whilst the carbon reduction commitments does not officially start until April 2010, there is still a large amount of work that many organisations may have to do prior to that date.

Identify organisational structure

the carbon reduction commitments operates under special rules that may mean some organisations will be included in the scheme even though they think they are too small and energy user to have two participate. To this end, it is imperative that all companies identify exactly where they fit in with larger parent or group organisations, and where at how each will be liable to the carbon reduction commitment.

The carbon reduction scheme applies at the highest level of the organisation, except where there are significant subsidiaries. Significant subsidiaries are defined as individual energy uses that in themselves consumed more than 6000 MWh during 2008. As such, the significant subsidiary could be included into the carbon reduction commitment scheme in its own right, and made separate from the rest of the organisation.

Organisations will also need to identify which parts of their energy consumption already fall under climate change agreements and the EU emission trading schemes; and therefore be excluded from the carbon reduction commitment. One these elements have been identified, the total needs to be calculated to account at least 90% of the organisation's total carbon footprint

Electricity consumption

Having identified the organisational structure, the next step will be to ascertain the total amount of electricity consumption from all half hour meters. If the sum exceeds 6000 MWh during 2008 in the organisation will fall under the carbon reduction commitment scheme