The number of businesses complying with new energy efficiency regulations has risen significantly as the 5 December deadline nears.
As of 27 November, the agency had received over 1,680 notifications of compliance under the energy savings opportunity scheme (ESOS), which transposes article 8 of the EU Energy Efficiency Directive (2012/27/EU) and requires businesses to audit their energy use.
All large businesses in the UK that employ at least 250 people, or have an annual turnover above £38.9 million and an annual balance sheet total above £33.4 million, must take part in the scheme. The agency estimates that around 10,000 organisations qualify.
At the end of October, fewer than 500 businesses had complied with the scheme. The agency decided not to enforce non-compliance until the end of January, as long as companies explained by the original deadline why compliance had not been possible. They must also provide evidence of efforts towards compliance, including proof of appointment of an independent assessor.
Alternatively, businesses can comply with ESOS by gaining certification to ISO 50001. Companies now have until the end of June 2016 to achieve the energy management standard.
A spokesperson for the agency said: "It was a slow start, there's no getting away from that, but it has accelerated. The number is constantly going up and we're expecting quite a rush towards the end."
He stressed that it was still important for businesses to notify the agency by 5 December if they intend to be late. Letters will be sent out in the new year to businesses that have neither complied nor notified the agency of their intention to do so by the end of January. So far, over 540 companies have notified the agency that they would be late with compliance, he said.
"We will be in touch with businesses if they aren't in touch with us," he said.
