ESOS templates — action plan, audit and assessment record
There is no single downloadable statutory ESOS template — content goes directly into the MESOS portal. These three structured templates map every field a compliant action plan, energy audit evidence pack and assessment record needs to the exact SI 2014/1643 or GOV.UK guidance clause it satisfies.
Why there is no downloadable ESOS template
ESOS content is entered directly into the MESOS online service. These structured tables are the practical equivalent of a template — every field mapped to the clause it satisfies.
Organisations searching for an ESOS action plan template, energy audit template or report example will not find an official downloadable document — the MESOS portal 1 structures submissions directly against the categories in the ESOS Regulations 2014 (SI 2014/1643) 2 and the GOV.UK ESOS guidance. Preparing the content against the three structures below before opening MESOS is the practical equivalent of working from a template — see the notification guide for how the finished submission is filed.
Action plan structure — Part 6A
Six fields make up a compliant Part 6A action plan, each mapped to the clause introduced by SI 2023/1182.
| Field | What to enter | Clause it satisfies |
|---|---|---|
| Statement of intent | Whether the organisation intends to reduce energy consumption over the phase | Part 6A, SI 2014/1643 (inserted by SI 2023/1182) |
| Energy-saving measures | Specific measures planned — e.g. LED retrofit, heating controls, fleet efficiency | Part 6A, SI 2014/1643 |
| Estimated savings per measure | Projected energy reduction (kWh) and cost saving (£) for each measure | Part 6A, SI 2014/1643 |
| Implementation timescales | When each measure will be delivered within the phase | Part 6A, SI 2014/1643 |
| Breakdown by organisational purpose | Measures and savings split across buildings, transport, industrial processes | GOV.UK ESOS guidance — good practice |
| Board-level director sign-off | Named director confirms the plan before submission | Part 6A, SI 2014/1643 |
See the full ESOS action plan guide for worked explanations of each field, the progress-update deadlines that follow submission (5 December 2025 and 5 December 2026 for Phase 3), and the sequencing constraint that action plans cannot be filed until the underlying notification is submitted.
Energy audit evidence pack structure
What a lead assessor's audit evidence pack must demonstrate, mapped to the specific regulation each field satisfies.
| Field | What to enter | Clause it satisfies |
|---|---|---|
| Total energy consumption | 12 months of verifiable data across buildings, transport, industrial processes | Reg. 5 & Sch. 1, SI 2014/1643 |
| Significant energy consumption covered | ≥95% of total, via audit, ISO 50001 or a mix | Reg. 6, SI 2014/1643 (as amended by SI 2023/1182) |
| Site visit records | Dates, sites visited, methodology used (BS EN 16247 or equivalent) | GOV.UK ESOS guidance — audit methodology |
| Energy-saving opportunities identified | Each opportunity with estimated payback and energy/cost saving | Sch. 3, SI 2014/1643 |
| Energy intensity ratio | At least one metric — e.g. kWh per employee, per m², per unit output | GOV.UK ESOS guidance |
| Lead assessor details and review | Name, registration number and sign-off, unless exempt | Reg. 8, SI 2014/1643 |
| Evidence pack retention | Records kept for at least the current and previous compliance period | Reg. 9, SI 2014/1643 |
Assessment record structure — the internal file behind the notification
The qualification test, route chosen and sign-off trail that supports the MESOS notification, mapped clause by clause.
| Field | What to enter | Clause it satisfies |
|---|---|---|
| Qualification test result | Employee count, or turnover/balance-sheet figures, on the qualification date | Reg. 3 & Sch. 2, SI 2014/1643 |
| Group structure mapping | UK entities in the corporate group and which triggered qualification | Reg. 3, SI 2014/1643 — group aggregation |
| Route selected | Energy audit, ISO 50001, or a mixed approach | Reg. 6, SI 2014/1643 |
| De minimis exclusion (if used) | The ≤5% of consumption excluded and why | Reg. 6, SI 2014/1643 (as amended) |
| Board sign-off record | Date, named director, confirmation of compliance | Reg. 7, SI 2014/1643 |
| MESOS submission reference | Confirmation number from the notification of compliance | GOV.UK ESOS guidance |
This assessment record is the internal document an auditor, regulator or new lead assessor would need to reconstruct why the organisation reached the compliance position it did — distinct from, but feeding directly into, the notification of compliance submitted via MESOS.
ESOS templates — frequently asked questions
Direct answers on official templates, reuse across phases, and where each document fits.
Is there an official ESOS action plan template?
There is no downloadable statutory template — the content is entered directly into the MESOS online service against the categories set out in Part 6A of SI 2014/1643 (inserted by SI 2023/1182).
This page's action plan structure walks through every required field so the content can be prepared before opening the MESOS form.
Is there an official ESOS energy audit template?
No single statutory template exists for the audit itself — GOV.UK guidance sets out what an ESOS-compliant audit must cover (total and significant energy consumption, site visits, savings opportunities, an energy intensity ratio) but leaves the document format to the lead assessor and organisation.
The evidence pack structure on this page maps each required field to the regulation it satisfies.
What does an ESOS report or assessment record need to include?
At minimum: the qualification test result and how it was reached, the route chosen (audit, ISO 50001, or mixed), the energy consumption data and coverage percentage, savings opportunities identified, the lead assessor's review (where required), and board-level director sign-off.
This is the internal assessment record that underpins the notification submitted via MESOS — see the assessment record template above.
Can I reuse the same template across ESOS phases?
The structure carries forward — the same fields are required each phase — but the content must be refreshed: new 12-month energy data, a fresh qualification test on the new qualification date, and updated savings opportunities and action plan commitments reflecting what was actually implemented since the previous phase.
Explore the ESOS guides
Dedicated pages covering every stage of the compliance journey.
Related guides & references
ESOS action plan — full guide
What an action plan must include, deadlines and MESOS submission
ESOS notification of compliance
What the MESOS notification itself must contain, and DNQ notifications
ESOS energy audit requirements
12-month data requirements, site visits and audit methodology
ESOS compliance — the full guide
Qualification, routes, sign-off and notification, step by step