Ofgem Registration · Step by Step

How to register your heat network with Ofgem

All heat network operators and suppliers with deemed authorisation must register with Ofgem by 26 January 2027. The digital registration service opens Spring 2026. Here is what the process involves and how to prepare now.

Step 1 Confirm you are a relevant heat network

Confirm your network meets the definition of a relevant heat network under the Energy Act 2023. If it supplies more than one property from a shared source, it almost certainly does.

Step 2 Identify your role

Are you the operator, the supplier, or both? Your registration must correctly reflect your role. The operator runs the physical network; the supplier sells heat directly to end consumers. Many organisations are both. Your role determines which Ofgem authorisation conditions apply to you — Section B and Section C conditions are role-specific.

Step 3 Gather your registration information

Ofgem's registration requires evidence in three areas:

• Organisational details — legal entity, ownership structure, contact information
• Financial resilience — evidence you can maintain supply continuity. Most operators are underprepared for this.
• Consumer protection arrangements — complaints process, Energy Ombudsman membership, vulnerable customer policy, billing practices

This is the stage where the majority of operators will be underprepared. The HNC platform structures all of this evidence so it is ready when the portal opens.

Step 4 Complete registration via the Ofgem digital service

The digital registration service opens Spring 2026. You cannot register before it opens, but all the preparation you do now translates directly into what you upload.

Step 5 Meet the ongoing authorisation conditions

Registration is not the end. After registering, you remain subject to all authorisation conditions and will need to report data to Ofgem from Spring 2026.

Frequently asked questions