Member Article

Government announces new rules on carbon and energy reporting

Large businesses across the UK will be required to publicly report energy use, carbon emissions and energy efficiency actions under the new Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) regulations, which come into force in April 2019.

This replaces the unpopular and overly complex CRC Energy Efficiency scheme, which will be scrapped at the same time that SECR is introduced.

Are you affected?

SECR will apply to:

• All UK quoted companies (whose shares are listed on the Stock Exchange). • Large UK incorporated unquoted companies and limited liability partnerships (with more than 250 employees or an annual turnover in excess of £36m and an annual balance sheet in excess of £18m).

However, you will be exempt if:

• It is impractical for companies to obtain and publish the required information, or where doing so is considered ‘seriously prejudicial’ to the interests of the company. • The company’s energy consumption is lower than 40,000 kWh during the reporting year.

What you have to do

Companies falling within the scope of SECR will be required to:

• Calculate and report UK energy usage, including electricity, gas and transport • Report Scope 1 and 2 Greenhouse Gas emissions, including an intensity metric. Scope 3 reporting will be voluntary. • Where practical, quoted companies are additionally required to report on global energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions.

How much is this going to cost?

Unlike the CRC, there is no revenue generating aspect to SECR. The tax element of CRC is being carried through to the Climate Change Levy (CCL) to ensure that the abolition of CRC is fiscally neutral. As such, from April 2019, CCL rates will increase sharply. .

Business impact

SECR is expected to apply to nearly 12,000 companies, which is about the same number already in scope of the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS). The government’s impact assessment states that its simplification package could save businesses £20m per year in administration costs, but increase capital costs through encouraging wider implementation of energy efficiency measures. It is hoped that SECR will help meet the government target of improving business energy efficiency by 20% by 2030.

Why is this happening?

This is part of the government’s commitment to introducing ’ simpler, better energy and carbon reporting’ and is intended to reduce the administrative burden, while driving energy efficiency improvements and awareness. As part of its streamlining process, SECR aligns with existing reporting requirements for greenhouse gas emissions and the Climate Change Levy (CCL).

Companies are expected to publish the SECR data within their existing Annual Reports, which will simplify the process and help raise the profile of energy efficiency in the board room. There is currently no mandatory requirement for electronic reporting.

Inprova Energy can help you to align current reporting with the new SECR regulations and take measures to improve energy efficiency. Contact us on 0330 166 4444.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Inprova Energy .