Energy Act 2023

Installation and maintenance licences

31 (1) The regulations may provide for the issuing of licences (“installation and maintenance licences”) which authorise the holder of a licence to exercise the rights specified in the licence for purposes relating to the installation or maintenance of relevant heat networks—

(a) in England and Wales, or

(b) in Northern Ireland.

(2) The regulations may require the Regulator to be satisfied before issuing an installation and maintenance licence to a person that the person is an appropriate person to hold such a licence.

(3) The regulations may require the Regulator, in deciding whether a person is an appropriate person to hold an installation and maintenance licence, to consider such matters as may be specified.

(4) The matters specified may, in particular, relate to the abilities or financial resources of the person applying for a licence or the nature of the business carried on by the person.

(5) The regulations may specify other conditions that are to be satisfied before a licence may be issued.

(6) The regulations may make provision about the procedure for applying for a licence, including provision about—

(a) the form and content of an application,

(b) the manner in which the application and any accompanying documents are to be submitted to the Regulator, and

(c) the payment of a fee.

(7) Regulations made by virtue of sub-paragraph (6) may provide for the Regulator to make provision by regulations about the matters referred to in sub-paragraph (6) (including provision about the information that must be provided to the Regulator by a person applying for a licence), so far as relating to England and Wales.

(8) Regulations made by the Regulator by virtue of sub-paragraph (7) are to be made by statutory instrument.

(9) The regulations may make provision as to the period for which a licence may be in force.

(10) The regulations may make provision about the transfer of a licence.