The road to implementation of the RHI was a long and stoney one
Here is a summary of the legislative process
The legislative details
Legislation in the UK is typically made in two stages. The so called ‘primary legislation’ (the Acts of Parliament listed in each Queen’s Speech) gives ministers powers to create new measures like the Renewable Heat Incentive and Feed-In Tariffs. All the details, though, are in ‘secondary legislation’ (and are called ‘statutory instruments’), which is quicker and easier to pass through Parliament.
Key milestones newest to oldest
This is the schedule relevant to the Renewable Heat Incentive in reverse date order:
Spring 2014: RHI starts for domestic installations ?
Summer 2013: Government responses to last year’s consultations
This is where we are at now
March 2013: These announcements, twelve months to the day after the domestic RHI was last postponed by a year, do exactly the same again. Now the domestic RHI will not start until 2014. The RHPP has also been extended for a year.
January 2013: Statement about possible changes to tariff levels for the non-domestic scheme
Sept – Dec 2012: Consultations on the domestic RHI and on changing the scope of the non-domestic scheme
Jul – Nov 2012: Consult on long-term cost control, air quality and biomass sustainability for implementation April 2013
April – June 2012: Consult on ‘interim cost control‘ for implementation in July 2012
26 March 2012: Government announces further consultations and future timeline (subsequently superceded again). The domestic RHI not expected until summer 2012, so Renewable Heat Premium Payments extended by a year.
November 2011: Renewable Heat Incentive starts for non-residential installations (Phase 1)
10 March 2011: Initial scheme announced
20 October 2010: RHI given go ahead as part of the Spending Review
26 April 2010: Consultation on RHI closed
1 Feb 2010: Government published its proposals on how the Renewable Heat Incentive will operate and specified the proposed tariff levels applicable to each energy technology, eligibility criteria, how the tariffs are paid etc. Public consultation on these details starts.
July 2009: Government publishes its proposals on the Feed-In Tariffs – these have some relevant details.
March 2009: Industry makes its initial proposals on the design of the Renewable Heat Incentive and the Feed-In Tariffs.
November 2008: Energy Act passed. Includes enabling powers for the Feed-in Tariffs and Renewable Heat Incentive (in section 100). Specifies the eligible technologies, and roughly which energy supply companies the costs might be levied on. Other details left for secondary legislation.
