UK Ecodesign Standby Regulation: New GB Power Limits from 2027
UK Ecodesign Standby Regulation: Great Britain Consults on New Off Mode, Standby and Networked Standby Power Limits Aligned with EU 2023/826
On 16 October 2026, the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) opened a public consultation on updating the ecodesign requirements for standby, off mode and networked standby power consumption in Great Britain. The proposal would repeal the two assimilated regulations currently in force Commission Regulation (EC) No 1275/2008 (standby and off mode for household and office equipment) and Commission Regulation (EC) No 107/2009 (simple set-top boxes) and replace them with a single new statutory instrument aligned with EU Regulation (EU) 2023/826.
The consultation applies to England, Scotland and Wales and remains open until 11:59 pm on 24 December 2026. A draft statutory instrument and an options assessment have been published alongside it, and the UK is notifying the World Trade Organization (WTO) of the proposed technical regulation, with the associated 60-day standstill running in parallel.
Background: why Great Britain is updating its standby rules
Great Britain's current standby framework dates back more than 15 years and was designed for simpler products with limited connectivity. Today's market is dominated by smart, connected and always-online devices, smart plugs, robot vacuums, air fryers, smart speakers and connected coffee makers many of which either fall outside the existing rules or exploit outdated definitions.
The EU has already modernised its framework through Regulation (EU) 2023/826, whose first tier has applied since 9 May 2025. Under the Windsor Framework, that regulation also applies in Northern Ireland, creating a regulatory divergence between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. DESNZ's stated objectives are to improve the energy efficiency of household and office equipment, reduce energy demand and consumer bills, and strengthen enforcement — while removing the need for manufacturers to comply with two different sets of GB and EU requirements.
DESNZ estimates that the updated standards could save around 11.5 TWh of electricity and 234 ktCO₂e by 2050.
Key changes proposed under the UK ecodesign standby regulation
Updated definitions for modern devices
The proposal retains the established definitions of off mode, standby mode and networked standby, and introduces clearer distinctions for:
Standby mode with a reactivation function (remote control, internal sensor or timer)
Standby mode with an information or status display (e.g. clock, charge status)
Networked standby without high network availability (non-HiNA)
High network availability (HiNA) equipment such as routers, network switches and wireless access points
Tighter power consumption limits
Mode | Current GB limit | Proposed limit |
Off mode | 0.5 W | 0.3 W |
Standby with reactivation function | 0.5 W | 0.5 W (unchanged) |
Standby with information or status display | 1.0 W | 0.8 W |
Networked standby – high network availability (HiNA) | No specific limit | 7.0 W |
Networked standby – other than HiNA | No specific limit | 2.0 W |
Mandatory automatic power-down (APD)
Equipment would be required to switch automatically to standby, off mode or networked standby after a period without user interaction or network activity:
Equipment | Maximum inactivity period |
Most equipment (non-networked) | 20 minutes |
Networked equipment (e.g. smart TVs, games consoles) | 20 minutes |
Drip filter coffee machines – insulated jug | 5 minutes |
Drip filter coffee machines – non-insulated jug | 40 minutes |
Other household coffee machines | 30 minutes |
Existing exemptions for products where automatic shutdown would be inappropriate or unsafe such as medical devices, emergency equipment and certain IT server products would be carried over.
Expanded product scope
For the first time, the following product groups would fall within the GB horizontal standby regulation:
Motor-operated adjustable furniture — height-adjustable desks, elevation beds and chairs (excluding medical devices and wheelchairs)
Motor-operated building elements — blinds, shutters, awnings, pergolas, curtains, doors, gates, windows and skylights
Products powered by low-voltage external power supplies — e.g. charging bases, docking stations, smart speakers and smart thermostats, previously exempted
Portable battery-operated products with a recharging circuit that must be plugged in to recharge, such as cordless electric toothbrushes
Simple set-top boxes, following the repeal of Regulation 107/2009
3D printers would remain excluded, and product-specific low-power modes (e.g. those of computers, servers and electronic displays) would continue to be addressed through separate, product-specific ecodesign measures.
Stronger compliance and anti-circumvention rules
The draft statutory instrument introduces:
Clarified measurement conditions, definitions and calculation methods (Article 5 of the draft regulations)
Expanded technical documentation requirements describing how standby functions, displays and network features operate (Article 6 and Schedule 4)
An explicit anti-circumvention provision prohibiting software, firmware or design features that detect test conditions and alter performance — including through software updates (Article 7)
Single-step implementation from Q2 2027
Unlike the EU's two-tier approach (9 May 2025 and 9 May 2027), Great Britain proposes to apply the full set of final requirements in one step from Q2 2027, with a six-month transitional period in line with the UK's WTO commitments.
What this means for manufacturers
For manufacturers, importers and authorised representatives placing electrical and electronic household and office equipment on the GB market, the consultation signals a substantial tightening of low-power requirements:
Products already compliant with EU 2023/826 (Tier 2) should be well positioned, as GB requirements would converge with the EU's final limits. This reduces the need for GB-specific product variants.
Products currently designed only to the legacy GB limits may need redesign particularly to meet the 0.3 W off mode cap, the 0.8 W display standby cap and the new 2.0 W networked standby limit.
Connected and smart products will be most affected, as networked standby is being capped for the first time and automatic power-down must also apply to networked equipment.
Newly in-scope categories — motorised furniture, motorised blinds and building elements, EPS-powered devices and plug-in rechargeable products will need to be assessed against standby requirements for the first time.
Firmware and software strategies must be reviewed, as post-market software updates that change standby behaviour could fall under the anti-circumvention rules.
Technical files and declarations of conformity that currently reference Regulations 1275/2008 or 107/2009 will need to be updated to reference the new GB instrument once it is made.
DESNZ estimates modest upfront price increases of approximately £1.48 to £5.55 per product, which it expects to be offset over time by lower electricity costs.
Certification impact summary
Area | Impact | Level |
Legal basis | 1275/2008 and 107/2009 repealed; replaced by a single GB statutory instrument aligned with EU 2023/826 | High |
Power limits | Off mode tightened to 0.3 W; display standby to 0.8 W; new 2.0 W / 7.0 W networked standby caps | High |
Product design | Automatic power-down (typically 20 minutes) required, including for networked equipment | High |
Product scope | Motorised furniture, building elements, low-voltage EPS-powered and plug-in rechargeable products added | High (for newly covered categories) |
Testing | Clarified measurement conditions and calculation methods; standby, off mode and networked standby testing should be checked against the final requirements | Medium |
Technical documentation | Expanded information requirements on standby functions, displays and network features | Medium |
Software / firmware | Anti-circumvention clause covers test-detection behaviour and software updates | Medium–High |
GB–EU–NI market access | Alignment with EU 2023/826 reduces dual compliance and GB/NI divergence | Positive |
Enforcement | Clearer verification basis for market surveillance authorities | Medium |
Timeline
Date | Milestone |
9 May 2025 | EU Regulation 2023/826 Tier 1 applies in the EU and Northern Ireland (Windsor Framework) |
16 October 2026 | DESNZ consultation opens; WTO notification and 60-day standstill begin |
24 December 2026 (11:59 pm) | Consultation closes |
After closing (date TBC) | UK government publishes its response and finalises the statutory instrument |
9 May 2027 | EU Regulation 2023/826 Tier 2 (stricter limits) applies in the EU and Northern Ireland |
Q2 2027 (proposed) | New GB requirements apply in a single step, with a proposed six-month transitional period |
Within 5 years of entry into force | Post-implementation review |
Required actions for manufacturers
Map your GB portfolio against the product categories listed in Annex C of the consultation, paying particular attention to newly in-scope products.
Measure current performance in off mode, standby (reactivation and display) and networked standby, and benchmark results against the proposed 0.3 W / 0.5 W / 0.8 W / 2.0 W / 7.0 W limits.
Classify networked products as HiNA or non-HiNA equipment to determine the applicable networked standby limit.
Verify automatic power-down settings, including default configurations and inactivity periods for networked equipment and coffee machines.
Align with EU 2023/826 Tier 2 where products are sold in both GB and EU/NI markets, to avoid duplicate design and testing efforts.
Review firmware and software update policies to ensure no behaviour could be considered circumvention.
Update technical documentation and declarations of conformity to prepare for the new legal reference and expanded information requirements.
Submit feedback to DESNZ before 24 December 2026 especially evidence on costs, redesign needs, feasibility of the limits, exemptions and the proposed single-step Q2 2027 timeline.
How to respond to the consultation
Stakeholders can respond via the DESNZ online survey, by email to efficientproducts@energysecurity.gov.uk, or in writing to the Energy-Related Products Team, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, 3-8 Whitehall Place, London SW1A 2EG. The consultation contains 42 questions grouped by respondent type, covering definitions, scope, power limits, automatic power-down, compliance, implementation timing and equality impacts.
Conclusion
The proposed UK ecodesign standby regulation marks the most significant update to Great Britain's low-power requirements in more than a decade. By aligning with EU Regulation 2023/826 and applying the final limits in a single step from Q2 2027, the UK aims to cut wasted energy, close compliance loopholes and restore regulatory consistency between Great Britain, Northern Ireland and the EU. Manufacturers should review their GB product ranges now, plan any redesigns well ahead of 2027 and use the consultation window to raise technical or commercial concerns with DESNZ.
