Heat and Energy Efficiency Technical Suitability Assessment (HEETSA): scoping consultation– partial BRIA
This partial business and regulatory impact assessment (BRIA) supports the HEETSA scoping consultation. A final version will follow after further consultation in 2026, once the Scottish Government finalises its approach to assessing the technical suitability of heat and energy efficiency measures.
Section 5: Next steps and implementation
Preferred option
At this stage in our policy development, our preferred option is Option 2 – to develop HEETSA and bring government oversight to the retrofit assessment market – as outline in Section 1. Our position may change depending on stakeholder response to our initial scoping consultation.
Implementation considerations and plan
As set out in Section 2, we are still scoping our approach to HEETSA. If, following stakeholder responses to the scoping consultation, we do decide to develop our proposals further, we would follow the timetable set out below:
- 2023-24 – pre-scoping evidence-gathering:
- Consultation on the Heat in Buildings Bill proposal of the initial concept of HEETSA (November 2023-March 2024)
- Additional evidence-gathering workshop with informed experts to discuss and critique the initial concept for HEETSA (July 2024)
- Independent research report on scope of HEETSA[11] (May 2025), with workshops held with wide range of stakeholders to inform this (December 2024)
- 2025 – scoping approach:
- Initial public consultation on scope of HEETSA (June to August 2025)
- consultation analysis and finalisation of detailed proposals for Ministerial agreement (autumn-winter 2025-2026)
- 2026 – preferred approach:
- final consultation on preferred approach (summer 2026)
- Ministerial decision on final approach to HEETSA (autumn 2026)
- 2027 – creation of framework:
- laying any regulations or developing guidance for HEETSA requirements (winter 2026-27)
- process for bodies to apply for Ministerial approval of methodologies and approval of professional skills and qualifications (if adopted) (summer and autumn 2027)
- 2028 – implementation of framework:
- HEETSA guidance or regulations in force (beginning of 2028 – this would allow HEETSA to support things like exemptions when the proposed PRS minimum energy efficiency standard regulations come into force)
Post implementation review
Until we are clear on our proposed approach to HEETSA, we cannot at this stage set out plans for review, but we would ensure that such measures are adopted in our final approach.
Contact
Email: EPCenquiries@gov.scot