Are you prepared to comply with the Environment Agency’s ESOS Action Plan? Don’t get caught out!
The Environmental Agency published a specification for action plan reporting in June and in their September ESOS newsletter, they have shared information about an extension to the ESOS Action Plan Reporting deadline. More guidance is to be expected by the 1st of November 2024.
The Swan Energy team is completely ready to embrace this additional step following your ESOS compliance. Here we give an overview of this new requirement.
What is the Action Plan?
The action plan is something new, another step following ESOS compliance which is now required. This phase everyone needs to produce an Action Plan following the submission of your ESOS compliance notification.
This action plan outlines your plans to reduce the consumption of energy and the savings you expect to achieve over the four-year period. It clearly shares what you intend to do, by when and what energy savings you estimated and how you are calculating these intended savings. As part of the action plan, you must also state if the energy reduction plans were identified in your ESOS assessment, or beyond ESOS by your team.
When is the deadline?
Actions plans must be signed off by a board level director and then submitted via the MESOS portal by the 5th of March 2025.
However, it is advised that, where possible, participants try to stick to the original 5th of December 2024 deadline.
How often is your action plan updated?
You are required to produce an action plan to cover each four-year ESOS phase, however, once a year an Annual Progress Update must also be submitted. This means that for ESOS Phase 3, updates will be provided by 5th Dec 2025 and 5th Dec 2026.
What happens if actions are not achieved?
Although you do not have to explain the actions that you identify as part of your action plan, you will update on whether, or not, actions have been achieved each year. All updates and responses are published. As previously mentioned, plans are all signed off by the board, which encourages an added level of accountability.
How can one submit an action plan to the Environment Agency?
Actions plans should be submitted via the MESOS digital service. However, this function is not yet available and further guidance is expected to be issued before the 1st of November 2024.
Will there be any action plan testing undertaken on MESOS?
The Environment Agency is currently seeking volunteers for user-testing of the functionalities in the MESOS reporting system around the action plan requirements.
To register your interest, email businessenergyuse@energysecurity.gov.uk. Volunteers must be available to participate from late September.
How can Swan Energy help?
If you have a rolling contract with Swan Energy for consultancy support with regards to ESOS, the writing of this action plan and annual updates are included as standard.
Alternatively, the team is happy to speak with you about how we can support you in hitting this deadline. Please get in touch.
