Apply for the Energy Bills Discount Scheme heat network support
Use this service if you are a heat supplier in the UK applying for the Energy Bills Discount Scheme heat network support.
This scheme closed to new applications on 31 March 2024.
The only exception is for heat suppliers, who became aware on or after 18 March 2024, that they were a heat supplier or had a qualifying heat network. These heat suppliers have until 14 April 2024 to apply.
The Energy Bills Discount Scheme (EBDS) also offers support to:
As non-domestic customers, all eligible heat networks will receive at least the baseline level of support under the EBDS. A higher level of support is available to heat networks with domestic end consumers.
Heat suppliers that have heat networks with domestic end consumers will be required by law to apply for this support and pass on the benefit they receive to their end consumers.
Eligible heat suppliers will be required to apply, even if their current contract prevents them from getting the discount. This is in case they need to access the support at a later date.
Who can apply for heat network support
The scheme opened for applications on 26 April 2023 with a 90 day deadline of 25 July 2023.
If your heat network was eligible on 26 April, and you did not apply by 25 July, you must apply as soon as possible. If you do not, you may be subject to enforcement.
If you supply a heat network that became eligible after 26 April, you must apply within 90 days of when the network became eligible.
Eligible heat networks
Heat suppliers will be eligible for the higher level of support if their heat network:
- supplies heating or hot water to a building or persons in that building
- is supplied by a licensed supplier
- supplies one or more domestic customers
- uses gas or electricity for producing heat
All meter points that supply energy to generate heating or hot water and distribute that heating or hot water to consumers through the heat networks are eligible for support. Meter points that do not supply energy for the heat network are not eligible for support and should not be provided during the application process.
Heat suppliers with multiple networks must apply for each eligible network. Heat suppliers with more than 10 networks can apply for multiple networks in a single application using the bulk upload template. Download the template, fill it in and send to support@ebds.beis.gov.uk with a signed Director’s declaration letter.
What is not eligible
Households on heat networks do not need to apply for this scheme. Your heat supplier must apply on your behalf and pass-through any discount to you. Find out what to do if you think you should have received a discount, but haven’t. Read about all energy bill and cost of living support.
If you are a heat supplier, the discount will not apply to:
- gas used to generate electricity to export back to the grid, where the electrical generation capacity of the generating plant exceeds 5MW, including if it has been stored first
- gas or electricity made available to customers in the Republic of Ireland
- heat networks which provide cooling only, and not heating or hot water
- any sources of energy other than gas or electricity supplied via a licensed energy supplier
Before you start
You will need to provide:
Details of the heat supplier
- registered name and address (if you have previously submitted a Heat Network Metering and Billing notification, use the same details if possible)
- contact details (including email address and phone number)
- company registration number (if they have one)
Details of the individual completing the application
- name and contact details
Details of the heat network
-
name
- if you have previously submitted a Heat Network Metering and Billing notification, use the same details if possible
- if you have not submitted a notification, use the building name where possible
- postcode of the heat network’s primary energy centre (if you have previously submitted a Heat Network Metering and Billing notification, use the same details if possible)
- the type of energy used to power the heat network (gas, electricity, or both)
Details of who provides energy to the heat supplier
- name
- whether they are a licensed supplier
- details of any intermediaries, such as landlords, if bills are not paid directly to an energy supplier
- the gas or electricity meter point numbers (MPRN or MPAN) for the meters supplying the energy centre, found on bills from suppliers - this is not the same as meter readings or meter serial numbers
- whether your meters provide anything else other than heat generation
Providing your supplier name and meter numbers during application will reduce the time it takes to receive your discount.
A template has been provided to record your meter point numbers. This can be used when applying if you have more than 10 meter point numbers per supplier. You cannot use it if you are submitting a bulk upload template.
Evidence for your application
Signed director’s declaration letter
Applicants will need to provide a declaration letter. It must be signed by one of the following:
- a named director of the heat supplier
- (if not a company) a person whose authority in relation to the organisation is most akin to that of a director of a company
- (if not a company) the heat supplier themself if a person
You should use the template provided, which sets out what must be included in your letter.
If you are submitting a bulk upload template you only need to submit a single director’s declaration letter.
Evidence that your heat network has domestic customers
Applicants may need to provide further evidence that the heat network for which they are applying has domestic customers.
You may be asked to upload documents that prove a contractual relationship between the heat supplier and its domestic customers.
This could include:
- a domestic heat supply contract
- residential agreements with provision of heat or hot water
- metering and billing agreements
You will only need to upload pages that show the name of the heat network and that it provides heat or hot water to domestic customers.
If you are unable to provide documents which include the name of the heat network, you should provide a diagram or explanation. This needs to show how the heat network is related to the named entity along with evidence of this relationship. This may include, but is not limited to, contracts and invoices.
You can also provide any other evidence to support your application, for example, energy bills showing 5% VAT and the supply address.
For heat networks that became eligible after 26 April 2023, we may need to contact you to ask for evidence of the date they became eligible.
Check your eligibility and apply
There are two ways to apply:
1. If you are applying for multiple heat networks, you can apply using the bulk upload template. Download the template, fill it in and send to support@ebds.beis.gov.uk with a signed Director’s declaration letter.
2. If you are applying for individual heat networks, please use the application portal link here. You will need about 30 minutes to complete this form. You must complete your application in one session; you cannot save the form and return to it later.
What you need to know
Your application details and evidence will be assessed to determine whether you should receive the discount.
We will use a range of data sources to make the initial determination. In some instances you may be asked for additional information to check your eligibility.
You will be told about this decision by email. If you’re eligible, a certificate will also be emailed to you. This will include information on steps you may need to take to get the discount.
If you disagree with the outcome of your application, you will be able to appeal the decision. Further information on the appeals process will be released in due course.
Heat suppliers must pass on the discount to their domestic customers. Read more about the pass-through requirements.
Changes of circumstances
You must tell us about any change in circumstances that might affect your eligibility and the ability of energy suppliers to pay the discount. You can do this by contacting the customer support team.
You will need to contact us if the heat network you have applied for changes its name.
Apply by phone
If you cannot apply online, contact the EBDS customer support team.
Email: support@ebds.beis.gov.uk
Telephone: 030 0400 5251
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
Find out about call charges
Energy Ombudsman consumer redress scheme
Heat suppliers in Great Britain must register under the redress scheme, managed by the Energy Ombudsman. You can find out more about the redress scheme on the Energy Ombudsman website.
Heat Network (Metering and Billing) Regulations 2014 notifications
Eligible heat suppliers that have already submitted notifications to the OPSS under the Heat Network (Metering and Billing) Regulations 2014 are still required to register for the Energy Bills Discount Scheme Heat Network Support.
Doing this will pause the requirement to submit the more comprehensive notification under the Heat Network (Metering and Billing) Regulations 2014 until 25 July 2023. From 25 July 2023, the requirement to notify will apply again.
About the Energy Bills Discount Scheme support for heat suppliers
This scheme aims to bring retail energy prices paid by heat suppliers down to a target heat network Minimum Supply Price (MSP) through reductions in the wholesale element of the bill. This means there are no maximum discounts or wholesale price thresholds for heat networks. This is different to the approach taken for other parts of the Energy Bills Discount Scheme or the Energy Bill Relief Scheme.
The scheme will support the wholesale element of a heat network’s energy tariff, up to the point that the Minimum Supply Price is achieved. The Minimum Supply Prices are:
1 April 2023 – 31 January 2024 - for all eligible contracts (for Fixed Contracts entered into before 1 February 2024, these MSPs will be effective until 31 March 2024)
- electricity - £340 per MWh
- gas - £78.3 per MWh
1 February 2024 onwards - for all existing Variable, Flexible and DAI contracts, and for fixed contracts entered into on or after 1 February 2024:
- electricity - £28.24p/kWh
- gas - £6.50p/kWh
The Energy Bills Discount Scheme revised scheme parameters for Great Britain and Northern Ireland (February 2024) also outlines the change to the Minimum Supply Price from 1 February 2024.
After their application for the scheme has been approved, heat suppliers will receive the new discount rate from their energy suppliers. They will then need to pass this discount on to their consumers.
This should ensure that domestic customers on heat networks do not face disproportionately higher heat and hot water bills when compared to customers in equivalent households who are supported by the Energy Price Guarantee (EPG).
If domestic customers think they have not been passed on their discounts in a just and reasonable way and are unable to resolve their complaint directly with their heat network, they will have access to alternative dispute resolution (as under the EBRS). Customers will be able to raise a complaint with the Energy Ombudsman (for Great Britain) and the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland (for Northern Ireland).
Further information about the scheme
You can:
Last updated 31 January 2024 + show all updates
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Added the Minimum Supply Prices as of 1 February 2024.
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Updated with more information about who can apply after 25 July 2023.
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Included guidance and link relating to the Heat supplier bulk application template for EBDS heat network support.
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Updated as the application window for applying for the EBDS heat network support is now open.
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Updated with more information about what evidence you will need to gather ready for when the application portal opens later in April.
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First published.