The act was granted royal assent on 8 April 2010 along with a series of other bills during the wash-up period prior to the 2010 general election.

[1] On 7 December of the same year, the Bill received its second reading and first debate,[1] during which the Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats agreed on the continuation of the Energy Bill to become law, while facing opposition from the Conservative Party.

While Miliband received questions over grid access, gas storage, and the Government's support of the European "super-grid," the Bill was passed to the committee stage.

[2] The Energy Act 2010 is subdivided into four parts: carbon capture storage and regulation, schemes for reducing fuel poverty, regulations of gas and electricity markets, and final provisions.

Part one of the Act details the powers of the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change to provide funding for carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects, at the same time being allowed to withhold or cease funding CCS demonstrations.