Energy Bill [HL] 2022-23 Progress of the Bill

The Energy Bill [HL] 2022-23 originally trailed as the Energy Security Bill in the Queen’s Speech on 10 May 2022. It was introduced as the Energy Bill in the House of Lords on 6 July 2022 and then to the House of Commons on 25 April 2023 after completing Lord’s stages.

Copies of the Bill (as introduced, as brought from the House of Lords and debated in committee and as amended in Public Bill Committee) together with Explanatory Notes, Delegated Powers Memorandum and Impact Assessments are available on the Parliament website.

In addition, DESNZ has published 35 Energy Bill factsheets (updated as the Bill has changed) covering the various parts of the Bill.

The government’s Energy Security Bill overarching factsheet explained that the Bill “will deliver a cleaner, more affordable and more secure energy system for the long term”, building on the commitments in the April 2022 British Energy Security Strategy to “invest in homegrown energy and maintain the diversity and resilience of the UK’s energy supply”. The factsheet also highlighted the need for a “transformation of our energy system” and “more home-grown energy from more diverse sources which reduce our dependency on imported fossil fuels and our exposure to volatile and high prices in international markets”.

The Bill, as introduced in the House of Commons from the House of Lords, included a number of amendments added after government defeats, including clauses introducing a net zero target for the energy regulator Ofgem, banning any new coal mines in the UK, provisions on community energy and provisions on energy efficiency for buildings. The Library Briefing Energy Bill [HL] 2022-23: Overview, which was prepared for the Second Reading, provides an overview of the Bill and includes details of the clauses added to the Bill after defeats in the House of Lords. It also provides links to existing Commons Briefings on the Bill.

Six further Library briefings have been published covering background on the legislation and the provisions of the Bill in more detail, as it was when introduced to the House of Commons (PDF):

• Energy Bill [HL] 2022-23, parts 1, 2 & 3: carbon storage, hydrogen, and new technologies : covers parts 1 to 3 of the Energy Bill, including carbon dioxide usage, transport and storage, hydrogen production, the hydrogen village trial and new technologies.
• Energy Bill [HL] 2022-23, parts 4-6: Electricity and gas markets covers parts 4-6 of the Bill, including the Independent System Operator and Planner, governance of gas and electricity industry governance codes, multi-purpose interconnectors, electricity storage and smart meters.
• Energy Bill [HL] 2022-23, parts 7-10: heat networks, smart appliances, load control and energy performance of buildings covers parts 7-10 of the Bill, including heat networks, energy smart appliances and load control, energy performance of buildings and Energy Savings Opportunity Schemes.
• Energy Bill [HL] 2022-23, Parts 11 and 12: Offshore wind, oil and gas covers parts 11-12 of the Bill, including core fuel sector resilience, offshore wind electricity generation and oil and gas.
• Energy Bill [HL] 2022-23, part 13: Provisions on civil nuclear regulation covers part 13 and sections of part 3 that relate to nuclear regulation, including geological disposal facilities for radioactive waste, nuclear sites where the risk of radiation is low and allowing the UK to join a UN convention on providing compensation to victims of nuclear incidents.
• The Energy Bill and households: FAQs covers frequently asked questions about the Bill and how it could impact households.

Second reading in the Commons took place on 9 May 2023. The Bill’s Committee stage took place over 18 sittings starting on 23 May 2023 and finishing on 29 June 2023.

Report stage and third reading in the commons took place on 5 September 2023.

“Ping-pong” took place between 12 September and 24 October 2023.

The Bill was given Royal Assent on 26 October 2023, meaning that it is now an Act of Parliament; the Energy Act 2023.