Thank you to those who provided their feedback on the Code Manager service through the Pulse Survey we released in December.
We received valuable feedback, particularly in relation to the REC Portal, the Energy Market Architecture Repository (EMAR) and how we communicate with you. We are already undertaking activities to address feedback, including rolling out new Portal functionality to improve your ability to find key information and updates.
We are also putting together plans to develop solutions directly with stakeholders, such as a review of how the REC Code Manager can improve engagement with stakeholders across the REC Change Process. We look forward to updating you on these improvements in coming weeks.
The REC Portal UX workshop, which was rescheduled from last month, took place on 17th February 2022. If you weren't able to make the session, we're still collecting feedback through a survey which you’ll find on the REC Portal homepage. Following the workshop, we’ll keep you updated with the steps we’re taking in response to issues raised and suggested ways forward.
This month we are taking key steps in making the EMAR more intuitive and user-friendly. We’ve been listening to your feedback on the REC Data Specification, and we are excited to share with you the latest developments:
On 24th February the Code Manager will be implementing improvements to the appearance of the REC Data Specification on the EMAR.
There will be no changes to the messages or data items themselves, but the way in which the Market Messages and Data Items are presented will be enhanced. The Code Manager will also be introducing a downloadable HTML format. Please click here for a preview of this new format.
On 24th February, the Code Manager will also be releasing a new version of the machine readable Access Database. The current Access Database contains only the Data Transfer Network (DTN) flows. The new version will include all REC Data Specification Market Messages.
Each time an update is made to the messages and/or data items in the REC Data Specification, we will release an updated copy of this new Access Database version, so that you can load the changes into your system.
Note, if you currently automatically load the DTC Access Database, you will need to update your systems to reflect the change in format to the new Access Database.
With effect from 28th February, the MRA Data Transfer Catalogue website will no longer be available, as it is superseded by the REC Data Specification on the EMAR here.
If you would like to see a demonstration of the new look of the data specification, or if you have any questions, our experts are here to help. The Code Manager is running dial in ‘Demonstration and Q&A sessions’ on the following dates:
Feedback across the REC Code Manager Service is welcome at any time so please continue to share with us your thoughts and suggestions, either through your OAM or the REC service desk.
The implementation of the Switching Programme is fast approaching in July 2022, so it’s vital we continue to move at pace towards a smooth transition for all impacted parties, not just those governed by the Retail Energy Code (REC).
We established the Price Comparison Website (PCW)/Supplier Forum last year following industry concerns that PCWs were not being sufficiently engaged under the switching programme, which could impact the successful delivery of the new switching programme arrangements for consumers.
PCWs are the primary route to switching in the domestic market, offering a platform for consumers to efficiently view and compare available tariffs from various energy suppliers at once. It was therefore important to make sure that these organisations were involved in the discussions on faster more reliable switching to ensure an efficient consumer journey, no matter which sales channel they chose.
Running from April to October 2021, the Forum convened to discuss a number of topics within the scope of its Terms of Reference. The Forum has now concluded with the final recommendations and agreed positions published at the end of November. All Forum outputs can be accessed on the RECCo website here.
It’s been made clear by recent energy price increases that, now more than ever, consumers need access to consistent and accurate information, especially in relation to switching. It’s therefore the right time to build on the excellent work achieved by the PCW/Supplier Forum.
Graham Wood, the original PCW/Supplier Forum Chair, will continue to share his expertise with us, whilst the REC Code Manager takes the lead on the next stages of engagement. Sue Jackson (Consumer Advocate) and Courtney Campbellwood (Senior Consumer Analyst) will take the final agreed positions from the forum to develop best practice and an engagement strategy to collaborate with PCWs and Suppliers.
Sue has 18 years of experience in consumer advocacy and was the external face of Ombudsman Services, responsible for managing relationships with energy parties, consumer bodies, consumers, and regulators. Her extensive background in stakeholder management and consumer support will ensure the outputs from the PCW/Supplier forum will continue to work for the involved parties and most importantly consumers.
Courtney reviewed and implemented onboarding processes in previous process design roles, ensuring compliance with existing governance and delivering a positive end to end consumer journey.
We are working towards issuing best practice in late March 2022, delivering key information at the right time in a variety of digestible formats. We will introduce collaboration spaces within the portal to allow continued discussion amongst previous forum members and ensure there is additional support available to wider parties by offering drop-in sessions or wider webinars.
Our future communications will offer more detail on the planned strategy and initial guidance documents through our Code Manager routes. These will include bulletins, REC portal, podcasts or other channels over the coming weeks and months. In the meantime if you’d like to access some of the work completed so far you can find documentation on RECCo’s website.
If you have any questions of the next steps for the PCW/Supplier Forum please contact the REC Code Manager at enquiries@recmanager.co.uk.
In April 2021, RECCo, the REC Code Manager and ElectraLink began working together to understand the potential options for utilising data from the UK energy market’s central Data Transfer Service (DTS) for conducting performance assurance across a wide range of REC processes.
The exercise combined the performance assurance expertise from RECCo and the Code Manager, with ElectraLink’s expertise of central industry data to identify pragmatic, efficient and proportionate options in order to measure specific REC retail risks.
To facilitate the REC Performance Assurance Board’s (PAB) reporting, RECCo required data for 65 KPIs across both fuel types. ElectraLink determined that energy market data from the DTS could be incorporated into 57 of these KPIs. ElectraLink, RECCo, and the Code Manager co-designed multiple APIs to send data into the REC PAB systems to achieve this.
As per the DTS Agreement (DTSA) recommendations, the team pseudonymised and delivered data at aggregated KPI and individual line levels, which subsequently ensure that personal data or confidential data is only provided when required rather than all data being transferred each month.
By leveraging the existing ElectraLink reporting capabilities in order to identify anomalies and deviations as specified by the Code Manager, the Code Manager and ElectraLink have reduced the amount of data that is required to be collected. This was achieved, where possible, by combining multiple KPIs into single API endpoints to reduce the complexity and overall costs for obtaining the centrally sourced data.
Nine months later, the collaborative effort resulted in a suite of 73 API endpoints, providing the REC Code Manager and the REC PAB with the ability to measure 58 KPIs across 13 REC Retail Risk Drivers and the ability to deliver two specific Performance Assurance Techniques.
The end solution delivers the innovative and digitalised performance assurance envisaged under the REC, which leverages existing data sources and platforms funded by industry parties through the not-for-profit mechanism under the DTSA. Therefore, this delivers data sharing with significant cost savings whilst limiting the burden on REC Parties as an alternative to providing data in individual submissions.
Working with the REC PAB, the REC Code Manager has so far identified three REC-defined processes where concerns exist in terms of current industry performance. The PAB is now in the process of taking actions to further investigate and address these issues directly with parties.
The Electricity Enquiry Service (EES), formerly known as the Electricity Central Online Enquiry Service (ECOES), is governed under the Retail Energy Code (REC).
Last month we gave you an update on the planned outage and service update to the EES and Secure Data Exchange Service (SDES) to ensure that the services remain fit for purpose in time for the new switching arrangements go-live.
We are pleased to confirm the service update was successful, including a major upgrade to the operational service by migrating the service to a new hardware platform.
The migration took a little longer than expected, but everything is working well and we thank everyone for their patience.
We are also pleased to confirm the updates required by the Switching Programme to the EES API and EES Portal have now been deployed for testing in the UIT environment. This will provide access to new data items, such as the Retail Energy Location (REL), which is to be accessed for switching purposes only. To test the new arrangements please contact the Code Manager at enquiries@recmanager.co.uk.
The Energy Theft Tip Off Service (ETTOS) is a REC service operated by Crimestoppers for members of the public to anonymously report suspected theft of gas and electricity. This service helps Suppliers identify cases of energy theft in accordance with condition 12A of their Energy Supply Licence.
In January 2021, RECCo and Crimestoppers successfully implemented a security upgrade to enable the ETTOS reports to be delivered directly to relevant supplier group email addresses. The reports are sent fully encrypted with Transport Layer Security (TLS) version 1.2, which will encrypt emails between email servers.
The benefits of this change include:
The Energy Theft Reduction Schedule in the REC has now been updated to reflect the change in process and Parties are reminded to treat the contents of reports received as confidential as per REC Schedule 7, section 6.
If you are an existing industry user and have a query on a report you have received, please contact Crimestoppers at: ettos@treblefive.org.uk.
We are always looking for ways to improve our communication to ensure you are up to speed with the REC.
These are just some of the communication channels we have available to help you stay informed. In coming weeks, the REC Portal will also have an updated news area where you can find out the latest updates across the REC, information on upcoming events and have the ability to download previous issues of the Weekly REC Bulletins.
If you have any suggestions on REC communications, please let us know at communications@retailenergycode.co.uk.
