclear increased certainty over their obligations.

Extends the powers of the Coal Authority.

Repeals the Home Energy Conservation Act (HECA) 1995.

Progress of the bill

The Energy Bill was included in the Queen's Speech on 25th May 2010.

Lords:
First Reading: 08.12.10 Second Reading: 22.12.10 Committee Stage: 17.01.11 19.01.11 24.01.11 26.01.11 31.01.11 08.02.11 Report Stage: 02.03.11 08.03.11 Third Reading: 15.03.11

Commons:
First Reading: 16.03.11 Second Reading: 10.05.11 Committee Debate: 07.06.11 09.06.11 14.06.11 16.06.11  21.06.11 Report Stage: 14.09.11 Third Reading: 14.09.11

Ping Pong: 04.10.11 Royal Assent: 18.10.11