The UK Government’s Streamlined Energy & Carbon Reporting (SECR) framework comes into effect from April 2019. The final details are yet to be published. However, the results from the consultation provide some indication of what the scheme will involve. It is estimated that the new framework will require up to 12,000 large UK companies to report. The aim is to streamline and reduce the complexity of current energy and carbon reporting requirements.
The new mandatory SECR framework will come into effect at the same time that the current CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme (CRC EES) will be phased out. SECR will align with existing initiatives, such as the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS). It will also extend the scope of the existing Mandatory Carbon Reporting (MCR) regulations for listed companies to all large organizations. The new regulation is based on the annual public disclosure of UK energy use and carbon emissions. Thus it will present both challenges and opportunities for reporting companies. Here is what you need to know.
Who will need to report?
If your organization is a UK registered quoted or large unquoted company or LLP, SECR will apply to you. Below is some clarification on which companies fall under the framework:
- All UK registered quoted companies will continue to report global GHG emissions and intensity metrics in their annual reports, as per the MCR. In addition, SECR requires them to report total underlying energy use and energy efficiency actions taken.
- All ‘large’ unquoted companies will need to report under SECR. As per the Companies Act 2006, a company or LLP that meets at least 2 of the following criteria is determined as ‘large’:
- balance sheet (£18M+)
- turnover (£36M+)
- employees (250+)
- Companies using 40,000 kWh or less of energy in the 12-month reporting period will be exempt. In addition to unquoted companies where ‘it is not practical to obtain information’.
What You Need to Know
- Carbon emissions and environmental disclosures will build upon the existing mandatory GHG reporting requirements and ESOS.
- The CRC will be phased out and will be replaced with the Climate Change Levy (CCL).
- There will be an increase in the CCL rates from April 2019 and a rebalancing of the CCL rates for gas and electricity.
- For GHG emissions, Scopes 1 and 2 will be required with Scope 3 reporting remaining voluntary.
- For the GHG calculations, details of the methodology and a suitable carbon intensity metric is also needed.
- Energy in the scope of the new SECR legislation includes all UK electricity, gas, and transport (road, rail, air and shipping) energy use.
- Energy and emissions reporting is likely to be global, not just UK based.
- Energy efficiency actions taken in the reporting year must be disclosed, but organizations are not asked to describe future opportunities they could take.
What does this mean for me?
The impacts of the new legislation will vary depending on your current situation.
- If you are already reporting under Mandatory Carbon Reporting (MCR), here is little change except for the addition of the inclusion of energy use and energy efficiency measures.
- If you are reporting and purchasing credits in the CRC EES, then the new SECR regulations will replace these (with much of the direct costs of CRC shifted to the CCL)
- It’s likely that most organizations who have had to submit a return for the Energy Saving Opportunities Scheme (ESOS) will also be required to report to SECR.
What should I be doing to prepare?
A company’s preparation will be highly dependent on what information they already capture. However, the process of evaluating what additional data needs to be collated remains the same. Organizations should initially undertake a gap-analysis. This will help them determine which areas are not currently being reported on. Following that, they can put a data collection strategy in place.
Businesses should examine data-collection processes to ensure they are not doubling efforts. They should also use a centralized data collection system where possible. It’s likely that you are already collecting some data required under SECR for existing frameworks such as CRC, ESOS or CDP. You should ensure you communicate your reporting and data collection requirements across the business. This will enable you to streamline efforts and ensure the same data is not being collected multiple times.
Cority and SECR
Cority’s Client Services team of sustainability reporting experts is already advising a number of organizations on how to prepare for SECR. Cority’s Sustainability Cloud software solution is designed to enable organizations to meet multiple reporting requirements through automated and centralized data collection, management, analysis and reporting. Please contact us if you have any questions about SECR or your broader sustainability reporting strategy.
