The sheer volume of market rules will be reduced with the replacement of several separate codes with the single dual fuel REC, but that would only go so far to address the problem. From its beginnings, the REC was conceived as a fully digital code, enabling all stakeholders including those unfamiliar with industry arrangements to navigate and resolve queries, and eventually be tailored to focus on those aspects of the code that are relevant to the individual user and their business model.
Our digitalisation strategy will initially focus on the delivery of two key platforms, being the Energy Market Architecture Repository (EMAR) and the REC portal.
EMAR The EMAR is effectively a digital twin of the REC, storing a digital representation of all code components in a tool that allows analysis and modelling of the code, and of any potential changes to it.
The EMAR solution will enable accelerated change and better outcomes for consumers by:
The EMAR utilises a tried-and-tested software as a service tool already spearheading many industries, including many of the largest financial services companies in the world. Configuration of the EMAR was completed during the first of three REC mobilisation phases, with the second phase focused on the Logical Analysis of the REC content. This is an iterative process, which provides regular progress checks, allows us to adapt and learn as we go, and gives greater certainty of outcome. However, it does require a stable baseline of material, which makes progress dependent upon the progress and outcome of Ofgem’s consultations on the REC drafting, and may require re-work where that drafting is subjected to change.
We will populate the EMAR as we go through Logical Analysis, and will be able to use early content to demonstrate its functionality to stakeholders in the coming months. This will give stakeholders an early experience of what the enduring service will look and feel like.
We consider that the EMAR could deliver further value to RECCo and REC stakeholders if its content is expanded beyond the REC itself, potentially to incorporate full end-to-end requirements, whether they stem from a licence or complementary provisions from other codes. This could enable the fully holistic impact assessment of future change. We will explore opportunities to work in partnership with other code bodies and/or service providers in search of further value for our stakeholders.
REC Portal
We have developed a clear vision to build a REC portal aligned to our digitalisation strategy. We have chosen "best in breed technologies," in particular service management tools which are flexible and can integrate between different modular technologies so as to meet requirements now but also for the future. The portal follows our Digital-first principles, including the enablement of single sign-on for the user, secure by design features, cloud-hosted, feature-rich, scalable and able to maximise the value of data.
We have built user journeys for the key components of the REC Manager services, including:
The REC portal will be the single front door for REC parties and stakeholders giving access to the EMAR, a Knowledge Repository, the Digital REC, Change Management updates and a Community forum. User experience is at the heart of the approach and during the remainder of mobilisation, we will take an agile approach to the build.
Stakeholder Engagement
We will take an inclusive, proactive and, where necessary, tailored approach to stakeholder engagement. This will primarily support parties understand their REC obligations, but also inform stakeholders of how we are fulfilling our strategic vision, e.g. putting the consumer first.
The Code Manager will provide Operational Account Managers for REC Parties, and via playback sessions, Q&A sessions and industry-wide engagement sessions, will update you on progress towards service go-live, and inform you of key outputs once the service goes live.
A key part of our stakeholder strategy will be to understand each stakeholder level of engagement with the existing industry codes and therefore absent intervention, their likely interaction with the REC, and extent of their digital maturity. This will be important to ensure that all stakeholders are able to effectively engage with the REC through digital means such as the portal, and allow us to take mitigating actions where they are not. The efficacy and cost-efficiency of our communications will increase as our stakeholder progress further along the path towards digital maturity. This may also have implication for our ability to pursue digital solutions, without a disproportionate burden and/or compliance risk falling upon REC Parties who are not ready to adopt them. It is therefore in our and REC Parties’ interests to help stakeholders along this journey to digital maturity where appropriate.
Alongside the final RECCo Strategy and Budget publication we will publish further detail on user engagement and how stakeholders can get involved in development.