The Countdown Is On.

Mission: Compliance

The Countdown Is On

Heat network regulation has entered a new phase. Ofgem's Authorisation Conditions are now in force, reporting requirements are increasing, and the January 2027 registration deadline is getting closer.

For Property Managers, Heat Suppliers and Operators, the challenge isn't simply knowing that regulation is coming. It's knowing what needs to happen now.

Where are the biggest risks? Who is responsible? What needs fixing first? And, crucially, can you evidence that the right processes are actually working?

That's what The Final Countdown is designed to help you do. We've cut through the regulatory detail and prioritised the actions that matter most, so you can focus your time where it will have the greatest impact.

January 2027 may be the deadline, but there’s plenty to do before then.

Want the full picture?

This Pocket Guide shows you what to prioritise.

The Heat Network Compliance Companion Playbook explains how to achieve it.

Access it Here

Your Countdown Checkpoints

Ofgem Authorisation Conditions went live

They define how heat networks must be operated.

Compliance data reporting started

Although formal reporting is still developing, Ofgem intends to request reporting data backdated to April 2026. Organisations should already be collecting and retaining the required information.

Full digital reporting expected to begin

Registered suppliers and operators will be asked to submit regular quarterly and annual data through Ofgem’s digital service, covering areas such as billing performance, complaints, debt management and vulnerable residents.

Heat networks must be authorised and compliant

Heat suppliers will need to have completed the authorisation process and be able to demonstrate compliance with the Authorisation Conditions.

Proposed HNTAS expected to begin

The Heat Network Technical Assurance Scheme (HNTAS) introduces a greater focus on technical performance, optimisation and ongoing monitoring.

Can’t answer all five?

That's where your countdown starts. Before you move on, establish the roles, responsibilities and evidence behind each network. Knowing what the regulations require is only useful if you know how they're being delivered in practice.

From Knowing to Doing

We know regulation is here. The question now is what you're actually doing about it.

Compliance won't be delivered by one person, one policy or one provider. It happens through the everyday operation of the heat network — often across several different organisations.

And that's where gaps can appear.

The biggest risk isn't always that nothing is happening. It's assuming something is happening without knowing who owns it, who's delivering it or where the evidence sits.

So, start with one heat network…

Can you confidently answer these five questions?

Whose responsibility is it anyway?

Knowing who does what across your heat network is one of the first steps towards effective compliance.

The organisation delivering a service isn't necessarily the organisation that holds the regulatory accountability. And with multiple parties often involved in operating a heat network, it's easy for responsibilities to become blurred.

The key principle is simple: the Heat Supplier or Operator retains ultimate regulatory accountability for the supply activity. Delivery can be delegated. Accountability cannot.

For Property Managers, that means having a clear view of who owns each outcome, who delivers it and how performance is monitored and evidenced.

So, how does the operating model fit together?

The exact arrangements will vary by network, and one organisation may perform more than one role. This example shows how accountability and day-to-day delivery can typically flow across the parties involved.

Clear Roles. Connected Responsibilities.

Knowing who's involved is one thing. Making sure responsibilities connect in practice is another.

Many compliance activities cross organisational boundaries. A meter fault can affect billing and reporting. A vulnerable resident may need support across customer service, debt and engineer visits. A complaint may require input from several different providers.

Your Next Action

Map the key processes across every network you manage and agree how each one works from start to finish.

Start with your highest risk processes and establish:

Owner - who is ultimately accountable?
Delivery - who carries out the activity?
Handovers - where does information or responsibility pass between parties?
Escalation - what happens when something goes wrong?
Oversight - how does the Heat Supplier know it's working?

Metering & meter faults
Billing & billing errors
Tariff setting & changes
Complaints & Ombudsman escalation
Vulnerability & PSR
Debt & affordability support
Resident communications
Supply interruptions
Network maintenance & performance
Regulatory reporting & evidence

Your Mission Plan

You know who is responsible. Now it's time to decide where to focus first.

Not every requirement carries the same immediate operational risk. That’s why we’ve organised the rest of this guide by priority - so you can focus first on the areas that could have the greatest impact. Use each section to KNOW IT. BUILD IT. PROVE IT. and then turn what you find into action.

Before you move on…

Think portfolio, not just site by site. As you work through the priorities, look for issues that may be repeated across multiple networks:

Are the same providers or processes used across several sites?
Could one gap be affecting more than one network?
Are there portfolio-wide actions you could address once, rather than site by site?
Where could fixing one issue have the greatest impact across your portfolio?