Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) isn’t just a legal obligation. It’s an opportunity to cut energy costs and track carbon reduction progress.
What is SECR?
SECR is a UK government framework that requires large businesses to report annually on energy consumption (kWh), carbon emissions (CO2e) and energy efficiency actions taken.
It applies to quoted companies and large unquoted companies and LLPs that are required to publish full accounts.
Compliance with SECR supports your broader goals in carbon reporting, energy reporting, and broader ESG strategy. It can help track and drive progress toward Net Zero.
SECR compliance requirements
Disclosures must be included in your Annual Report and include:
- Total energy use (electricity, gas, transport fuels)
- Greenhouse gas emissions (CO₂e)
- At least one intensity metric (e.g. emissions per employee)
- Methodology used
- Narrative on energy efficiency improvements
- Comparative data from the previous year
How SECR consulting benefits business
Maximise cost savings
SECR compliance with Energise helps you identify energy inefficiencies.
We help you target actions to reduce energy bills and improve your bottom line.
Stay compliant and build trust
Our team ensures your SECR disclosure meets all regulatory standards.
With a strong audit success rate, we help you avoid penalties and build stakeholder trust.
Strengthen your ESG Profile
SECR compliance itself is a reasonably straightforward requirement.
However, we can help you align it with your wider sustainability priorities. This can help you demonstrate sustainability leadership.
Build stakeholder confidence
An integrated sustainability approach can build brand reputation and prepare for future requirements.
A good quality SECR disclosure is a first step towards sustainability credibility.
Can we help relieve the burden of Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting?
Working with our team can give you peace of mind that it’s done well. We provide expert advice around energy consumption and opportunities to save money and carbon.
What’s included in our SECR consulting service
We make SECR compliance simple, pragmatic, and stress-free. Leaving you to focus on your day job while we handle the details. Our service includes:
- Data collection and analysis – We provide a clear, structured data collection template. This makes gathering information easy. Where data is missing, we apply pragmatic estimation methods, balancing effort with accuracy. We ensure your report is complete and credible without unnecessary burden.
- SECR report preparation – We prepare a professional, Annual Report-ready document that meets all SECR requirements. This includes outlining your methodology, assumptions, and intensity metrics.
- Audit-ready documentation – Our reports are built to withstand scrutiny. With a strong track record of external audit success, we ensure your submission is robust, defensible, and aligned with regulatory expectations.
- Expert insights into energy and carbon saving opportunities –
Beyond compliance, our team identifies real opportunities to reduce energy use and cut costs. These insights can lead to significant financial savings and support your wider sustainability goals.
Do you need to comply with SECR?
You must comply if your business is:
A UK quoted company OR
A large unquoted company or LLP meeting two of the following:
- £36 million turnover
- £18 million balance sheet assets
- 250+ employees
You’ll benefit from SECR consulting with Energise if you want to:
- Improve energy efficiency reporting
- Strengthen your ESG disclosures
- Build a credible sustainability strategy
- Avoid compliance and reputational risks
Petty Wood & Co. Limited – SECR
Petty Wood reached out to us for help with SECR reporting after their energy broker recommended our services. In partnership, we were able to use Petty Wood’s data and ensure they were able to meet the legal requirements of SECR.
Thinking about how to improve your carbon or energy reporting?
Save time and resource by working with expert consultants.
Our SECR customers
We support projects covering 7.5% of the UK’s carbon footprint and deliver strong external audit success rates. Our blend of technical expertise and commercial insight makes us your ideal partner in carbon reporting and energy strategy.
Free SECR Readiness Checklist
Assess your compliance status and uncover opportunities to improve energy efficiency and align with your sustainability goals
Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting FAQs
What's the difference between SECR and a full carbon footprint report?
SECR just requires you to report on the energy and carbon emissions that your organisation is directly responsible for producing. This includes emissions from any onsite burning of fuels (e.g. from diesel generators) or from electricity bought.
For some businesses, this will also include emissions from transportation.
A full carbon footprint on the other hand will calculate the emissions that your organisation is directly AND indirectly responsible for. In other words, it also accounts for the emissions associated with your upstream and downstream value chain.
Do I need to include Scope 3 emissions in SECR reporting?
Scope 3 emissions reporting is voluntary under SECR. It is strongly encouraged especially if they represent a significant portion of your carbon footprint.
Quoted companies: Scope 3 is optional but recommended
Large unquoted companies and LLPs: You must report business travel emissions. Other Scope 3 categories remain voluntary.
What is the difference between Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions?
Scope 1: Direct emissions from owned or controlled sources (e.g. fuel combustion).
Scope 2: Indirect emissions from purchased electricity, heat, or steam.
Scope 3: All other indirect emissions in your value chain (e.g. commuting, procurement, waste)
Do I need to report emissions from employee commuting or home working?
If employees travel in their own vehicles these fall under Scope 3 and are voluntary under SECR. However, reporting them can provide useful insights to see if it’s an area with a high carbon footprint for your business.
Does electricity purchased on a renewable tariff count as zero emissions?
Not automatically. You must use a recognised methodology (e.g. location-based or market-based) and disclose your approach. We will work with you to ensure you are accurately quantifying and reporting your emissions.
Do academy trusts, universities, or housing associations need to comply with SECR?
Some public sector bodies may fall under SECR if they meet the size criteria. Multi-academy trusts are often in scope. Communication was released in 2025 to clarify the position of MATs in relation to SECR.
What is an intensity ratio in SECR?
An intensity ratio expresses emissions relative to a business metric—like CO₂e per employee or CO₂e per £m turnover. It helps track performance over time and accounts for business growth. The metric chosen should make sense for your business. Schools might select emissions per pupil for example.
What is the difference between Net Zero and Carbon Neutral?
Net Zero means reducing emissions as much as possible and offsetting the rest.
Carbon Neutral often relies more heavily on offsetting.
How does a business become Net Zero?
By measuring emissions, setting reduction targets, improving energy efficiency, and offsetting residual emissions.
Do I need a carbon footprint before developing a sustainability strategy?
Accurate carbon data is essential for credible environmental sustainability reporting and strategic planning.
Got a question about SECR consulting?
OUR BLOG
Multi-Academy Trust Climate Action Plan & SECR
C Why Multi-Academy Trusts must lead on Climate Action The DfEs sustainability and climate change strategy requires school level climate action. For Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs), this is
Insights from the 2025 Business Net Zero Census
Why UK Organisations Must Act Now on Net Zero: Insights from the 2025 Business Net Zero Census Acting now on net zero delivers real business
Carbon reduction or Net Zero
Whether you hold contracts over £5 million, supply the NHS beneath that threshold, or simply want to prepare for upcoming sustainability obligations, this post is for you.