The REC Code Manager Model
Innovative and digitally focused with a commitment to continuous improvement.
Empowered and accountable to deliver the RECCo strategy and REC objectives.
Consumer-centric and proactive in driving positive consumer outcomes.
Collaborative working across the RECCo ecosystem and with stakeholders.
Effective and efficient, delivering high quality, value for money outcomes to meet stakeholder needs.
First, the transition of existing retail code arrangements into the REC and the go-live of the new REC Code Manager model. This implementation will set a new standard for industry code governance, delivering against a positive consumer outcomes-based approach. Industry participants will be given an accessible set of retail arrangements in plain English and in a digital format and will have access to an intelligent, proactive, and empowered Code Manager to support their business needs within the retail market.
We took an innovative approach to procuring our REC Code Manager service and ahead of go-live of the new service we’d like to share our thinking behind the strategy and remind you of some of the benefits. In Q2 2019, we undertook a discovery phase to deeply understand existing code governance practices across this and other markets including what worked well, known problems, barriers to industry engagement, and listening to industry feedback. We also worked closely with Ofgem to fully understand how the REC requirements were to evolve.
This led to the development of 5 objectives which guided the procurement of the REC Code Manager service:
Three critical service capabilities emerged across Performance Assurance, Professional Services, and Technical Services. Learning from the discovery phase, RECCo decided to package each service as an awardable contract against a rationale of:
Harnessing ‘best in breed’ expertise, recognising the distinct, specialist capabilities required to support RECCo in achieving its mission and objectives;
Putting in place an independent performance assurance function to ensure REC Party and RECCo Service Providers compliance with the REC and high-performance levels;
Providing flexibility to adjust components of the code manager service as needs change over time and to avoid the risk of ‘lock in’ to a single all-embracing service provider;
Creating an ecosystem of diverse service providers to help nurture innovation by drawing on different skillsets to foster future orientated and proactive code-manager services; and
Allowing RECCo to play a dynamic role in the delivery of the code manager service and building collaborative relationships across multiple providers.
Following a highly competitive procurement process, in September 2020 three providers were awarded separate contracts to act as a single Code Manager and operate seamlessly to REC Parties and stakeholders: Deloitte as the REC Performance Assurance (RPA), Gemserv as the REC Professional Services (RPS) and Capgemini as the REC Technical Services (RTS).
Integral to the success of the delivery of the multi-service provider model, is the newly formed RECCo Executive team which provides our Board with expert support services from contract and service management, strategy development, financial and account management, and stakeholder engagement. This support framework will help ensure the Code Manager service (alongside the other 14 RECCo service provider contracts) continually strive to meet our strategic objectives by placing positive consumer outcomes at the heart of the retail market whilst promoting innovation and competition and delivering value for money for REC Parties. It’s an exciting journey ahead!
Please read the September edition to find out more on RECCo’s role under live operations.