Part 1Introductory

Citation, commencement and extent

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Energy Bill Relief Scheme and Energy Bills Discount Scheme (Amendment) Regulations 2025 and come into force 21 days after the day on which they are made.

(2) Part 1 of these Regulations extends to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

(3) Parts 2 and 3 of these Regulations extend to England and Wales and Scotland.

(4) Part 4 of these Regulations extends to Northern Ireland only.

Part 2Amendment of the Energy Bill Relief Scheme Regulations 2022

Amendment of the Energy Bill Relief Scheme Regulations 2022

2.The Energy Bill Relief Scheme Regulations 2022(2) are amended as follows.

Amendment to regulation 19 (duty of suppliers to provide the discount)

3. In regulation 19, after paragraph (3) insert—

“(3A)Subject to the exceptions in paragraph (3B), the duties in paragraphs (1) and (3) (the “discount duties”) do not apply to a supplier on and after the date (the “discount duties end date”) which is the later of—

(a)the reconciliation run-off date in respect of that supplier, or

(b)the date the Energy Bill Relief Scheme and Energy Bills Discount Scheme (Amendment) Regulations 2025 come into force.

(3B)The discount duties continue to apply to a supplier on and after the discount duties end date in relation to energy—

(a)in respect of which the supplier has billed the customer before the discount duties end date,

(b)supplied in a billing period in respect of which the supplier has not billed the customer before the discount duties end date, or

(c)in respect of which unreasonable delay or other failure by the supplier has led to it not billing the customer for the energy accurately or at all before the discount duties end date.”.

Amendment to regulation 39 (adjustment of discount in relation to arrangements which alter a customer’s exposure to the wholesale price)

4. In regulation 39, after paragraph (1)(d) insert—

“(e)on and after the discount duties end date for a supplier, sub-paragraph (d) is to be read in relation to that supplier as though the words “in relation to a variable price contract” were omitted;

(f)sub-paragraph (e) does not apply to a supplier in relation to energy—

(i)in respect of which the supplier has billed the customer before the discount duties end date,

(ii)supplied in a billing period in respect of which the supplier has not billed the customer before the discount duties end date, or

(iii)in respect of which an unreasonable delay or other failure by the supplier has led to it not billing the customer for the energy accurately or at all before the discount duties end date;

(g)in sub-paragraphs (e) and (f), “discount duties end date” has the same meaning as in regulation 19(3A).”.

Amendment to regulation 63 (referrals in respect of disagreement between contract parties)

5. In regulation 63—

(a)at the beginning of paragraph (3) insert “Subject to the exception in paragraph (3A),”;

(b)after paragraph (3) insert—

“(3A)Where the disagreement is not resolved and the matter concerns a determination made by the supplier under or by virtue of regulations 19(3A) and (3B) or 39(1)(e) and (f)—

(a)paragraph (3) does not apply, and

(b)the supplier's determination remains effective.”.

Part 3Amendment of the Energy Bills Discount Scheme Regulations 2023

Amendment of the Energy Bills Discount Scheme Regulations 2023

6.The Energy Bills Discount Scheme Regulations 2023(3) are amended as follows.

Amendment to regulation 30 (duty of suppliers to provide the discount)

7. In regulation 30, after paragraph (3) insert—

“(3A)Subject to the exceptions in paragraph (3B), the duties in paragraphs (1) and (3) (the “discount duties”) do not apply to a supplier on and after the date (the “discount duties end date”) which is the later of—

(a)the reconciliation run-off date in respect of that supplier, or

(b)the date the Energy Bill Relief Scheme and Energy Bills Discount Scheme (Amendment) Regulations 2025 come into force.

(3B)The discount duties continue to apply to a supplier on and after the discount duties end date in relation to energy—

(a)in respect of which the supplier has billed the customer before the discount duties end date,

(b)supplied in a billing period in respect of which the supplier has not billed the customer before the discount duties end date, or

(c)in respect of which unreasonable delay or other failure by the supplier has led to it not billing the customer for the energy accurately or at all before the discount duties end date.”.

Amendment to regulation 49 (adjustment of discount in relation to arrangements which alter a customer’s exposure to the wholesale price)

8. In regulation 49, after paragraph (1)(d) insert—

“(e)on and after the discount duties end date for a supplier, sub-paragraph (d) is to be read in relation to that supplier as though the words “in relation to a variable price contract” were omitted;

(f)sub-paragraph (e) does not apply to a supplier in relation to energy—

(i)in respect of which the supplier has billed the customer before the discount duties end date,

(ii)supplied in a billing period in respect of which the supplier has not billed the customer before the discount duties end date, or

(iii)in respect of which unreasonable delay or other failure by the supplier has led to it not billing the customer for the energy accurately or at all before the discount duties end date;

(g)in sub-paragraphs (e) and (f), “discount duties end date” has the same meaning as in regulation 30(3A).”.

Amendment to regulation 68 (referrals in respect of disagreement between contract parties)

9. In regulation 68—

(a)at the beginning of paragraph (3) insert “Subject to the exception in paragraph (3A),”;

(b)after paragraph (3) insert—

“(3A)Where the disagreement is not resolved and the matter concerns a determination made by the supplier under or by virtue of regulations 30(3A) and (3B) or 49(1)(e) and (f)—

(a)paragraph (3) does not apply, and

(b)the supplier's determination remains effective.”.

Part 4Amendment of the Energy Prices Act 2022

Amendment to Schedule 5 to the Energy Prices Act 2022

10. In paragraph 7(1) of Schedule 5 to the Energy Prices Act 2022, for the words from “the first” to the end substitute—

“—

(a)for the purposes of paragraph 5, the first period of 26 months to end after this Act is passed during the whole of which both the First Minister and deputy First Minister in Northern Ireland have held office, and

(b)for the purposes of paragraph 6, the first period of 6 months to end after this Act is passed during the whole of which both of those Ministers have held office.”.