Jon Hawkins, Operations & Transformation Consultant
Tell us a few things about yourself and why you joined the Operations and Transformation team at RECCo?
I’ve been involved with the REC for several years in various different roles, originally as an industry party participating in the review and development of the REC; then supporting MRASCo and Ofgem in developing the REC and the consequential impacts to the (then) MRA. Most recently I’ve been involved in mobilising the Code Manager service and REC change process. I’ve worked closely with colleagues at RECCo during this time, and strongly support the mission, objectives and values that RECCo are delivering for the market and consumers. When the opportunity arose to join RECCo and be involved in delivering its strategy for the market, it just felt the right opportunity and fit for me.
What does your role involve and what does a regular working day look like for you at RECCo?
My role is to support the Operations and Transformation team with the delivery of the RECCo Strategy and Forward Work Plan. Currently, my focus is supporting the Switching Programme Project, ensuring that the REC is operationally ready for CSS Go-Live; and mobilising our Market-wide Half-Hourly Settlement (MHHS) Project, preparing the changes required to the retail energy market for Market-wide Half-Hourly Settlement. My day tends to vary quite a lot, from attending project/governance meetings, managing risks and issues, engaging directly with REC stakeholders, process design, project governance, drafting change requests…
Tell us a few things about the projects you’re working on.
RECCo’s Switching Programme project has been established to support the implementation of the Switching Programme through CSS Go-Live and to the end of the Post Implementation Period. As well as developing the required changes to the REC, which is mostly complete, RECCo needs to ensure that the changes required to the Electricity Enquiry Service are delivered, and the Gas Enquiry Service is successfully onboarded as a new REC Service from CSS Go-Live. We also need to ensure that the Code Manager has updated their processes, and the REC is operationally ready to support the new arrangements from CSS Go-Live.
The Market-wide Half-Hourly Settlement project is similar, albeit at an earlier stage than the Switching Programme. The MHHS Programme is implementing a new Target Operating Model for the electricity market, that will fundamentally change the way many industry processes will work. RECCo are responsible for delivering the consequential changes to the REC as a result of this programme, ensuring that change to REC Service Provider systems are delivered in accordance with the requirements of the programme, and ensuring the REC is operationally ready to support the new arrangements. We are also engaging in the design workstream, ensuring that impacts to the REC are being appropriately considered in the programme’s physical design baseline.
Are there any new projects you're involve in and what do they entail?
The MHHS project is the most recent project we’ve launched, but there are plenty of other workstreams in our 2022/23 strategy that are being considered for future projects. If you haven’t already, I’d encourage reading the Strategy and Forward Workplan for 2022 – 2025, which is available on our website.
And finally… when you’re not busy here at RECCo, how do you like to spend your time?
I don’t tend to have very interesting hobbies, so mainly spend my free time meeting up with friends and family at pubs/restaurants and going on long walks with my dog!
Elmo - Jon's Cockapoo
