Heat Networks Registration Guidance, Deadline 27 January 2027
Summary
Ofgem published guidance requiring heat network operators and suppliers to register with the regulator by 27 January 2027. The guidance defines relevant heat networks (district, communal, and self-supply), clarifies operator and supplier roles, and establishes registration requirements for organisations owning or controlling heat network assets or supplying heating, cooling or hot water to consumers.
What changed
Ofgem published guidance establishing mandatory registration requirements for heat networks under the Heat Network Regulations. Operators (entities owning or controlling heat network assets) and suppliers (entities providing heating, cooling, or hot water to consumers) must register relevant networks with Ofgem by 27 January 2027. The guidance distinguishes between district networks (supplying 2+ buildings), communal networks (supplying separate premises in one building), and self-supply networks.
Heat network operators and suppliers must designate a regulatory contact who will create a digital service account and submit registration information. Organisations should review their asset portfolios and supply arrangements to determine if they fall within scope. Failure to register may result in enforcement action. The guidance applies to all entities involved in owning, operating, or supplying heat network services in the UK.
What to do next
- Identify if your heat networks qualify as district, communal, or self-supply networks
- Appoint a regulatory contact and create a digital service account with Ofgem
- Register all relevant heat networks by 27 January 2027
Archived snapshot
Apr 9, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
Heat networks: who needs to register
Publication type: Guidance Publication date:
9 April 2026
Topic: Heat networks Print this page
Related links
- Heat networks: help and support
- Heat networks: how to prepare for registration
- Heat networks: making changes to your registration
- Heat networks: topic page
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- Guidance on whether a heat network is in scope of the regulations and who must register, including operator and supplier roles and network types.
Details
Certain types of heat networks fall within the scope of the heat network regulations and therefore need to be registered. We call these ‘relevant heat networks’
You must identify the operator and suppliers for any of your relevant heat networks and register the networks with us by 27 January 2027.
Each organisation should nominate a ‘regulatory contact’, this is typically the most senior member of staff with responsibility for heat networks.
The regulatory contact must create the organisation’s digital service account. They can then invite other users to access the service and submit registration information on their behalf.
What is a heat network
Heat networks provide heating, cooling or hot water to more than one property in a building, or to more than one building from a central source.
They do this using a system of:
- energy centres
- pipes
- substations
- heat exchangers
- Heat Interface Units (HIUs)
Operators and suppliers
The 2 roles are distinct in regulatory terms, but the same organisation can act as both the operator and the supplier for a heat network.
If you’re an operator or supplier, you’ll only need to register information that’s relevant to your role.
Find out more about what operators and suppliers need to do.
What is an operator
An operator is the authorised person who owns some or all of the assets on the heat network (for example the pipework, heat exchangers, substations or energy centres), or who has significant control over them.
The operator is responsible for ensuring the heat network is operated and maintained in a way that supports reliable, efficient and safe service, and for meeting relevant regulatory requirements. This responsibility applies even where maintenance, repairs or other activities are carried out by third party contractors.
What is a supplier
A supplier is the authorised person who is responsible for the contractual and customer‑facing arrangements associated with supplying heating, cooling or hot water to consumers on the heat network.
Suppliers are responsible for consumer outcomes, including billing, complaints handling and communications, and for ensuring compliance with consumer protection requirements. A consumer is someone who has a contract for the supply of heating, cooling or hot water, for example a bill payer.
Heat networks in scope of the regulations
District heat networks
District heat networks supply heating, cooling or hot water to 2 or more buildings.
Communal heat networks
Communal heat networks supply heating, cooling or hot water to a single building that’s divided into separate premises.
Self-supply heat networks
Self‑supply heat networks are where an organisation runs a heat network, but only supplies heat to itself instead of any third-party customers. For example, hospitals, universities, education campuses, prisons and large sites with several buildings owned and occupied by the same organisation.
Self-supply networks are within the scope of regulation, but have fewer regulatory obligations.
Industrial heat networks
Industrial heat networks supply heat as part of an industrial site or process, where providing heat is not the main purpose of the business.
Industrial networks are within the scope of regulation, but have fewer regulatory obligations than networks that supply heat to customers.
Shared ground loop (SGL) heat networks
SGL heat networks use a shared closed ground or water loop, typically alongside individual heat pumps.
SGL networks are within the scope of regulation, but have fewer regulatory obligations.
Exemptions from regulation
Examples of networks that are out of scope of the regulations include:
- houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) where heating is supplied through a shared heating system of single-dwelling capacity
- conversions of existing buildings where a property is divided to create multiple dwellings within a shared building, that have one energy source with a capacity of no more than 45kWth
- single buildings with shared facilities which are not fully self-contained, for example nursing homes
- third‑party waste heat producers For full details on what types of heat networks are in scope of regulation and how the regulations apply, you should read the heat networks registration guidance.
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Related links
- Heat networks: help and support
- Heat networks: how to prepare for registration
- Heat networks: making changes to your registration
- Heat networks: topic page
Share the page
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