Licences and licence conditions
Licences and licence conditions
The Gas Act 1986 (as amended) and The Electricity Act 1989 (as amended) (the Acts) prohibit certain activities unless the person carrying on that activity is licensed, exempt from the requirement for a licence, or eligible (under the Gas Act only) for an exception to the prohibition on unlicensed activities.
There is a set of standard licence conditions for each licensable activity. Licensees are obliged to comply with the licence conditions for their type of licence from the day the licence is granted.
Licensees must also become party to and/or comply with certain industry codes. You will need to make contact with the appropriate organisations directly in order to sign up to the relevant industry codes. Please visit the codes page of our website for further details and Code Administrator contact details.
Gas licences and conditions
Electricity licences and conditions
The Smart Meter Communication Licence and conditions
In September 2013, following the completion of a competitive procurement process, the then Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) granted the new Smart Meter Communication Licence to Smart DCC Limited, also known as the Data and Communications Company (or DCC).
As the owner of this licence, the DCC is responsible for providing the communications service that links gas and electricity smart meters in homes and small businesses across Great Britain with the systems of energy suppliers, network operators and energy service companies.
Independent System Operator and Planner licence
National Electricity System Operator licences and conditions
In September 2024 the Department for Energy and Net Zero (DESNZ) set up the National Energy System Operator (NESO). NESO has been granted an Electricity System Operator licence and Gas System Planner licence that started from 1 October 2024.
It is responsible for operating and planning the electricity transmission system and the strategic planning of the gas system.
Exemptions from requiring a licence
There are some instances when you will not need to apply for a licence. Exemptions can apply to individual cases or a class of activity and may be unconditional or subject to certain conditions including length of time.
The Gas Act 1986 and the Electricity Act 1989 allow the Secretary of State to make orders giving exemptions from the need to hold licences. This means that some activities that fall within the definitions of a licensable activity are, in fact, exempt from the need to hold licences.
We are unable to advise you on exemptions and recommend you consult the Gas Act 1986, the Electricity Act 1989, your legal counsel and the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero. You may wish to view examples of gas exemption orders and electricity exemption orders.
Exceptions (Gas only)
Schedule 2A of The Gas Act 1986 (as amended) sets out certain exceptions to the need to hold a licence. It is for the applicant to ascertain whether the proposed activity falls within the scope of an exception.
We cannot advise whether a person carrying on an activity or proposing to carry on an activity will be exempt or excepted from the requirement to hold a licence.
Additional guidance for suppliers
The gas and electricity supply licences set out the conditions that all energy suppliers must adhere to in order to supply energy to domestic and non-domestic consumers.
We have compiled a range of guides to help suppliers and other stakeholders navigate and understand the obligations of energy suppliers.
- Introduction to the supply licences
- Standards of Conduct
- Marketing and sales
- Tariffs and contracts
- Information for consumers
- Switching
- Safety and vulnerable consumer protections
- Metering, billing and payments
- Smart metering
- Interactions with Ofgem and other industry participants
- Environmental and social schemes