{"title":"Regulating Heat Networks: An Appraisal of the Energy Act 2023","authors":"C. Caine","doi":"10.1093/jel/eqae010","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"\n Heat networks have the potential to deliver up to 20% of heat to homes in the UK by 2050 and are able to deliver significant reductions in carbon emissions contributing substantially to the UK’s 2050 net zero target. However, for many years the sector has been unregulated which means that some consumers of heat networks have been paying high prices for heating systems which may have been poorly constructed and which they do not understand. This analysis identifies three key problems that have arisen from a lack of regulation in the sector: higher prices for consumers, a lack of transparency and understanding of heat networks, and design and build problems, which have all served as barriers to realising low carbon heating in the UK. The recently enacted Energy Act 2023 will be analysed to determine the extent to which it will resolve these problems.","PeriodicalId":46437,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Environmental Law","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.0000,"publicationDate":"2024-04-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Environmental Law","FirstCategoryId":"90","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1093/jel/eqae010","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Heat networks have the potential to deliver up to 20% of heat to homes in the UK by 2050 and are able to deliver significant reductions in carbon emissions contributing substantially to the UK’s 2050 net zero target. However, for many years the sector has been unregulated which means that some consumers of heat networks have been paying high prices for heating systems which may have been poorly constructed and which they do not understand. This analysis identifies three key problems that have arisen from a lack of regulation in the sector: higher prices for consumers, a lack of transparency and understanding of heat networks, and design and build problems, which have all served as barriers to realising low carbon heating in the UK. The recently enacted Energy Act 2023 will be analysed to determine the extent to which it will resolve these problems.
期刊介绍:
Condensing essential information into just three issues a year, the Journal of Environmental Law has become an authoritative source of informed analysis for all those who have any dealings in this vital field of legal study. It exists primarily for academics and legal practitioners, but should also prove accessible for all other groups concerned with the environment, from scientists to planners. The journal offers major articles on a wide variety of topics, refereed and written to the highest standards, providing innovative and authoritative appraisals of current and emerging concepts, policies, and practice. It includes: -An analysis section, providing detailed analysis of current case law and legislative and policy developments -An annual review of significant UK, European Court of Justice, and international law cases -A substantial book reviews section