Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR)

Beginning on or after 1 April 2019 (from the start of the financial year), large UK companies will be required to report publicly on their UK energy use and carbon emissions within their Directors’ Report.  

SECR builds upon existing regulatory requirements that may already apply to your organisation such as:

• Energy Opportunity Savings Scheme (ESOS)
• Climate Change Agreements (CCA)
• EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS)

The aim of SECR is to increase the benefits of carbon and energy reporting by requiring more businesses carry out this activity. It is expected to encourage businesses to implement energy efficient measures, support reduction in costs and improve productivity while reducing carbon emissions.

The SECR Framework applies to the following groups of businesses:

1. Quoted companies of any size that are already obliged to report under mandatory greenhouse gas reporting regulations
2. Unquoted companies incorporated in the UK that meet the definition of ‘large’ under the Companies Act 2006 will have new reporting obligations. This applies to registered and unregistered companies.
3. ‘Large’ Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs) will be required to prepare and file a ‘Energy and Carbon Report’.

Your business is classified as ‘large’ if it meets two of the following qualifying conditions:

• Employ at least 250 people
• Have an annual turnover of £36 million or more; and/or
• Have a balance sheet of £18 million or more

How can EMS help you?

• Assist you with defining the reporting scope, including operational control and organisation boundaries
• Support in obtaining data, calculating greenhouse gas emissions and detailing the methodology utilised in these calculations
• Review your processes, controls, and data outputs to assess the accuracy and completeness of your carbon disclosures

The framework requires that all qualifying organisations report the subsequent information in its annual directors’ report:

• Combustion of gas
• Consumption of fuel for transport; and
• Purchase of electricity (including transport)

EMS can assist your organisation in meeting your regulatory requirements and ensuring accuracy, completeness and consistency of data for both internal and external stakeholders in your annual reports.