ESOS Phase 3 Compliance
Time is running out for your business to meet the ESOS Phase 3 regulations.
You must submit your data by June 5th 2024Failure to do so could land a fine of up to £90,000
Data can only be submitted by a qualified ESOS lead assessor - ours deliver a 100% fully compliant success rate

What is the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS)?
The Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) is a mandatory energy assessment scheme for organisations in the UK that meet the qualification criteria. Qualifying organisations must carry out ESOS assessments every four years.
These assessments are audits of the energy used by their buildings, industrial processes, and transport to identify cost-effective energy-saving measures. The third phase of the scheme must be completed by 5th June 2024. Download our helpful guide and start preparing for ESOS Phase 3 now.
Value we deliver
In-house expertise
We were among the first UK-based consultants to offer ESOS compliant Lead Assessors, helping organisations to meet requirements as early as possible.
Guaranteed success rates
An audit by The Environment Agency found a shocking 63% of Phase 2 evidence packs were only partially compliant and required some level of corrective action. We are proud to declare that 100% of our customers achieved compliance.
Beyond compliance
We can help you implement sustainable solutions that reduce energy costs and optimise energy efficiency.
Start saving now
By taking action today you can reap the benefits sooner from your energy-saving opportunities. With energy prices high this makes good commercial sense as well as being good for our environment!

Phase 3 timeline
We’ve helped over 100 UK businesses achieve ESOS compliance by conducting energy audits and fulfilling the necessary reporting requirements for Phases 1 & 2.
The typical process for ESOS is as follows:
Step 1: Determine eligibility for ESOS
Step 2: Allocate one of our ESOS compliant Lead Assessors to the project
Step 3: Evaluate energy consumption, review estate portfolio and determine what site surveys are required applying an appropriate sampling regime
Step 4: Complete the necessary site surveys
Step 5: Issue site survey reports
Step 6: Compile energy consumption covering a 12-month period that includes the qualification date of 31st December 2022
Step 7: Finalise report, obtain board-level signoff and register relevant consumption data and report findings with the Environment Agency

Our Guide to ESOS Phase 3
For more information please fill out the form below to download our helpful guide to ESOS Phase 3.
Current qualification thresholds
ESOS applies to large UK undertakings and their corporate groups. Corporate groups qualify if at least one UK group member meets the ESOS definition of a large undertaking.
Large undertakings
For the qualification date for the third compliance period (31 December 2022) a large undertaking is any UK company that either:
- employs 250 or more people
- has an annual turnover in excess of £44 million, and an annual balance sheet total in excess of £38 million
If you qualify for ESOS and your organisation is fully covered by ISO 50001, you do not need to carry out an ESOS assessment. You just need to notify the Environment Agency that you’re compliant.
Do you qualify for ESOS Phase 3?
Qualifying organisations must start the auditing process now to ensure they meet the 5th June 2024 deadline. As one of the leading UK consultants, we have a wealth of experience in delivering a well-rounded and fully compliant service.
We were among the first UK-based consultants to offer ESOS-compliant Lead Assessors. We have helped many businesses and organisations to manage their audits and fulfil the ESOS Phase 1 & 2 requirements.

ESOS regulation and penalties
Your environmental regulator is responsible for compliance and enforcement activities. It may issue civil sanctions, including financial penalties, if an organisation does not meet the scheme’s obligations.
What are the benefits of complying with ESOS?
If your organisation complies with ESOS, then you will benefit from:- A reduction in your energy consumption
- Identify a number of cost saving opportunities
- Understand ways to lower your carbon emissions
What our clients think
When faced with the compliance requirements under UK Government Energy Saving Opportunities Scheme (ESOS), our business did not hesitate to contract the services of Trident yet again to steer us through the requirements of both Phase 1 compliance and subsequently Phase 2.
M Hegarty - Greenergy Biofuels LtdChanges to ESOS Phase 3 and beyond
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) recently published its response to the consultation on proposed measures to strengthen the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) which aimed to increase the energy and carbon savings from businesses who participate.
The Government's response to the consultation sets out a summary of the proposals to improve the quality of audits through increased standardisation of reporting. This is to include a Net Zero element to audits, and a requirement for public disclosure of high-level recommendations by participants. Our experts have summarised the key changes that businesses should be aware of for Phase 3 of the scheme and how Phase 4 could look with the new changes.

Summary of key changes for Phase 3
-
The de minimis exemption is to be reduced from 10% to 5% of total energy consumption.
-
Reporting will become standardised to boost audit quality. A new template will be provided that lead Assessors will use for reporting.
-
ESOS reports will require an overall energy intensity metric in the overview section. Suggested metric include kWh/m2 for buildings, kWh/unit output for your industry as well as kWh/miles travelled for transport.
-
Half-hourly consumption data will be analysed and included within reports.
-
A target or action plan to be submitted once Phase 3 concludes, which will be a reporting requirement for Phase 4.
Contact Us
Book a meeting with one of our experts to discuss ESOS Phase 3.
FAQs
What will ESOS Phase 4 look like?
The government has stressed that Phase 4 will focus on covering Net Zero as well as energy efficiency, to support the Net Zero 2050 target.
What else will Phase 4 include?
Certain data will become mandatory to be made public. Examples include carbon reduction targets and Net Zero assessments.
What are the penalties for not complying?
A fixed penalty of £5,000 plus an additional £500 per day until notification is completed. Other penalties could be damage to reputation for not complying and cost of lost opportunity from failing to identify energy saving measures.
Has the ESOS Phase 3 deadline changed?
Yes, the deadline was extended to 5th June 2024 in June 2023 due to the increased data requirements announced a month earlier. This six-month extension is to give ESOS-qualifying organisations more time to fulfil their compliance. The Environment Agency made no changes to the qualification criteria.
Is it harder to submit ESOS Phase 3 data than it is for ESOS Phase 1 or 2?
Yes, you now need to submit significantly increased levels of data to completely fulfil your ESOS phase 3 compliance compared to both Phase 1 and Phase 2. This was due to the Environment Agency announcing an increase in the ESOS Phase 3 data requirements in May 2023 followed by a 6-month ESOS Phase 3 deadline extension to 5th June 2024.
Read our latest ESOS related news
[Watch-on demand] Enhancing ESOS: Phase 3 & beyond
Trident's head of sales and marketing, Richard Holdsworth interviewed sustainability engineer and qualified ESOS Lead Assessor Derek Tonge about the proposed changes outlined by the Government in its consultation response and the impact of these changes on Phase 3 of ESOS and beyond.
ESOS Phase 3 deadline – Dates for your diary
The next key date in the diary is 31st December 2022. If your company meets the conditions for ESOS on that date, you must comply.
Government consultation could lead to ESOS reforms
The government has launched a consultation, seeking views on proposed changes to the scope and scale of the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS). The measures aim to improve the uptake of energy efficiency measures and increase the benefits for participating businesses.