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Energy Act 2008

Type of Bill:
Government Bill
Sponsors:
John Hutton
Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform
Lord Jones of Birmingham
Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform

Progress of the Bill

Bill started in the House of Commons

  1. House of Commons
    1. 1st reading
    2. 2nd reading
    3. Committee stage
    4. Report stage
    5. 3rd reading
  2. House of Lords
    1. 1st reading
    2. 2nd reading
    3. Committee stage
    4. Report stage
    5. 3rd reading
  3. Consideration of Amendments
  4. Royal Assent

Last events

Act of Parliament

House Act Date
Commons Commons Amendment - html version 20.11.2008

Summary of the Energy Act 2008

The Energy Bill contains the legislative provisions required to implement UK energy policy following the publication of the Energy Review 2006 and the Energy White Paper 2007.

This policy is driven by the two long-term energy challenges faced by the UK: tackling climate change by reducing carbon dioxide emissions, and ensuring secure, clean and affordable energy.

Key areas

  • Strengthens the regulatory framework for offshore gas supply infrastructure to enable private sector investment
  • Creates a regulatory framework to enable private sector investment in Carbon Capture and Storage projects
  • Strengthens the Renewables Obligation to drive greater and more rapid deployment of renewables in the UK
  • Strengthens statutory decommissioning provisions for offshore renewables and oil and gas installations to minimise the risk of liabilities falling to the Government
  • Improves the offshore oil and gas licensing regime in response to changes in the commercial environment and enable the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform to carry out its regulatory functions more effectively
  • Ensures the operators of new nuclear power stations accumulate funds to meet the full costs of decommissioning and their full share of waste management costs
  • Introduces amending powers such that Ofgem is able to run the offshore electricity transmission licensing regime more effectively.

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