Energy Bills Discount Scheme: scheme documents (including rules and methodology)
Rules, guidance and scheme documents for energy suppliers, scheme administrators, and non-domestic energy customers.
Documents
Details
These rules and other documents are for:
- energy suppliers
- scheme administrators
- non-domestic energy customers
The Energy Bills Discount Scheme Regulations 2023 and the Energy Bills Discount Scheme (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2023 came into force on 26 April 2023.
The regulations were made under powers in the Energy Prices Act 2022. This legislation provides government with the powers to establish the scheme, ensure benefits are passed on to consumers and provide for an effective compliance and enforcement regime.
The rules and documents on this page are made and published pursuant to the above regulations.
The Pass Through Requirement Regulations ensure that intermediaries, such as landlords, who have received energy price support, pass through the benefit obtained to end users - see the pass-through requirements guidance.
The Energy Bills Discount Scheme will run from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 for eligible non-domestic consumers in Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Find out about the EBDS for non-domestic customers and how you can get support.
About the documents on this page
The factsheet sets out the energy bills discount scheme that will run from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 for eligible non-domestic consumers in Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
The methodology document sets out how sector eligibility was determined for the higher Energy and Trade Intensive Industry (ETII) support.
Energy Bills Discount Scheme rules for Great Britain (GB) and Energy Bill Discount Scheme Northern Ireland (NI) rules
These rules are made pursuant to the Energy Bills Discount Scheme regulations. The rules will be updated in accordance with the regulations. The rules contain the following:
- calculation of the discounted supply price according to customer type and supply contract type
- discount recovery rules including rules relating to the scheme portal, when claims and pay-outs are to be made and information to be provided
- rules about decisions and determinations by the Secretary of State
- rules concerning the discount for Energy or Trade Intensive Industries or Domestic Heat Consumers
Energy Bills Discount Scheme (Amendment) Rules 2023 for Great Britain (GB) and Northern Ireland (NI)
This sets out an amendment to the rules document about sending a review request. If the discount is revoked, there is a deadline of 10 business days after the relevant decision date to submit a request.
Energy Bills Discount Scheme (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2023 for Great Britain (GB) and Northern Ireland (NI)
This sets out an amendment to the rules document about the validity of applications from qualifying heat suppliers (QHS) following a rule 27.4 notice.
Energy Bills Discount Scheme (Amendment No. 3) Rules 2023 for Great Britain (GB) and Northern Ireland (NI)
This sets out an amendment to the rules document about the claims window. An amendment to rule 9 has substituted the December claims window end date from 14 December 2023 to 12 December 2023.
Energy Bills Discount Scheme (Amendment No. 4) Rules 2023 for Northern Ireland (NI)
This sets out an amendment to the rules document about the ETII and QHS application process. An amendment to rule 24 and 25 has added the requirement for an applicant to provide an undertaking declaration.
Energy Bills Discount Scheme (Great Britain) (Amendment No. 4) Rules 2023
This sets out an amendment to the rules regarding regulation 16(8) of the EBDS Regulations 2023. New Rule 28A gives the Secretary of State a power to require an ETII operator to make a declaration regarding compliance with that regulation.
Energy Bills Discount Scheme (Amendment) Rules 2024 for Great Britain (GB) and Northern Ireland (NI)
This amendment notes a change in supplier adjustment windows, moving the already published April 2024 claim date to May 2024.
Energy Bills Discount Scheme (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2024 for Great Britain (GB) and Northern Ireland (NI)
This sets out an amendment to the Energy Bills Discount Scheme Rules 2023 for Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Rule 16.4.1 is amended to change the timeframe by which a Qualifying Heat Supplier (QHS) applicant can apply for a review request, and for sending a notice of an interested person’s views regarding a QHS application.
The Energy Bills Discount Scheme (Amendment No. 3) Rules 2024 for Great Britain (GB) and Northern Ireland (NI)
This sets out an amendment to the Energy Bills Discount Scheme Rules 2023 for Great Britain and Northern Ireland. These amendments correspond to the Energy Bills Discount Scheme (Amendment) Regulations 2024 by specifying a final date by which Qualifying Heat Supplier applications must be made.
The Energy Bills Discount Scheme (Great Britain) (Amendment No. 4) Rules 2024
This has been revoked by rule 2.1 of the Energy Bill Discount Scheme (Amendment No. 5) Rules 2024.
Energy Bill Discount Scheme (Amendment No. 5) Rules 2024 and Energy Bill Discount Scheme (Northern Ireland) (Amendment No. 4) Rules 2024
This amends the Energy Bills Discount Scheme Rules 2023 for Great Britain and Northern Ireland. These amendments specify the date applications must be made and the circumstances for an extension, if it was not reasonable to expect the person to apply before that date.
Energy Bills Discount Scheme reference wholesale price methodology
These documents detail the methodology used for determining reference wholesale prices applicable to variable price contracts and fixed price contracts for the Energy Bills Discount Scheme. These are the key figures that have been used to calculate the discount. Each document applies only to the relevant administration.
Notices of delegation
Notice of delegation of functions in relation to discount recovery to Elexon and Xoserve for the Energy Bills Discount Scheme (Great Britain only).
Scheme parameters
These are the key figures that, together with the wholesale reference prices, are used to calculate the discount. They must be determined and published by the Secretary of State.
Revised scheme parameters
These are the key figures that, together with the wholesale reference prices, are used to calculate the discount. The figures for qualifying heat suppliers (QHS) on variable, flexible and DAI price contracts have been revised from February 2024. They must be determined and published by the Secretary of State.
Energy Bills Discount Scheme in Great Britain and Northern Ireland: privacy notice
How we will use your personal data and what your rights are.
Updates to this page
Published 9 January 2023Last updated 16 August 2024 + show all updates
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Added amended rules: The Energy Bills Discount Scheme (Great Britain) (Amendment No. 4) Rules 2024, Energy Bill Discount Scheme (Amendment No. 5) Rules 2024 and Energy Bill Discount Scheme (Northern Ireland) (Amendment No. 4) Rules 2024.
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Added Energy Bills Discount Scheme (Amendment No. 3) Rules 2024 for Great Britain (GB) and Northern Ireland (NI).
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Added Energy Bills Discount Scheme (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2024 for Great Britain (GB) and Northern Ireland (NI).
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Added Energy Bills Discount Scheme (Amendment) Rules 2024 for Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
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Updated Energy Bills Discount Scheme guidance for licensed energy suppliers (Great Britain and Northern Ireland) with the Minimum Supply Prices as of 1 February 2024.
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Added revised scheme parameters for qualifying heat suppliers (QHS) on variable, flexible and DAI price contracts from February 2024.
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EBDS guidance for licensed energy suppliers: Calculation of discount for customers on ‘Blend and Extend’ contracts section updated with illustrative examples to show in practice how the discount should be applied to contracts that have been subject to a ‘blend and extend’ amendment.
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Added Rules amendment 3 about the claims window: an amendment to rule 9 has substituted the December claims window end date from 14 December 2023 to 12 December 2023.
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Link to EBDS privacy notice has been added, setting out how personal data will be used and what your rights are.
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Added new version of 'EBDS guidance for licensed energy suppliers' with guidance on calculating the discount for customers on 'blend and extend' contracts.
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Added Energy Bills Discount Scheme (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2023 for Great Britain (GB) and Northern Ireland (NI) on the validity of applications from qualifying heat suppliers (QHS).
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Added Energy Bills Discount Scheme (Amendment) Rules 2023 for Great Britain (GB) and Northern Ireland (NI) - which sets out a change in deadline for requesting a review after the discount is revoked.
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Added Heat supplier bulk application template for EBDS heat network support.
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Updated with the documents: * Energy Bills Discount Scheme reference wholesale price methodology * Notices of delegation * Scheme parameters
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Updated to include the Energy Bills Discount Scheme Rules for Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
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Changed the document to the DESNZ department and added a document on Energy Bills Discount Scheme Energy and Trade Intense Industries Assessment Methodology.
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First published.