Decc has formally responded to feedback on the proposed energy savings opportunity scheme (ESOS), providing further details on how it will operate.
Under the scheme, large companies – at least 250 employees and/or with an annual turnover of more than €50 million and a balance sheet exceeding €43 million – will have to complete an assessment of their energy use every four years.
The first ESOS audit must be completed by 5 December 2015. For each phase, there will be a qualification date, when potential participants will have to determine whether they are eligible, and a compliance date, by which time companies must have completed their ESOS assessment. The first qualification date will be 31 December 2014.
An ESOS assessment includes three main requirements:
- participants must measure all their energy use for a continuous 12-month period;
- audits must cover all their main areas of energy consumption, and at least 90% of total energy use; and
- participants must report compliance to the Environment Agency, as the scheme administrator, by the compliance date, and maintain an ESOS evidence pack providing a full record of scheme compliance.