Energy policy research: Legislation

The Library produces a briefing for every Bill at its Second Reading before the House of Commons, and updates these briefings as they progress through the legislative stages to become Acts of Parliament.

Previous Governments have passed legislation on specific aspects of the energy sector, such as price caps, smart meters, or nuclear financing, as well as broad legislation covering many energy areas, such as the Energy Act 2023.

The Labour Government announced several bills in the Kings Speech that relate to energy. Briefings on these Bills will be published in due course:

GB Energy Bill
National Wealth Fund Bill
Sustainable Aviation Fuel Bill
Crown Estate Bill

Briefings

The Domestic Gas and Electricity (Tariff Cap) Act 2018

The Tariff Cap Act 2018 requires the regulator Ofgem to impose a temporary, absolute cap on the price of standard variable and default electricity and gas tariffs.
Smart Meters Act 2018

This Commons Library briefing contains background information on smart meters and the roll out, discussion on the clauses of the Smart Meters Bill, and comment on the Bill. The Bill received Royal Assent on 23 May 2018 without amendment, becoming the Smart Meters Act 2018.
- Energy
Energy Bill [HL] 2022-23: Overview

The Energy Bill [HL] is scheduled for its Commons Second Reading stage on 9 May 2023. This briefing provides an overview of the bill and links to the five Library briefings have been published covering the provisions of the Bill in more detail.
- Energy
Nuclear Energy (Financing) Bill 2021-22

The Nuclear Energy (Financing) Bill aims to provide for a new model for financing new nuclear power stations in the UK. This briefing covers the Bill's progress through Parliament, through second reading and committee stage.
- Energy

More energy policy collections

Energy policy research

The Library’s research on energy policy, covering consumers, infrastructure, markets and prices, and legislation, is collected on this webpage.
Energy policy research: Consumers

See all the Library’s research on consumer energy issues including bills, grid connections, energy efficiency, domestic heat and power installations, and fuel poverty.
Energy policy research: Infrastructure

See all the Library’s research on energy infrastructure issues including large-scale energy generation, and transmission and distribution through grid networks.
Energy policy research: Markets and prices

See the Library’s research on energy markets, including wholesale and retail markets, domestic and non-domestic industry prices, and energy security issues.