What is Ofgem’s decision on the Consumer Consent Service?
On 29 April 2025, Ofgem formally appointed RECCo as the delivery body for the new Consumer Consent Service. This digital solution will provide a secure, central solution for consumers to manage consent for sharing their energy data with trusted third parties.
This decision marks a key step in improving how consumers manage and benefit from their energy data. RECCo will now lead its development and implementation.
Welcoming the decision, our CEO, Sid Cox, says:
The new Consumer Consent Service will help to facilitate a more transparent, efficient, and consumer-focused retail energy market. It will put consumers in control of how they share their data in a trusted manner so that they can benefit from it. We’re proud to be leading the development of the digital solution. We will be working with consumers, industry colleagues, and all interested stakeholders to empower consumers, drive innovation, and reduce complexity and friction across the market.
What led to the decision?
Ofgem launched the Consumer Consent Service as part of its Data Sharing in a Digital Future initiative. In its initial call for input, Ofgem sought views on how to address consumer consent issues in energy data sharing. Based on the feedback, Ofgem proposed a digital solution to let consumers grant, manage, review, and revoke consent for sharing their data with trusted third parties.
After assessing several potential delivery bodies, Ofgem issued a Consumer Consent Service consultation from 9 August to 4 October 2024 on its proposal to appoint RECCo as the “minded to” delivery body, and gather feedback on the proposed service design.
What is the Consumer Consent Service?
The Consumer Consent Service will act as a secure digital solution that lets consumers manage who can access their energy data—and easily grant, review, or withdraw consent at any time. It will follow Ofgem’s Design Principles to simplify the consent process and give individuals greater control of their information.
What are the key benefits and objectives for consumers and industry?
Individuals can decide who can access their energy data and how it’s used—enabling better informed choices, tailored services, and potential cost savings. For the industry, it simplifies consent management, drives innovation, and supports lower system costs through trusted data sharing across the market. It’s also designed to uphold privacy, promote inclusivity, and contribute to a more sustainable, decarbonised energy system.
Pete Davies, Director of Data, Technology & Transformation at RECCo, adds:
The UK is world-leading in its decarbonisation of energy—and now it’s time for everyday consumers to play their part by sharing their data securely with organisations they trust to deliver clean and cheaper energy.
What’s our role in delivering the service?
We’re responsible for designing, developing, and deploying the solution and supporting a supplier licence obligation to ensure all consent is recorded through it. Here’s how we intend to build it.
- Following a user-centred journey approach, engaging stakeholders through consultation to co-design a robust and effective solution
- Develop a minimum viable product to minimise risk, ensure scalability and deliver value as early as reasonably possible
- Ensure the service fully complies with GDPR and other regulatory standards to protect consumer data
- Follow an agile development approach, evolving the service through discovery, alpha, beta, and live phases—driven by continuous stakeholder engagement
- Prioritise accessibility and inclusion, giving particular attention to the needs of vulnerable consumers to ensure equity and ease of use for all
In addition, RECCo will ensure that compliance, monitoring, and reporting requirements under the Retail Energy Code (REC) are met—and we will draft the necessary REC Change Proposals as required.
What are the next steps for stakeholder involvement?
Ofgem will establish three industry working groups to ensure comprehensive stakeholder consultation before transitioning responsibility to RECCo. This will bring together diverse perspectives to create a Consumer Consent Service that’s inclusive, effective, and meets the needs of consumers and the industry.
- Consumer Protection & Accessibility Group will support the needs of vulnerable and underserved consumers—and ensure the highest consumer protection standards
- Security, Technical & Design Group will support a secure, scalable, and user-friendly service
- Implementation & Governance Group will support operations, including governance frameworks and regulatory alignment
Ofgem will announce further details on these working groups soon, including how stakeholders can get involved.
Where can I find more information?
- Read our new dedicated Consumer Consent Service web page
- Read our full Consumer Consent Service Business Case
- Read our Response to Ofgem’s Consumer Consent Service Consultation
- If you have any questions or need more information, contact communications@retailenergycode.co.uk
Join our Consumer Consent Service team
We’re assembling a dedicated team to deliver this important new service. If you have expertise in this area and want to shape the future of consumer consent, check out our new job roles on our Careers page.
