Social Obligations Reporting
Condition B12, Social Obligations Reporting, is one of the 29 Ofgem heat network authorisation conditions. It applies to suppliers of heat, and is set out at Section B, Condition 12 of Ofgem’s Heat Network Authorisation Conditions decision of January 2026. Registration with Ofgem closes on 26 January 2027.
What this condition requires
Provide Ofgem, Citizens Advice, Citizens Advice Scotland and Consumer Scotland with the information Ofgem specifies (12.1). That information may in particular include the number of Domestic Consumers using each method of payment for Charges, and the other matters listed in 12.2. It must be provided in the form of a statistical record, with the content and presentation Ofgem specifies (12.3). This is a distinct reporting obligation to named consumer bodies as well as the regulator, and is separate from the regular data reporting required through A9.
Applies to
Every supplier, for its Domestic Consumers and occupants of Domestic Premises it supplies.
Core requirement
The supplier must give the Authority and the named consumer bodies a statistical record of its dealings with Domestic Consumers, in the specified format and intervals.
Key obligations
12.1, information to the Authority, Citizens Advice, Citizens Advice Scotland and Consumer Scotland. 12.2, payment methods, non-payment, disconnections and PSR numbers. 12.3, a statistical record at the specified intervals.
Evidence Ofgem will look for
- A data set capturing payment, disconnection and PSR metrics
- A reporting process meeting the specified intervals
- Reconciliation to the underlying billing and PSR systems
Why this matters
Like A9, the duty depends on data often held in a contractor's system. A contractor that cannot produce the record leaves the supplier exposed to a reporting failure.
The condition in full
Reproduced from Ofgem’s Heat Network Authorisation Conditions decision, January 2026, Appendix 2.
12.1 The authorised person must provide the Authority, Citizens Advice, Citizens Advice Scotland and Consumer Scotland with information specified by the Authority in guidance relating to matters that it reasonably considers are relevant to the authorised person's dealings with its Domestic Consumers and/or (as applicable) any occupants of Domestic Premises supplied by the authorised person.
12.2 The information referred to in 12.1 may, in particular, include information about:
12.2.1 the number of the authorised person's Domestic Consumers using each method of payment for Charges;
12.2.2 failures by the authorised person's Domestic Consumers to pay Charges by the date on which the payment was due;
12.2.3 Disconnections carried out by the authorised person;
12.2.4 the provision by the authorised person of energy efficiency information; and
12.2.5 the services offered by the authorised person to persons on its Priority Services Register and the number of persons who are listed on that register.
12.3 The information provided by the authorised person under 12.1 must be in the form of a statistical record having such content and being presented in such a format and at such intervals of time as the Authority may from time to time specify for this purpose following consultation where relevant with the authorised person, Citizens Advice, Citizens Advice Scotland and Consumer Scotland.
Does this apply to you?
Section B applies to the supplier of heat. This condition protects homes only. It does not apply on industrial or self-supply networks. The registration checker works out your full set in a few questions. Registration closes on 26 January 2027.