Heat networks: who needs to register

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.