Ofgem - Heat Networks Regulation
Register Before the Deadline & Our Support Proposal
Date Published: 30th August 2026
Our previous article describes Ofgem’s definition of an eligible heat network which is to be registered by 27/01/2027 and the roles of an Operator and Supplier.
We have now completed a few registrations and in the process of completing many more. The below provides our guideline during the actual registration.
STEP 1: Regulatory Contact to Create GOV.UK One Login & Request Access to Private Beta
The regulatory contact is the organisation’s most senior member of staff with responsibility for heat networks who will be Ofgem’s first point of contact if they need to discuss the heat network. For residential blocks, this might be the Building Manager with a shared mailbox controlled by the organisation (e.g. Freeholder, RTM or RMC).
The regulatory contact will initially need to:
Request access to the private beta testing for Ofgem’s heat networks digital service (using the same email address connected to their existing GOV.UK One Login.
N.B. The regulatory contact can only complete the heat network registration after Ofgem have granted access to use the service which can take up to 10 working days. Move on to STEP 2 below after Ofgem have granted access.
Ofgem related articles:
STEP 2: Completing the Organisation Details Section
We suggest preparing certain information in advance before completing this section.
For instance, accounting questions include:
Are the last year financial accounts signed?
What are the start and end dates of the accounting period?
What was the net profit or loss for the most recent financial year?
What is the total value of liquid assets?
Do the assets exceed the liabilities?
What was the total running costs & income for the previous financial year?
The above values are to be based on the most recent financial year accounts signed
For residential blocks, referring to the service charge accounts, ‘total value of liquid assets’ would be the recorded reserve fund value (if no other cash or government backed loan scheme) and ‘total running income’ would be the contributions and any other forms of income.
STEP 3: Completing the Heat Networks Section
This is split into the five categories (Introduction, Technical, Customer & Metering, Consumer Protection and Billing).
Introduction:
Heat Network Name - it is important to remember that each communal heat network needs to be registered separately. For example, if a residential development has 11 blocks under the Freeholder but only Blocks 8 and 9 have a heat network with a separate energy centre each, then both Block 8 and Block 9 heat networks would need to be registered separately.
Technical Information:
These questions are usually forwarded to your energy centre (e.g. boiler maintenance) contractor:
Which types of heating, cooling or hot water does this energy centre supply to customers? - Select from Space Heating / Process Heating / Hot Water / Cooling.
What is the combined heating and hot water capacity of this energy centre? - The maximum combined output of all heating and hot water from the energy centre in kilowatts (kW).
Which technology provides the largest proportion of the heat energy in this energy centre? - Select from Another Heat Network / Biofuel Boiler / Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Plant / Chiller / Electric Boiler / Energy from Waste Plant / Expander / Geothermal / Heat Pump/Exchanger / Heat Recovery / Natural Gas Boiler / Solar Thermal / Other.
Customers & Metering:
Number of Domestic and Non-Domestic Customers
Is there a Metering & Billing agent? - For example, a residential block which does not have heat meters installed for each of the tenants will typically still have a managing agent who issues service charge contribution requests on a regular basis.
Consumer Protections:
Number of vulnerable customers - this information may be sourced from a Priority Services Register or equivalent.
Billing:
How often are bills sent to customers? - Monthly / Quarterly / Every 6 Months / Annually / Never / Other.
What other information is included with customer’s billing information? - Current Energy Prices Charged to Customers / Information About the Customer’s Recent Energy Consumption / Year-on-Year Comparisons of the Customer’s Energy Consumption / Contact Information for Organisations that Provide Energy Efficiency Measures / Contact Information for Organisations that Provide Support and Consumer Advice to Heat Network Customers / None.
Complete your heat network registration:
We offer our support during the Ofgem heat network registration process by gathering the required information and being present whilst the regulatory contact completes the registration.
As long as you are happy, we will store the details which can be referred back to or forwarded to reliable consultants who can assist with Heat Network Technical Assurance Scheme (HNTAS) compliance.
We typically charge £410 + VAT for this support to complete your registration. Please contact us if you would like to enquire.