London, February 11th 2026: Following the conclusion of the Energy Smart Appliances Regulations (ESA) Consultation, as part of DESNZ’s Smart and Secure Electricity Systems Programme (SSES), BEAMA is calling for targeted adjustments to the Government’s proposed reforms to minimise costs for UK consumers and drive economic growth.
The sheer volume of feedback received from BEAMA members indicates these regulations cannot be implemented in their current form
In its 28 pages of technical feedback to the DESNZ consultation – spanning EV charging, heat, storage, and smart energy technologies – BEAMA has urged the Government to take on board lessons learned from the introduction of similar regulations for EV charge points in 2022. Otherwise they risk facing the same challenges to implementation they found but for all energy smart appliances in scope like electric heating appliances and battery energy storage systems that are essential to the success of Clean Power 2030.
Paul Lee Pschierer-Barnfather, EV Charging Solutions Expert at Zaptec Charger AS says, “the SSES regulations are an important milestone on the road to decarbonising the UK economy. It’s essential we get this right, and I’m grateful to BEAMA for their efforts to help equipment manufacturers deliver on this vision.”
BEAMA highlight a number of policy pit falls that must be addressed to ensure these regulations are a success:
- Aligned EV charging regulations – Currently, two sets of EV Smart Charge Point regulations are scheduled to be implemented within 18 months of each other, risking customer confusion and driving up costs for manufacturers. By aligning implementation of the SCP regulations to come into force at the same time, the Government can minimise costs and disruption to UK EV drivers.
- Minimised randomised EV charging delays – To prevent all charge points from beginning an EV charge at the same time – potentially putting strain on the local energy system – the reformed regulations incorporate an up to 10-minute delay. While the regulations should acknowledge that consumer behaviour does not always consider network stability, they should ensure that the randomised delay mechanism is only utilised where there is a genuine risk of consumer herding damaging the local energy system to prevent undermining consumer comfort and confidence.
- Removing randomised delays for home heating – We do not support the proposal to include randomised delays into domestic smart heating devices. This proposal is impractical for these always-on devices and puts consumers at unnecessary risk during extreme temperatures when demand for heating or cooling is likely to be at its peak.
- Realistic implementation – The proposed 18-month compliance window for implementing new heating, EV and storage product regulations is not deliverable; risking higher costs, reduced innovation, and delayed investment in UK manufacturing. A more measured implementation period would align with product development cycles of 24–32 months. We recommend DESNZ implementing a two-year voluntary period before mandating compliance to minimise risks of inflating electrical product prices for UK consumers or slowing economic growth.
These recommended policy adjustments have been developed in consultation with BEAMA members, including a diverse range of the UK’s leading EV charging, heating and cooling, and smart energy devices.
Stuart Callow, New Technologies Standards Expert, Worcester, Bosch Group said, “To deliver products that meet consumers’ needs and are proven, reliable and long-lasting, manufacturers need time to develop, test and bring these new solutions to market. The requirements proposed under Energy Smart Appliance policy are considerable, and still unconfirmed, which means development work cannot start. The likely circa 18-month window between Government’s confirmed requirements and the deadline for compliance is simply not enough, given most manufacturers require 2 – 3 years for new product developments. The risk is that existing products may have to be removed from the market before new compliant versions are available because of this compressed timeline. This will only serve to restrict consumers’ choice and slow-down the transition to electrification. We hope Government listen to the significant concerns raised across the varied sectors BEAMA represent and choose to engage constructively on a pragmatic, more secure, way forward.”
Matt Adams, Head of Electrical Transport Systems for BEAMA said “These regulations have the potential to play a crucial role in ensuring uptake of Smart Energy Appliances, protecting our grid, and supporting consumers through the transition to electrification and lowering energy bills. It’s vital then that the regulations are workable. BEAMA calls for industry members to be vocal and join us in support of the principles and push for changes to the implementation to ensure what is delivered creates a positive change for industry, the grid, and consumers.”
SSES will play a crucial role in ensuring uptake of Smart Energy Appliances, protecting our grid, and supporting consumers through the transition to electrification and lowering energy bills.
BEAMA will continue to offer support to Government and work alongside DESNZ to ensure SSES is practical, deliverable, and provide the real-world insight that will make SSES a success.
BEAMA members can view our full consultation response below.
