Page 168 - planet_rent

25
st
building need to register with the National Measurement and Regulation Office (NMRO) . And, by 31
December 2017 all buildings on a communal network or district network must heat meters installed to
each dwelling, subject to a few practical aspects that will allow exemption, e.g., older style mansion
blocks. Whilst the regulations require usage billing they do not dictate the contract or billing rate per
kwhr so a business account can be set up for the building and pay all usage costs with a rent inclusive
gas charge.

15.10 Disclosure: If a building is on a communal system with heating landlord billed this must be disclosed
upfront in writing else the tenant could make a complaint to The Utilities Ombudsman, however, so
long as this is disclosed upfront, there is no legislation which dictates that the tenant has freedom
choose their own energy supplier where the building is on a district or communal heating system.

15.11 Origin of regulations: The Heat Network (Metering and Billing) Regulations 2014 implement the
requirements in the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) with respect to the supply of distributed heat,
cooling, and hot water. The EU Commission 2020 set a target for a 20% headline improvement in and
lays down rules to overcome market failures that impede efficiency in the supply and use of energy.

15.12 Approval of meters: The normal route for approval of design of a meter is through the Measuring
Instruments Directive (MID). Where the installed meter has been approved under the MID, and the
error limits in the MID are being applied, the authority (NMRO) will generally accept this route for
approval of the meter. Where a meter is not approved under the MID, the authority may need to take a
risk based approach to seeking further assurances of the meter’s ability to meet the on-going accuracy
requirements of the regulations.

rd
15.13 3 party controlled Energy Centres: Typically the energy company, say E-on or SSE in return for a 25
year lease of the energy centre, will install equipment and gain the exclusive right to bill residents a
heat charge which would include: energy use, standing charge and sinking fund towards future
equipment replacement. In such cases tenancy agreements would need to include a deed and energy
centre customer supply agreement.

15.14 Providers of end to end utility billing solutions:
Ensuring the equipment you install can be adopted by an independent utility billing company is the
most likely route. At RIBA Stage 3-4 the BUILD TO RENT Client should agree the specification of meters
that will be adopted by their chosen meter reading company.

Evinox Energy John Williams Evinox Energy Ltd, Blenheim 07794 170 444
John@evinoxenergy.co.uk House, 1 Blenheim Road,
Surrey
Insite Energy Anthony Coates-smith Insite Energy, 84 Long Lane, 07808 646 062
Anthony.Coates-Smith@insite- London SE1 4AU
energy.co.uk

25
http://www.dataenergy.co.uk/support/heat-network-regulations-2014/
https://www.gov.uk/heat-networks

158