Code Manager
Following detailed feedback from the Parties, the Board confirmed a focus for the coming year would be on improving the Code Manager Service.
The Chief operating Officer reported that there are many improvements being delivered across all aspects of the Code Manager Service, captured in Improvement Plans agreed with the relevant service providers. For example, the Operational Account Manager (OAM) team is being expanded to increase the quality and frequency of REC Service Users interactions with REC activity, and to help improve the overall change pipeline process to deliver speedier and better-quality changes through new and improved industry forums. We are also working to ensure that we have the right OAM resource to manage future initiatives such as the Third Parti Intermediary accreditation scheme.
There are several improvements being delivered in the digital space including the building of a pipeline of changes to enhance the user experience across our REC Portal and Digital Navigator. We have also worked with the Code Manager to improve the market entry assessment process, and the communication and help given to parties once they have been granted access to the market through the helpdesk and other related communications.
Forward Work Programme
The Board was informed of progress on the development of the detailed Forward Work Plan (FWP).
The consultation document had been published on 15th January as required by the REC and a stakeholder webinar was held on 23rd January. The webinar outputs were shared with the Board: over 100 people registered for the event, with 68 external participants joining on the day, with around 50% being supplier representatives. To make the event more interactive than some past webinars, participants were invited to submit questions to the RECCo team of presenters. They were also encouraged to provide feedback at the end of the event which attracted 37 comments and observations; the event was highly rated, gaining 4.2 out of 5 on its usefulness.
The FWP consultation subsequently closed on 5th February with only one response being received. That response came from the Data Communications Company (DCC), raising concern at RECCo undertaking work to feed into Ofgem’s DCC Review, including the potential to separate the Central Registration Service (CRS) from the DCC licence and migrating its governance fully to the REC. The DCC response, which was included in full to the Board, was concerned at both the scope and scale of RECCo’s intended work on this issue and indicated it would consider an appeal to Ofgem. The Board noted these concerns and took them into consideration as part of its determination of the final budget for 2024-25.
RECCo Budget 2024-25
The Chief Finance and Commercial Officer presented the detailed budget for the 2024-25 Financial year for its approval.
The REC requires the Board to prepare a strategy setting out the key activities which RECCo expects to carry out in the coming year. The Board must consider that all activities set out in the 2024-25 Budget will further REC Objectives, particularly ensuring customer interests are protected, and continuous improvements and efficiencies are driven in the operation of the REC and its central systems and communication infrastructures for the benefit of the retail market.
Using a bottom-up approach for Budget development, and following a stringent internal review process, the 2024-25 Budget is £53.05M, a 5% (£2.5M) reduction on the costs we expected in the 2024-25 indicative Budget.
Our full suite of services has been ‘live’ since Summer 2022. They meet most stakeholders’ needs with a commendable level of service whilst employing a new model for code management. However, we have identified improvement areas in feedback from the Parties, and our Budget includes the resources necessary to action this feedback.
In summary, our 2024-25 Budget is focused on:
- Internal resource capability on addressing service areas which require improvement.
- Increased service delivery obligations.
- Delivery of key programmes to meet REC Service users’ current and future needs as well as acting on direction from Ofgem.
- Enhanced internal capacity and capability.
In Summer 2023, Ofgem confirmed its intention to consult on the potential separation of the Central Registration Services (CRS) from the Smart Communication Licence, with an option to transfer responsibility fully to RECCo. Following a detailed business case, the Board considers this would further the REC Objectives and approved a modest allowance to meet this Ofgem requirement.
Stakeholder Satisfaction Survey
The Board were presented with the results of Stakeholder Satisfaction Survey and next steps in response to Party feedback.
In 2023-24, we successfully completed our first year of operating the full suite of REC Services. Over the past year, we have reviewed our collective services and listened to stakeholder feedback. Following our summer ‘roadshows’ where we reached out to our community, we made immediate improvements based on stakeholder feedback about our core services. However, we recognise there is more we can do to meet the standards we have set for ourselves.
We thank all the stakeholders who provided in-depth feedback in our annual survey towards the end of 2023. The aim of the survey was to gather stakeholder views across the core REC Services that we are responsible for, helping us to prioritise change in 2024-25.
In summary, our services collectively scored well within the survey, with stakeholders rating the Electricity Enquiry Service, Gas Enquiry Service, and Green Deal Central Change Database particularly highly. Stakeholders also valued Operational Account Managers and the delivery and administration of our REC Committees. However, areas for improvement were identified including the usability and interactivity of both the REC Portal and the EMAR, the REC Change Process, and the REC Performance Assurance arrangements; this was consistent with feedback from other stakeholder engagement channels. We will be publishing our action plan to respond to your feedback over 2024 in March.
REC Data Access
An update was given to the Board on the work completed on the Open Data project.
The update included details of the REC data sources identified, creation of the metadata catalogue, and the data classification and the number of data items for each data source falling into each classification. Details of the type of data held within each data source, who is requesting or has access to the data and for what purpose, and how is the data accessed were also shared with the Board.
