Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill is passed

This week saw, by unanimous vote in the Scottish Parliament, the passing into law of the Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill.

This important piece of legislation creates for the first time anywhere in the UK a regulatory framework for district heating and introduces a new licensing system to drive up standards across the sector and improve consumer confidence. It also creates much welcome new rights for heat network developers and operators to level up the playing field with other utilities in order to make investment in the sector more attractive and encourage further growth. A new consent system will also be introduced to make sure that new networks are developed in areas where they will have most benefit and are tailored to local needs.

Vattenfall were pleased to take part in the working group set up by the Scottish Government to develop the policy reflected in the legislation, so we’re delighted to see it reach this important milestone. But the work doesn’t stop here. The Bill is essentially a piece of framing legislation – it sets out the principles for how regulation for heat networks will work. Detailed guidance and regulations required to implement the Bill will be developed over the next two years, so in that sense the hard work is yet to be done.

We very much look forward to continuing to working with the Scottish Government as they bring this legislation to life through the drafting of the crucial secondary legislation.