The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero introduced the Energy Independence Bill to Parliament on 4 November 2026, describing it as legislation to "support the government's efforts to bring down energy bills and support vulnerable households"1. The department published 29 factsheets alongside the Bill, covering subjects from reformed national pricing to the Warm Homes Agency1. The government calls the Bill a "down payment" on longer-term reforms to the energy system2.
The headline household measure is not in the Bill as introduced. The government says it will bring forward amendments to support plans to scrap standing charges on household gas bills, the daily charge paid even when no gas is used3. It says around 23 million households would gain greater control over their energy costs, with around 60% of gas account holders expected to save an average of £45 a year3. Separately, the Bill puts the shift of 75% of domestic Renewables Obligation costs from bills to public spending on an enduring legal footing to March 2029, with powers to require suppliers to pass savings on, including to customers on fixed deals; the government says the move has already removed around £90 a year from average household bills3.
Other measures with a direct bearing on homes include:
| Measure | Detail given |
|---|---|
| Rented home efficiency | Local authority enforcement powers, civil penalties up to £30,000 for domestic breaches, supporting EPC C from 1 October 2030; government estimate of around £210 a year saved in upgraded rented homes3 |
| Warm Homes Agency | Established in law to bring together existing schemes and advice on insulation and heating upgrades3 |
| Consumer protection | Energy brokers and price comparison services brought under Ofgem regulation; government estimate of around £100 million a year saved by businesses3 |
| Smart meters and batteries | Smart meter oversight extended to 2033; power to require batteries to have smart capabilities if needed3 |
| Grid charges | Powers to remove charges on electricity stored and returned to the grid, which the government links to batteries and vehicle-to-grid charging3 |
| Community stake | Developers required to offer communities up to a 20% stake in new renewable projects; legally binding benefit agreements for onshore wind and ground mount solar over 5 MW3 |
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said:
"That's why we've taken immediate action to help people with energy bills, with £50 off the annual price cap and our new £100 energy payment for 20 million households. And this Bill will make the changes needed for the long-term: protecting people when energy companies let them down, giving communities a stake in the power produced on their doorstep, and building more cheap, green power here at home."
The £100 payment for up to 20 million households in England this winter and the £50 off the annual price cap were announced in the preceding Budget, not in the Bill3. The Bill also ends new licences for oil and gas exploration while allowing production from existing licensed areas, with Transitional Energy Certificates intended to support further extraction; the government estimates this could unlock around 60 million barrels of oil3. Energy Live News reported that the Energy Secretary remains quiet on the Rosebank oil field decision2.
Why it matters for households
The Bill's effect on a home's energy independence is mostly indirect. Standing charges are a fixed daily cost that no amount of reduced use removes, so the proposed gas change, once amended into the Bill, would shift more of a gas bill onto unit rates; the government's £45 average saving figure is an expectation, not a guarantee for every household. The standing charge reform would not by itself change what a household pays for the gas it actually uses.
The Renewables Obligation measure protects an existing reduction rather than adding a new one, and the government says suppliers would be required to pass it on, including on fixed deals. On home upgrades, the enforcement powers sit with councils and landlords rather than owners or tenants, and the £210 figure applies to upgraded rented properties. The battery and grid-charge provisions matter for homes with storage or vehicle-to-grid charging, where charges on exported electricity currently apply. The community stake and benefit agreement provisions apply to new projects over 5 MW, so they affect households as neighbours of generation rather than as bill payers.
What happens next
The Bill has been introduced; its passage through Parliament, and the timing of the amendments on gas standing charges and Great British Grid, have not been reported. The government says the EPC C standard for rented homes is planned from 1 October 20303. The Warm Homes Agency is to be established in law through the Bill3.
Sources4 sources
- Energy Independence Bill: factsheets - GOV.UK, gov.uk
- Energy Independence Bill introduced in Parliament - Energy Live News, energylivenews.com
- Energy reforms to cut bills and put power back in people's hands - GOV.UK, gov.uk
- Government unveils Energy Independence Bill to reform UK energy system, edie.net