OFSI General Licence INT/2022/2300292

OFSI General Licence INT/2022/2300292 Publication notice of OFSI General Licence INT/2022/2300292 GENERAL LICENCE: Payments to Utility Companies for Gas and Electricity by UK Designated Persons who Own or Rent Properties in the UK INT/2022/2300292 1. This licence is granted under all UK Autonomous Sanctions Regulations listed in Annex 1 of this licence (the “Regulations”). 2. Any act which would otherwise breach any of the prohibitions set out in the Regulations, is exempt from those prohibitions to the extent required to give effect to the permissions in this licence. 3. In this licence: “Energy Companies” or “the Energy Company” means An Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (OFGEM) registered firm with permission to provide gas and/or electricity to properties in the UK. “UK DPs” means Those individuals or entities designated (or owned or controlled by an individual or an entity designated) for the purposes of an asset freeze by the UK under the UK Autonomous Sanctions Regulations only, but not those sanctioned by the United Nations excluding those designated for the purpose of compliance with United Nations obligations. “the UK Autonomous Sanctions Regulations” or “the Regulations” means Sanctions regulations made under the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018 (the Sanctions Act) and listed in Annex 1. “Permitted Payment(s)” means Utility payments for gas and electricity supplies and heating and/or hot water powered by gas or electricity from an external source, such as through a district heating network, to UK properties owned or rented by UK DPs. Payments for gas and electricity meter installation, certification, validation, monitoring, replacement, removal, including meters related to district heating networks, and other payments in relation to these activities. “Return Payment(s)” means Payments due as a result of over-payments made pursuant to this licence or in relation to the UK Government energy subsidy payments under the Energy Bills Support Scheme over winter 2022 to 2023 Energy Bills Discount Scheme (EBDS) (which closed on 31 March, 2024). a “Yearly Quarter” means A yearly quarter refers to one of the four three-month periods that make up a full year as follows: - January 1 – March 31 - April 1 – June 30 - July 1 – September 30 - October 1 – December 31 a “Relevant UK Institution” means A person that has permission under Part 4A of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (permission to carry on regulated activity). A person that is authorised or registered under Part 2 of the Payment Services Regulations (SI 2017/752). A person that is authorised or registered under Part 2 of the Electronic Money Regulations (SI 2011/99). A person that is a “recognised clearing house”, “third country central counterparty”, “recognised CSD” or “third country CSD” for the purposes of s.285 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. A person that is an operator of a recognised payment system (or that is a service provider in relation to recognised payment systems) for the purposes of Part 5 of the Banking Act 2009. “Person” means An individual or a body of persons corporate or unincorporate but does not include a UK DP Permissions 4. Under this licence, subject to the conditions in Paragraphs 8-10 below: 4.1 UK DPs may make Permitted Payments to Energy Companies from a frozen UK bank account by bank transfer or by direct debit; and 4.2 Any Person may make a Permitted Payment to Energy Companies (directly or indirectly), for or on behalf of a DP or for the benefit of a DP; and 4.3 Energy Companies may receive the Permitted Payments made under paragraphs 4.1 or 4.2. 5. Under this licence, subject to the conditions in Paragraphs 8-10 below: 5.1 Energy Companies may make Return Payments to frozen UK bank accounts; and 5.2 UK DPs may receive Return Payments from Energy Companies into a frozen UK bank account. 6. A Relevant UK Institution may process payments made in accordance with paragraphs 4 and 5 above 7. This licence does not permit the payment for gas and/or electricity to any person designated by the United Nations. Reporting Requirements 8. On a monthly basis Within 30 days of the end of a Yearly Quarter, the UK DP must make a report to HM Treasury in respect of all Permitted Payments made during that Yearly Quarter, with details and supporting evidence of: i) The name of the Energy Company; ii) The amount(s) paid; iii) The payment route used; and iv) The date on which the funds were paid. 9. Within 14 days of making a Return Payment under this licence, the Energy Companies must report to HM Treasury, with details and supporting evidence of: v) The amount(s) transferred; vi) The payment route used; vii) The date on which the funds were transferred; and viii) The reason for the Return Payment. Record-keeping Requirements 10. The Energy Companies and UK DPs must keep accurate, complete and readable records, on paper or electronically, of any activity purporting to have been permitted under this licence for a minimum of 6 years. General 11. The permissions in this licence do not authorise any act which will result in funds or economic resources being made available in breach of the relevant UK Autonomous Sanctions Regulations, save as permitted under a licence granted under those Regulations. 12. Information provided to HM Treasury in connection with this licence shall be disclosed to third parties only in compliance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018. 13. This licence takes effect from 17 November 2022. 14. HM Treasury may vary, revoke or suspend this licence at any time. Signed: Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation HM Treasury 17 November 2022 Amended 24 February 2023 Amended 13 October 2023 Amended 15 December 2023 Amended 29 February 2024 Amended 28 October 2024 Amended 26 September 2025 Amended 31 March 2026. Annex 1 – UK Autonomous Sanctions Regulations Regime Relevant Regulations The Republic of Belarus (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 Regulations 11 to 15 The Bosnia & Herzegovina (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 Regulations 11 to 15 The Burundi (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 Regulations 11 to 15 The Central African Republic (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 Regulations 12 to 16 The Chemical Weapons (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 Regulations 11 to 15 The Counter-Terrorism (International Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 Regulations 11 to 15 The Counter-Terrorism (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 Regulations 11 to 15 The Cyber (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 Regulations 11 to 15 The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 Regulations 13 to 17 The Democratic Republic of the Congo (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 Regulations 12 to 16 The Global Anti-Corruption Sanctions Regulations 2021 Regulations 11 to 15 The Global Human Rights Sanctions Regulations 2020 Regulations 11 to 15 The Global Irregular Migration and Smuggling in Persons (Sanctions) Regulations 2025 Regulations 14 to 18 The Guinea (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 Regulations 11 to 15 The Republic of Guinea-Bissau (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 Regulations 11 to 15 The Iran Human Rights (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 Regulations 11 to 15 The Iran (Sanctions) (Nuclear) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 Regulations 12 to 17 The Iran (Sanctions) Regulations 2023 Regulations 15 to 19 The Libya (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 Regulations 12 to 16 The Mali (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 Regulations 12 to 16 The Myanmar (Sanctions) Regulations 2021 Regulations 11 to 15 The Nicaragua (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 Regulations 11 to 15 The Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 Regulations 11 to 15 and/or 17A The Somalia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 Regulations 12 to 16 The South Sudan (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 Regulations 12 to 16 The Sudan (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 Regulations 12 to 16 The Syria (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 Regulations 11 to 15 The Venezuela (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 Regulations 11 to 15 The Yemen (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (No.2) Regulations 2020 Regulations 12 to 16 The Zimbabwe (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 Regulations 11 to 15 General Licence – Publication Notice General licence - INT/2022/2300292 OFSI has the power to issue General Licences for country sanctions regimes under the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018 (“the Sanctions Act”). On 17 November 2022, OFSI issued General Licence INT/2022/2300292 under all UK Autonomous Sanctions Regulations (see Annex 1 of the General Licence for the list of relevant Regulations) which allows for payment to utility companies for gas and electricity by UK designated persons who own or rent properties in the UK. Any persons intending to use General Licence INT/2022/2300292 should consult the copy of the Licence on this webpage for full details of the permissions and usage requirements. For the purposes of General Licence INT/2022/2300292: Energy Companies mean OFGEM registered firms with permission to provide gas and/or electricity to properties in the UK. UK DPs mean individuals or entities designated (or owned or controlled by an individual or an entity designated) for the purposes of an asset freeze by the UK under the UK Autonomous Sanctions Regulations Regimes only, excluding those designated for the purpose of compliance with United Nations obligations but not those sanctioned by the United Nations. Return Payments means payments due as a result of over-payments made pursuant to this licence or in relation to the UK Government energy subsidy payments under the Energy Bills Support Scheme over winter 2022 to 2023 Energy Bills Discount Scheme (EBDS) (which closed on 31 March, 2024). Permitted Payments means: • Utility payments for gas and electricity supplies and heating and/or hot water powered by gas or electricity from an external source, such as through a district heating network, to UK properties owned or rented by UK DPs. • Payments for gas and electricity meter installation, certification, validation, monitoring, replacement, removal, including meters related to district heating networks, and other payments in relation to these activities. Relevant UK Institution means: • A person that has permission under Part 4A of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (permission to carry on regulated activity). • A person that is authorised or registered under Part 2 of the Payment Services Regulations (SI 2017/752). • A person that is authorised or registered under Part 2 of the Electronic Money Regulations (SI 2011/99). • A person that is a “recognised clearing house”, “third country central counterparty”, “recognised CSD” or “third country CSD” for the purposes of s.285 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. • A person that is an operator of a recognised payment system (or that is a service provider in relation to recognised payment systems) for the purposes of Part 5 of the Banking Act 2009. Under General Licence INT/2022/2300292 UK DPs may make Permitted Payments to Energy Companies from a frozen UK bank account by bank transfer or by direct debit; Energy Companies may receive the Permitted Payments; Energy Companies may make Return Payments to frozen UK bank accounts and UK DPs may receive Return Payments from Energy Companies into a frozen UK bank account. The reporting and record-keeping requirements for UK DPs and Energy Companies are set out in the General Licence. On 13 October 2023, General Licence INT/2022/2300292 was amended to: • Add a definition of a Person; • Add Permission 4.3 which allows a Person to make Permitted Payments to Energy Companies for or on behalf of a DP or for the benefit of a DP; and • Expand the list of the UK Autonomous Sanctions Regulations Schedules contained within Annex 1 so that all the relevant Regulations are included. On 15 December 2023, the General Licence was amended to also permit activity that would otherwise breach the prohibitions in Regulation 17A of the Russia Regulations. On 29 February 2024, the General Licence was amended to add a permission to the list of Permitted Payments: • Payments for gas and electricity meter installation, certification, validation, monitoring, replacement, removal and other payments in relation to these activities. On 28 October 2024, the General Licence was amended to: • Make clear that the definition of UK DPs includes entities owned or controlled by a designated individual or entity; and excludes those designated for the purpose of compliance with United Nations obligations. • Add heating and/or hot water powered by gas or electricity from an external source such as through a district heating network; and meters related to district heating networks to the “Permitted Payments” definitions section. • Update the reference to the Energy Bills Discount Support Scheme (EBDS) in the “Return Payments” definitions section. • Update the list of the UK Autonomous Sanctions Regulations Schedules contained within Annex 1 so that all the relevant Regulations are included. On 26 September 2025, this licence was amended such that: • Reference to frozen UK bank accounts has been removed from Permission 4.1 to make clear that payments by DPs are not restricted to those made from frozen funds; • The reporting conditions have been updated to be submitted: “Within 30 days of the end of a Yearly Quarter” (refer to paragraph 8 of the General Licence); and, • Annex 1, Schedule of UK Autonomous Sanctions Regulations, now includes the Global Irregular Migration and Trafficking in Persons Sanctions Regulations 2025. On 31 March 2026, this licence was amended such that: • Reference to payments required to be by bank transfer or by direct debit were removed from Permission 4.1 to make it clear that payments by DPs are not restricted to these payment methods. General The permissions in General Licence INT/2022/2300292 do not authorise any act which the person carrying out the act knows, or has reasonable grounds for suspecting, will result in funds or economic resources being made available in breach of the relevant UK Autonomous Sanctions Regulations, save as permitted under a licence granted under those Regulations General Licence INT/2022/2300292 took effect on 17 November 2022. On 24 February 2023 it was extended with an expiry date of 23:59 on 16 October 2023. On 13 October 2023 the General Licence was extended and no longer has an expiry date. Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation HM Treasury