Manage a licence
What to do if you have issues with meeting conditions.
If you have an energy licence, you need to work with us to manage your licence and its requirements.
You need to ask for permission if there is a time when you cannot meet a condition without working against consumers' interests. For example, missing a deadline to publish tariffs until they are right. We call this permission a derogation.
Apply for a new licence if you need your licence to cover new customers, areas or services or to transfer a licence to a different company or legal entity.
If you no longer need a licence, you need to request a revocation.
Apply for an energy licence, including to transfer a licence.
Request a temporary permission to not meet a licence requirement
To make a derogation request, you need to provide evidence about what could happen if you meet a licence requirement and if you do not meet it.
This could include the impact on consumers, competition, health and safety or sustainable development. We need to be satisfied that the impacts justify the derogation.
Request a derogation by sending us details about:
- licensed company name and address
- the issue with a condition or code
- quantitative assessment of impacts, if possible
- any suitable alternative obligations you’d suggest
- how long you propose that the derogation should last
Send your derogation request by emailing derogations@ofgem.gov.uk.
How we’ll handle your derogation request
We’ll approve or reject your request after considering the nature and size of the impacts.
If we approve your request, we can give you the:
- timeframe for the derogation
- reasons we might end the derogation
- alternative obligations you must meet
Request a revocation if you do not need a licence
If you’re not using your licence to carry out an energy activity, apply for a licence revocation.
To stop using your licence, tell us:
- name of the licensed company
- type of licensed energy activity
- licence number if you have one
- that you understand that the revocation cannot be reversed
If you sell energy with a supply licence, please also tell us:
- whether you have any customers
- how any customers will continue to get energy
- how you’ll fully met all renewable and social scheme obligations
You need to use company headed paper and have the signature of a representative with authority, usually a director. Email: licensing@ofgem.gov.uk.
If we agree that your licence should be revoked, we’ll publish a notice of revocation on the public register. This gives you and anybody interested 30 days’ notice that the licence will end.