Key themes and priorities
The plan continues the direction already set. Our strategy remains consistent — focused on our three aims: Perform, Protect, and Progress — while accelerating delivery.
Many of our main programmes for 2025-26 are continuing into next year, including Consumer Consent, Tariff Interoperability, Retail Energy Code (REC) Portal Relaunch, Enquiry Services Evolution, Market-wide Half-Hourly Settlement, Code Reform, and Code Manager Service Evolution. Each has clear milestones ahead and remains central to our work to drive improvement across the retail energy market.
Our plan is strongly linked to the requirements of the Code Manager Licence transition and Ofgem’s Strategic Direction Statement, ensuring our activity reflects both regulatory expectations and market needs.
We continue to look ahead and prepare for new areas that are coming within the scope of the REC, such as Customer-Led Flexibility, non-domestic smart meter rollout changes, and the Safe Isolator Provider accreditation scheme. We’ll work closely with stakeholders across the retail energy market as these take shape.
First things first
- Download the Draft Forward Work Plan 2026–29
- Book your webinar place: 29 January 2026 (11.30-13.00 GMT)
- Respond via the short online form: 15 January to 5 February 2026 (17.00 GMT)
Why your response matters
Stakeholder consultation is a requirement under the REC, but more importantly, it’s also the point where stakeholders can genuinely input into what ends up in the final plan. Your feedback helps us validate that we’re focused on the right priorities and helps clarify what we’ll do, when, and why.
The Final Budget 2026 will be published mid February 2026, and the Final Forward Work Plan 2026–29 will be published at the end of March 2026, following a thorough review of stakeholder responses to the consultation.
What’s in this year’s draft plan
This year’s draft reflects the direction of travel in the wider energy market, including themes set out in Ofgem’s Preliminary Strategic Direction Statement, and our preparations for operating as a licensed Code Manager. It includes progress and next steps across key deliverables, including:
- Code Reform & Code Manager Licence
- Digital Services & REC Portal 2.0
- Enquiry Services
- REC Performance Assurance evolution
- Consumer Consent & Tariff Interoperability
- Consumer-Led Flexibility
To support planning and engagement, we’ve included indicative costs for the year ahead, with the final budget to follow in February 2026 after the consultation closes.
How to respond
Please submit your feedback by 5 February 2026 (17.00 GMT).
- Respond via the online short form
- Or email comments to recco_strategy@retailenergycode.co.uk
Consultation questions
- Do you think we’ve identified the right workstreams under each strategic aim?
- Is there anything else we can provide to clarify the proposed workstreams?
- What feedback or suggestions do you have on the deliverables outlined?
- Do you have any comments on the Budget?
- Is the level of detail provided sufficient to give you a clear understanding of the Budget?
- Is there any further information you’d like us to include in the final Budget?
Join the webinar for a full walk-through
To support your consultation response, please join our stakeholder webinar on 29 January 2026. RECCo’s leadership team will walk through the key areas included in the draft plan, what’s changing, and what it means in practice for REC Parties and wider stakeholders, followed by an open Q&A.
The webinar will be recorded and shared afterwards on our news & insights and YouTube channel.
Book your place
Questions
If you have questions before or after the webinar, contact recco_strategy@retailenergycode.co.uk
Useful resources
- Catch up on the webinar we hosted in November 2025: Forward Work Plan 2026–29: Priorities, progress, and what’s next
- Read RECCo’s Strategy 2025–30
