Energy Prices Act 2022
2022 Chapter 44An Act to make provision for controlling energy prices; to encourage the efficient use and supply of energy; and for other purposes connected to the energy crisis.
Enacted
[25th October 2022]
Be it enacted by the King’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—
Reduction of domestic energy bills in England, Wales and Scotland¶
I11 Domestic energy price reduction schemes for Great Britain¶
I22 GB electricity scheme: supplementary provision¶
I33 GB gas scheme: supplementary provision¶
I44 Interpretation of sections 1 to 3¶
Expressions relating to electricity
Expressions relating to gas
Other expressions
Reduction of domestic energy bills in Northern Ireland¶
I55 Domestic energy price reduction schemes for Northern Ireland¶
I66 NI electricity scheme: supplementary provision¶
I77 NI gas scheme: supplementary provision¶
I88 Interpretation of sections 5 to 7¶
Expressions relating to electricity
Expressions relating to gas
Other expressions
Reduction of non-domestic energy bills in England, Wales and Scotland¶
I99 Reduced energy charges for non-domestic customers in Great Britain¶
I1010 Interpretation of section 9 and Schedule 1¶
Expressions relating to electricity
Expressions relating to gas
Reduction of non-domestic energy bills in Northern Ireland¶
I1111 Reduced energy charges for non-domestic customers in Northern Ireland¶
I1212 Interpretation of section 11 and Schedule 2¶
Expressions relating to electricity
Expressions relating to gas
Other expressions
Support for meeting energy costs etc¶
I1313 Power of the Secretary of State to give support for meeting energy costs etc¶
I1414 Procedure and reporting in connection with section 13¶
I1515 Role of other bodies in giving support for meeting energy costs etc¶
Reducing the price of electricity¶
I1616 Temporary requirement for electricity generators to make payments¶
-
“electricity generator” means a person who owns or has any interest in a relevant generating station; and a reference to the relevant generating station with which an electricity generator is concerned is to be read accordingly;
-
“electricity supplier” means a person who is a holder of a licence to supply electricity under—
-
section 6(1)(d) of the Electricity Act 1989, or
-
Article 10(1)(c) of the Electricity (Northern Ireland) Order 1992 (S.I. 1992/231 (N.I. 1);
-
-
“generating station” means a station which generates electricity or any part of such a station;
-
“payment administrator” means a person specified as a payment administrator for the purposes of regulations under this section;
-
“relevant generating station” means a generating station—
-
in respect of which no contract for difference has effect under Chapter 2 of Part 2 of the Energy Act 2013 (ignoring any contract for difference under which no payments have begun to fall due), and
-
that is not an accredited FIT installation within the meaning of the Feed-in Tariffs Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/2782);
-
-
“specified”, except in subsection (5), means specified in regulations under this section.
I1717 Power to require information in connection with regulations under section 16¶
-
“electricity generator” has the same meaning as in section 16;
-
“information” includes documents;
-
“specified” means specified in the direction.
I9318 Contracts for difference¶
, and
.
, and
Passing on the benefits of reductions and other support¶
I1819 Requirement to pass on energy price support to end users¶
The domestic energy tariff cap¶
I1920 Domestic gas and electricity tariff cap¶
Schedule 3 contains amendments to the Domestic Gas and Electricity (Tariff Cap) Act 2018.Regulation of energy markets¶
I2021 Power of the Secretary of State to modify energy licences etc¶
I2122 Power of Secretary of State to give directions¶
I2223 Regulation of the Northern Ireland energy market¶
Schedule 4 contains provision about regulation of the Northern Ireland energy market.Final provisions¶
I2324 Concurrent exercise of powers by the Department for the Economy¶
Schedule 5 provides for certain powers of the Secretary of State under this Act to be exercisable concurrently by the Department for the Economy in Northern Ireland.I2425 Time limits on exercise of certain powers under this Act¶
Schedule 6 provides for time limits on the exercise of certain powers conferred by this Act.I2526 Regulations¶
I2627 Consequential provision etc¶
I2728 Interpretation¶
-
“affirmative procedure” is to be construed in accordance with section 26(4) to (7);
-
“domestic electricity price reduction scheme for Great Britain” has the meaning given in section 1(2);
-
“domestic electricity price reduction scheme for Northern Ireland” has the meaning given in section 5(2);
-
“domestic energy price reduction scheme” means—
-
a domestic electricity price reduction scheme for Great Britain,
-
a domestic electricity price reduction scheme for Northern Ireland,
-
a domestic gas price reduction scheme for Great Britain, or
-
a domestic gas price reduction scheme for Northern Ireland;
-
-
“domestic gas price reduction scheme for Great Britain” has the meaning given in section 1(4);
-
“domestic gas price reduction scheme for Northern Ireland” has the meaning given in section 5(4);
-
“energy” means—
-
natural gas,
-
petroleum (in any form),
-
any other substance (whether solid, liquid or gaseous) used as fuel, and
-
electricity;
-
-
“GEMA” means the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority;
-
“modify” includes amend, repeal and revoke (and, in particular, a power to modify an agreement includes power to make a person a party to an agreement, or to discharge a party from the party’s obligations under the agreement);
-
“negative procedure” is to be construed in accordance with section 26(3);
-
“Northern Ireland Regulator” means the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation;
-
“primary legislation” means—
-
an Act,
-
an Act or Measure of Senedd Cymru,
-
an Act of the Scottish Parliament, or
-
Northern Ireland legislation;
-
-
“subordinate legislation” means an instrument made under primary legislation.
I2829 Application to the Crown¶
This Act binds the Crown.I2930 Extent, commencement and short title¶
SCHEDULES
SCHEDULE 1 ¶
Non-domestic relief regulations for Great Britain
Section 9
I301 Introduction¶
In this Schedule—-
“energy supply” means—
-
GB non-domestic electricity supply, or
-
GB non-domestic gas supply;
-
-
“licensed supplier” means—
-
a licensed electricity supplier, or
-
a licensed gas supplier;
-
-
“GB non-domestic relief regulations” means regulations under section 9(1) or (2);
-
“support scheme” means provision in GB non-domestic relief regulations for—
-
reducing the amounts that would otherwise be charged for energy supply by licensed suppliers, and
-
making payments to those suppliers in respect of those reductions.
-
I312 Application of GB non-domestic relief regulations¶
I323 Delegation¶
I334 Powers and duties¶
I345 Modification of contracts¶
GB non-domestic relief regulations may modify, or make other provision in relation to, the terms of contracts or other arrangements relating to energy supply.I356 Enforcement¶
I367 Exclusion of liability¶
GB non-domestic relief regulations may provide for a person not to be liable in damages for things done or omitted in the exercise or purported exercise of functions under the regulations.I378 Avoidance of abuse or unreasonable reliance on support schemes¶
GB non-domestic relief regulations may make provision to deal with the consequences of, or to prohibit or otherwise regulate, transactions or arrangements which the Secretary of State considers manipulate or otherwise abuse—I389 Financially disadvantaged customers¶
SCHEDULE 2 ¶
Non-domestic relief regulations for Northern Ireland
Section 11
I391 Introduction¶
In this Schedule—-
“energy supply” means—
-
NI non-domestic electricity supply, or
-
NI non-domestic gas supply;
-
-
“licensed supplier” means—
-
a licensed electricity supplier, or
-
a licensed gas supplier;
-
-
“NI non-domestic relief regulations” means regulations under section 11(1) or (2);
-
“support scheme” means provision in NI non-domestic relief regulations for—
-
reducing the amounts that would otherwise be charged for energy supply by licensed suppliers, and
-
making payments to those suppliers in respect of those reductions.
-
I402 Application of NI non-domestic relief regulations¶
I413 Delegation¶
I424 Powers and duties¶
I435 Modification of contracts¶
NI non-domestic relief regulations may modify, or make other provision in relation to, the terms of contracts or other arrangements relating to energy supply.I446 Enforcement¶
I457 Exclusion of liability¶
NI non-domestic relief regulations may provide for a person not to be liable in damages for things done or omitted in the exercise or purported exercise of functions under the regulations.I468 Avoidance of abuse or unreasonable reliance on support schemes¶
NI non-domestic relief regulations may make provision to deal with the consequences of, or to prohibit or otherwise regulate, transactions or arrangements which the Secretary of State considers manipulate or otherwise abuse—I479 Financially disadvantaged customers¶
SCHEDULE 3 ¶
Domestic Gas and Electricity (Tariff Cap) Act 2018
Section 20
Amendments to 2018 Act¶
I569 Transitional provision¶
- “the 2018 Act” means the Domestic Gas and Electricity (Tariff Cap) Act 2018;
- “tariff cap conditions” has the same meaning as in the 2018 Act.
SCHEDULE 4 ¶
Regulation of the Northern Ireland energy market
Section 23
I571 Simplification of procedure for modifying conditions of electricity licences¶
I582 Simplification of procedure for modifying conditions of gas licences¶
I593 Expiry of this Schedule¶
I604 Interpretation¶
In this Schedule—-
“Department” means the Department for the Economy in Northern Ireland;
-
“electricity licence” means a licence granted under Article 10 of the Electricity (Northern Ireland) Order 1992 (S.I. 1992/231 (N.I. 1));
-
“gas licence” means a licence granted under Article 8 of the Gas (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (S.I. 1996/275 (N.I. 2)).
SCHEDULE 5 ¶
Powers and expiry of powers in respect of Northern Ireland
Section 24
I611 Powers exercisable concurrently by the Department for the Economy¶
I622 Limitations on the exercise of particular powers by the Department¶
I633 Application of section 14 to the exercise of powers by the Department¶
I644 Regulations made by the Department¶
I655 Expiry of the Department’s powers¶
A power conferred by any of the following provisions of this Act ceases to be exercisable concurrently by the Department at the end of the relevant period (and accordingly the related provision in paragraph 1(1) ceases to have effect)—I666 Expiry of the Secretary of State’s powers in respect of Northern Ireland¶
A power conferred by any of the following provisions of this Act ceases to be exercisable by the Secretary of State at the end of the relevant period—I677 Meaning of “relevant period”¶
I688 Continuity of the Department’s powers¶
A power exercisable concurrently by the Department by virtue of paragraph 1(1) continues to be so exercisable even if that power has ceased to be exercisable by the Secretary of State.SCHEDULE 6 ¶
Time limits on the exercise of certain powers under this Act
Section 25
I691 Domestic electricity price reduction schemes for Great Britain¶
I702 Domestic gas price reduction schemes for Great Britain¶
I713 Domestic electricity price reduction schemes for Northern Ireland¶
-
“designated” means designated under section 6;
-
“operative date”, in relation to a designated scheme, means the first day on which domestic electricity supply takes place at a charge reduced in accordance with the scheme.
I724 Domestic gas price reduction schemes for Northern Ireland¶
-
“designated” means designated under section 7;
-
“operative date”, in relation to a designated scheme, means the first day on which domestic gas supply takes place at a charge reduced in accordance with the scheme.
I735 Reduced energy charges for non-domestic customers in Great Britain¶
-
“operative date”, in relation to regulations under section 9(1) or (2), means the first day on which GB non-domestic electricity supply or gas supply takes place at a charge reduced in accordance with regulations made under that provision;
-
“reduction of charges for electricity supply” means reducing the amounts that would otherwise be charged for GB non-domestic electricity supply by licensed electricity suppliers;
-
“reduction of charges for gas supply” means reducing the amounts that would otherwise be charged for GB non-domestic gas supply by licensed gas suppliers.
I746 Reduced energy charges for non-domestic customers in Northern Ireland¶
-
“operative date”, in relation to regulations under section 11(1) or (2), means the first day on which NI non-domestic electricity supply or gas supply takes place at a charge reduced in accordance with regulations made under that provision;
-
“reduction of charges for electricity supply” means reducing the amounts that would otherwise be charged for NI non-domestic electricity supply by licensed electricity suppliers;
-
“reduction of charges for gas supply” means reducing the amounts that would otherwise be charged for NI non-domestic gas supply by licensed gas suppliers.
I757 Power of the Secretary of State to give support for meeting energy costs etc¶
I768 Temporary requirement for electricity generators to make payments¶
I779 Extension of certain periods¶
-
“original limitation” means paragraph 1(2), 2(2), 3(2), 4(2) or 7(1);
-
“relevant time period” means any of the periods (initially of two years’ length or three years and six months’ length) referred to in the original limitations.
SCHEDULE 7 ¶
Amendments of legislation
Section 27
PART 1 Acts of Parliament¶
I781 Gas Act 1986¶
In Schedule 4B to the Gas Act 1986 (provisions imposing obligations that are enforceable as relevant requirements), in paragraph 4 (obligations of gas suppliers and gas shippers), after paragraph (e) insert—I792 Electricity Act 1989¶
In Schedule 6A to the Electricity Act 1989 (provisions imposing obligations that are enforceable as relevant requirements), in paragraph 6 (obligations of supply licence holders), after paragraph (f) insert—Utilities Act 2000¶
.
;
;
.
PART 2 Northern Ireland legislation¶
Energy (Northern Ireland) Order 2003¶
;
.
.
.
.
;
;
The Electricity (Single Wholesale Market) (Northern Ireland) Order 2007¶
.
.
Footnotes
- I1S. 1 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I2S. 2 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I3S. 3 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I4S. 4 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I5S. 5 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I6S. 6 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I7S. 7 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I8S. 8 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I9S. 9 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I10S. 10 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I11S. 11 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I12S. 12 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I13S. 13 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I14S. 14 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I15S. 15 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I16S. 16 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I17S. 17 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I18S. 19 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I19S. 20 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I20S. 21 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I21S. 22 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I22S. 23 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I23S. 24 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I24S. 25 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I25S. 26 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I26S. 27 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I27S. 28 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I28S. 29 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I29S. 30 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I30Sch. 1 para. 1 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I31Sch. 1 para. 2 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I32Sch. 1 para. 3 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I33Sch. 1 para. 4 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I34Sch. 1 para. 5 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I35Sch. 1 para. 6 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I36Sch. 1 para. 7 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I37Sch. 1 para. 8 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I38Sch. 1 para. 9 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I39Sch. 2 para. 1 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I40Sch. 2 para. 2 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I41Sch. 2 para. 3 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I42Sch. 2 para. 4 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I43Sch. 2 para. 5 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I44Sch. 2 para. 6 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I45Sch. 2 para. 7 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I46Sch. 2 para. 8 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I47Sch. 2 para. 9 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I48Sch. 3 para. 1 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I49Sch. 3 para. 2 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I50Sch. 3 para. 3 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I51Sch. 3 para. 4 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I52Sch. 3 para. 5 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I53Sch. 3 para. 6 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I54Sch. 3 para. 7 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I55Sch. 3 para. 8 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I56Sch. 3 para. 9 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I57Sch. 4 para. 1 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I58Sch. 4 para. 2 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I59Sch. 4 para. 3 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I60Sch. 4 para. 4 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I61Sch. 5 para. 1 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I62Sch. 5 para. 2 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I63Sch. 5 para. 3 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I64Sch. 5 para. 4 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I65Sch. 5 para. 5 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I66Sch. 5 para. 6 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I67Sch. 5 para. 7 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I68Sch. 5 para. 8 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I69Sch. 6 para. 1 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I70Sch. 6 para. 2 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I71Sch. 6 para. 3 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I72Sch. 6 para. 4 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I73Sch. 6 para. 5 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I74Sch. 6 para. 6 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I75Sch. 6 para. 7 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I76Sch. 6 para. 8 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I77Sch. 6 para. 9 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I78Sch. 7 para. 1 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I79Sch. 7 para. 2 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I80Sch. 7 para. 3 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I81Sch. 7 para. 4 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I82Sch. 7 para. 5 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I83Sch. 7 para. 6 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I84Sch. 7 para. 7 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I85Sch. 7 para. 8 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I86Sch. 7 para. 9 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I87Sch. 7 para. 10 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I88Sch. 7 para. 11 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I89Sch. 7 para. 12 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I90Sch. 7 para. 13 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I91Sch. 7 para. 14 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I92Sch. 7 para. 15 in force at Royal Assent, see s. 30(6)
- I93S. 18 in force at 25.12.2022, see s. 30(5)
- F1Sch. 5 para. 7(1)(a)(b) substituted (13.3.2025) for words by The Energy Bill Relief Scheme and Energy Bills Discount Scheme (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/204), regs. 1(1), 10
- C1Sch. 6 para. 7(1): period extended until 25.10.2026 by virtue of The Energy Prices Act 2022 (Extension of Time Limit) Regulations 2026 (S.I. 2026/452), regs. 1(1), 2