ESOS Phase 4 Energy Audits
The Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) Phase 4 is a mandatory government programme requiring large UK organisations to measure their energy consumption and identify cost-effective energy efficiency and decarbonisation opportunities every four years. With the Compliance Deadline of 5 December 2027 fast approaching, and new requirements for action plan reporting, timely action is critical. At Focus 360 Energy, our certified ESOS Lead Assessors manage the entire process, from data collection and on-site energy audits to the final Notification of Compliance and the mandatory Action Plan submission, ensuring your organisation avoids significant financial penalties and maximises its energy savings.
What is an ESOS Phase 4 Energy Audit?
An ESOS Phase 4 Energy Audit is the core component of the scheme, designed to provide a comprehensive, detailed examination of a qualifying organisation’s energy usage across its buildings, industrial processes, and transport activities. The audit must cover at least 95% of your total energy consumption and requires on-site visits to verify data and identify specific, cost-effective opportunities for reduction. For Phase 4, the audit must now also address progress against previous action plans and lay the groundwork for mandatory reporting on implementation, ensuring a shift from simple reporting to demonstrable action.
What Does the ESOS Phase 4 Service Include?
Total Energy Consumption Measurement: Calculating the organisation’s energy use across all buildings, transport, and processes using a 12-month reference period.
Significant Energy Consumption (SEC) Identification: Determining the assets or activities that account for at least 95% of your total energy usage to define the audit scope.
On-Site ESOS Energy Audits: Conducting detailed site visits and assessments of the SEC areas to verify data and identify tailored energy and carbon saving opportunities.
Lead Assessor Sign-Off & Compliance Notification: Formal review, sign-off by our certified ESOS Lead Assessor, and submission of the Notification of Compliance to the Environment Agency by the deadline.
Mandatory Action Plan & Progress Reporting: Development and submission of the required Action Plan detailing implementation measures, expected savings, and subsequent annual progress updates.
Why ESOS Phase 4 Matters
ESOS is a mandatory compliance scheme. Failure to submit a compliant Notification by the deadline (5 December 2027) can result in severe financial penalties, including fines of up to £50,000, plus daily penalties. Beyond compliance, Phase 4 is critical because it forces organisations to focus on action, requiring progress reporting against identified savings. A robust ESOS audit is an opportunity to reduce your operational expenditure, enhance your corporate sustainability (ESG) credentials, and strategically align with future UK Net Zero requirements (expected to be mandatory in Phase 5).
How Our Accredited Assessors Support You
Our consultants are certified and registered ESOS Lead Assessors, qualified by approved professional bodies. This is a mandatory requirement for signing off your compliance report. We take a holistic, project-management approach, working proactively from the start of the four-year cycle to avoid the high-pressure deadline rush. We don’t just find energy savings; we provide the energy intensity ratios and costed implementation plans that enable your directors to sign off the mandatory Action Plan with confidence, ensuring a clear, accountable path to real energy reduction.
Related Sustainability Services
ESOS Phase 4 Energy Audits is frequently combined with the following additional services:
Commercial Decarbonisation Modelling
Find out moreNet Zero Feasibility
Find out moreWhole Lifecycle Carbon Assessment
Find out moreCircular Economy Statement
Find out moreEnergy Strategy Consultancy
Find out moreMEES Compliance
Find out moreOur Process
Book your ESOS Phase 4 Energy Audit service today.
Don’t wait until the last minute to comply with this mandatory regulation. Contact Focus 360 Energy today to secure a qualified ESOS Lead Assessor and initiate your Phase 4 energy audit, ensuring full compliance and delivering maximum energy savings by the 5 December 2027 deadline.
Click the Get a Quote link to access our online portal, or use the form to share brief details about your project and we will respond promptly.
Why choose Focus 360 Energy
Certified Lead Assessor Guarantee: We provide access to certified ESOS Lead Assessors, eliminating the risk of a late-stage assessor shortage.
Action-Oriented Audits: Our focus is on delivering practical, cost-effective, and easy-to-implement savings that feed directly into your mandatory Action Plan.
Deadline Security: We project manage your compliance from day one, guaranteeing submission by the 5 December 2027 deadline.
Integrated Decarbonisation: We align ESOS audits with voluntary Net Zero reporting standards (e.g., PAS 51215), future-proofing your energy strategy.
Penalties Mitigation: Full audit trail and rigorous documentation standards minimise the risk of enforcement action and financial penalties.
Frequently Asked Questions
The compliance notification deadline is 5 December 2027. The qualification date is 31 December 2026.
Your organisation must comply if, on the qualification date, it employs 250 or more people OR has an annual turnover exceeding £44 million AND an annual balance sheet exceeding £38 million.
Failure to comply can result in fines up to £50,000, plus daily financial penalties for continued non-compliance.
No, implementation is not mandatory, but for Phase 4, you must now produce a mandatory Action Plan detailing what you intend to implement and report on your progress annually.
A Lead Assessor is a certified energy professional responsible for overseeing the ESOS assessment, quality checking the audits, and signing off the final compliance report. This is a mandatory role.
The key change is the requirement to produce and report progress against an Action Plan, shifting the scheme’s focus from mere reporting to action and accountability.
No. For Phase 4, routes like Display Energy Certificates (DECs) and Green Deal Assessments (GDAs) are no longer valid routes to compliance.
The audit must cover energy used in buildings, industrial processes, and transport, covering at least 95% of the total energy consumption.
The ESOS report must be formally approved and signed off by a Board-Level Director or equivalent, confirming that the findings have been reviewed by senior management.
No, formal Net Zero requirements are postponed until Phase 5, but Phase 4 encourages voluntary reporting and alignment with Net Zero principles.
