An approved ESOS Lead Assessor reviews an organisation’s ESOS assessment, while the relevant environmental regulator is responsible for checking legal compliance.
The Environment Agency regulates organisations whose registered office is in England and also administers the UK-wide ESOS reporting system. Natural Resources Wales regulates organisations whose registered office is in Wales. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency covers Scotland, and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency covers Northern Ireland.
For organisations whose activities are wholly or mainly offshore, the regulator is the Secretary of State for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
ESOS regulators can select organisations for a compliance audit and ask for evidence from their evidence pack. A compliance audit may check energy calculations, the areas of significant energy consumption, energy audits, site sampling, director approvals and the information submitted through MESOS. Regulators may also check that the ESOS Lead Assessor was listed on an approved register where one was required.
The organisation remains legally responsible for ESOS compliance, even where an external Lead Assessor or consultant completed the assessment.
