This article focuses on The Heat Network (Metering and Billing) Regulations 2014 (as amended by The Heat Network (Metering and Billing) (Amendment) Regulations 2015) which commenced on 18 31 December 2014.

The duties under the regulations apply to a “heat supplier”.
A landlord is a heat supplier if ALL of the following apply-
- There is distribution of thermal energy in the form of steam, hot water, or chilled liquids from a central source in a building (e.g. a gas boiler).
- The thermal energy is used to provide heating, hot water or cooling.
- The building is occupied by more than one final customer.
- The landlord bills more than one occupier for the heat or hot water that that person has used (or a proportion of).
- This type of system is known as “communal heating”. A typical example would be if a communal boiler is supplying heat to a block of flats in a single building.

The regulations aren’t triggered by electric heating – even if the electricity is billed individually. This is because, in order for the regulations to apply, the distribution of thermal energy must be from a central source in the form of steam, hot water, or chilled liquids.

Where the landlord is a “heat supplier”, the landlord must notify the Office for Product Safety & Standards (OPSS) and include the following information:
- The location of the communal heating
- The estimated total heating capacity, heat generated, and heat supplied
- The number of dwellings supplied
- The number of meters or heat cost allocators installed
- The number of final customers supplied
- The name and business address of the heat supplier

The notification must be done at least once every four years, as well as a review of cost-effectiveness and technical feasibility must be carried out at least once every four years.
In a building with communal heating, the heat supplier must ensure that meters are installed to measure the consumption of heating, cooling or hot water by each final customer. Where anything is installed which would be required by these regulations (meters, heat cost allocators etc.) they must be continually operational and properly maintained.