Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002 (ESQCR)

Page type: primary-anchored (mirrors The Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002, SI 2002/2665)

Last updated: 2026-04-05

Source file: ~/knowledge/sources/legislation/uk/si-2002-2665-esqcr.md

What this instrument does

The ESQCR 2002 (SI 2002/2665) is the primary safety regulation for electricity networks in Great Britain. It covers the physical safety of electrical equipment, the quality of electricity supply (voltage and frequency), and reporting obligations for supply interruptions. It replaced the Electricity Supply Regulations 1988.

Made under the Electricity Act 1989 (ss.29, 30(3), 60). In force from 31 January 2003. Applies to generators, distributors, meter operators, and suppliers.

Uniquely among energy SIs, breach of these Regulations is a criminal offence (Reg 36). The Health and Safety Executive enforces safety aspects; Ofgem enforces supply quality aspects.

Three domains

Safety (Parts I-VI): preventing danger from electrical equipment. The general standard is that equipment must be "sufficient for the purposes for which it is used and so constructed, installed, protected and maintained as to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, danger" (Reg 3). This covers earthing (Regs 6-10), substations (Reg 11), underground cables (Regs 12-15), and overhead lines (Regs 16-20).

Quality (Part VII, Reg 24): electricity must be supplied within prescribed voltage and frequency limits. The voltage tolerance is 230V +10%/-6%; the frequency target is 50Hz.

Continuity (Reg 20A, Reg 31): distributors must manage tree proximity to overhead lines (Reg 20A) and report significant supply interruptions affecting 20 MW or more, or 5,000 or more consumers (Reg 31).

Duty holders

Distributors carry the broadest obligations: general equipment adequacy, protection and earthing, substation security, cable burial standards and mapping, overhead line heights, tree clearance, supply characteristics, connection safety, network inspection (with 10-year record retention), and interruption reporting.

Generators must ensure their equipment does not cause danger to the network (Reg 21) and that parallel operation does not affect supply quality or safety (Reg 22).

Meter operators must maintain equipment to the general adequacy standard (Reg 3).

All duty holders must cooperate with each other and disclose information necessary for compliance (Reg 4). All must notify the Secretary of State of deaths, injuries, fires, explosions, and cable damage (Reg 30).

Cross-references

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