This week the Government published its public consultation on proposals for the introduction of the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS). Under the scheme, which is being developed as part of the UK's implementation of the EU Energy Efficiency Directive, large enterprises will be required to undertake ESOS assessments to identify cost-effective ways to invest in energy efficiency, helping reduce energy bills and increase competitiveness.
This programme is intended to promote the uptake of cost-effective energy efficiency measures by requiring all large enterprises in the UK to undertake energy efficiency audits by December 2015 and every four years thereafter.
The scheme is the Government's approach to meeting the requirements of the EU Energy Efficiency Directive (2012/27/EU), which the ECA contributed to via membership of the pan European sector trade association, the AIE.

Bill Wright, ECA Head of Energy Solutions commented: " While any scheme which promotes energy efficiency is welcome; to succeed, it needs to be meaningful, widely promoted and properly enforced. ECA will be looking to engage with DECC to ensure that this energy saving scheme doesn't suffer the same issues and obstacles as FITs and the Green Deal."

The consultation closes on 3 October 2013. The Government intends to bring forward secondary legislation in spring 2014 setting out the legal framework for the operation of the scheme, so that the UK can meet the 5 June 2014 EU deadline for transposition of the Energy Efficiency Directive.

View the consultation document here.