The Shortcut: Regulations are now live.

What's Changed. What's New.

What Matters.
Playbook updates as of 28 January 2026.

Latest Updates

What’s just changed:

The regulatory framework is now live, with a phased implementation leading to full enforcement in January 2027.
Ofgem has published the 25 Authorisation Conditions that define how heat networks must be operated and supplied. These cover consumer protection, billing transparency, service standards, complaints handling and governance.
HNTAS: draft new build and existing heat network technical specifications and assessment procedures have been published.
Alongside the regulations, Ofgem has begun publishing practical guidance, including guidance relevant to existing heat networks, giving clearer direction on how compliance is expected to work in practice.

What’s happening now

Existing heat networks are moving through a period of deemed authorisation, allowing them to continue operating while preparing for full compliance. At the same time, organisations are expected to assess gaps, update contracts and processes, and get ready for formal regulatory oversight.

This is a transition phase - not an enforcement cliff edge - but organisations are expected to be actively preparing.

What’s coming next

Regulation will be phased.
Spring 2026: The online authorisation portal opens, enabling operators and suppliers to formally engage with Ofgem’s systems.
Autumn 2026: Digital reporting begins. Reporting is backdated to April 2026.
January 2027: The full regulatory framework - including HNTAS - is in place, with active authorisation, reporting and enforcement.

What’s Changed. What’s New. What Matters.

A clear snapshot of the most important Playbook updates - highlighting what’s changed, what’s new and why it matters now the regulations are live.

Updated Ofgem Timeline	The regulatory timeline has been updated to reflect the latest Ofgem announcements, helping you track what’s coming and when.	→	View the updated timeline
25 Authorisation Conditions	NEW: A clear, practical summary of Ofgem’s Heat Network Market Framework Regulations, distilling hundreds of pages into one usable reference.	→	Read the full summary
Heat Supply Agreement Checklist	NEW: A practical checklist to help ensure Heat Supply Agreements include mandated Principal Terms and meet requirements for fairness, clarity, and transparency.	→	Access the checklist
Billing Information Checklist	NEW: A detailed compliance checklist covering accuracy, transparency, and consumption-based billing, with clear guidance on what’s required.	→	See what compliant billing looks like
Improving Your Heat Network’s Performance	NEW: Chapter covering health checks, optimisation studies, performance improvements and available HNES funding.	→	Explore the new chapter

Ofgem & The 25 Authorisation Conditions

Ofgem’s heat network authorisation conditions, effective from 27 January 2026 under the Energy Act 2023, establish regulatory obligations for operators in Great Britain, with a focus on consumer protection, fair pricing and financial resilience. Key requirements include registration, notification of material changes and meeting supplier standards.

We’ve produced a clear, practical summary of all 25 Authorisation Conditions - distilling the regulations into one usable reference for operators and property managers.

Access Summary

Or read Ofgem's published document here

Ofgem has also published a series of supporting guidance documents, setting out how compliance is expected to work in practice. These include:

Heat networks regulation: registration (Guidance to help heat network operators and suppliers with deemed authorisation understand their obligation to register with Ofgem.) Published: 23 January 2026

Heat networks regulation: fair pricing and cost allocation (Guidance on the fair pricing network and cost allocation for heat network suppliers and operators serving domestic and non-domestic consumers.) Published: 13 January 2026

Heat networks regulation: consumer protection (Guidance for the consumer protection rules and requirements set out in our heat network authorisation conditions.) Published: 13 January 2026

Heat networks regulation: financial resilience (This guidance covers the following three authorisation conditions which heat networks are required to comply with.)
Published: 13 January 2026

HNTAS - Code Documents

Draft new build and existing heat network technical specifications and assessment procedures to help heat networks demonstrate compliance were published by DESNZ on 15th December 2025. While these documents are in draft, they signal the direction of travel for technical compliance and are widely expected to shape future assessment and enforcement.

There are draft technical specifications AND draft assessment procedures for BOTH New Build heat networks AND Existing heat networks. You can find some of the recent draft documents here:

NEW BUILD heat networks: draft technical specifications

NEW BUILD heat networks: draft assessment procedures

EXISTING heat networks: draft technical specifications

EXISTING heat networks: draft assessment procedures

Key Takeaway

While the deadlines look far off, the groundwork needs to begin now. Asset registers, metering upgrades and efficiency plans take years to deliver - and Ofgem will expect evidence of progress, not last-minute fixes.

Need a Shortcut?

The direction of travel is clear. The question is timing and readiness. This Playbook is designed to help you move from awareness to action, without panic, guesswork, or last-minute fixes. Here's a quick plan of action:

Now

If you haven't already - register your heat network with the Energy Ombudsman
Understand your role (Supplier, Operator or Both)
Review the 25 Authorisation Conditions
Use the Heat Supply Agreement and Billing Information checklists to identify gaps
Start capturing accurate operational and billing data - get your Metering & Billing Strategy right

Before Spring 2026

Be ready to engage with the online authorisation portal
Ensure contracts, complaints processes and customer communications are compliant

From April 2026

Treat data capture as live, even though reporting submission comes later