The Retail Energy Code (or REC) is a set of obligations governing market participants operating in the retail energy market within Great Britain.

Establishment of the REC

Faster, More Reliable Switching

In 2017, Ofgem consulted on proposals to introduce a new dual-fuel code which would contain transitional rules for the implementation of the Faster, More Reliable Switching Programme.

In 2018, Ofgem confirmed its intention to introduce the REC and brought forward licence changes to require Suppliers to accede. Ofgem then consulted on the next level of detail for the REC, including the iterative approach to the designation of several versions of the REC over a period of time.

Later that year, Ofgem extended obligations to accede to the REC to Distribution Network Operators and the Data Communications Company, and published working drafts of enduring REC provisions.

REC V1

In February 2019, Ofgem designated REC V1.0. This introduced the boilerplate document and transitional requirements for the REC. It was the enabler for the design of new Customer Switching systems, placing obligations on industry parties to cooperate in design, build and test phases.

In January 2020, Ofgem designated REC V1.1 to support code mobilisation activities and enact schedules around Change Management and Performance Assurance.

REC V2

On 01 September 2021, Ofgem designated REC V2.0. At this point, the full REC arrangements and Code Manager services were switched on. This included the establishment of new REC Committees, the launch of the Change Management processes, and the deployment of the REC Portal.

REC V3

On 18 July 2022, the Code Manager implemented REC V3.0.0. This was a significant iteration of the REC, which facilitated core aspects of Ofgem's Switching Programme. This included the introduction of eight new REC Schedules and 22 additional REC documents, as well as many other amendments. A full list of changes can be accessed in the Release Plan on the REC Portal.

Retail Code Consolidation

In addition to supporting the Switching Programme objectives, the establishment of the REC achieved a secondary aim of Retail Code Consolidation. The REC replaced previous industry code arrangements including the MRA, SPAA, MOCoPA, MAMCoP, SMICoP and ASPCoP, with the objective of providing a more streamlined set of market obligations and arrangements.

REC Parties

Main article: REC Parties

The following categories of organisations are required to accede to the REC:

• Electricity Suppliers
• Gas Suppliers
• Electricity Distribution Network Operators
• Electricity Independent Distribution Network Operators
• Gas Transporters
• Indepedent Gas Transporters
• Metering Equipment Managers
• Data Communications Company
• Retail Energy Code Company

REC Products

The REC consists of distinct products, each of which is detailed in the REC Baseline Statement. Changes to REC Products are governed by the Change Management process.

The primary obligations are set out within the REC Main Body. A number of REC Schedules set out further requirements across specific areas of the code.

Further Operational Documents relate to metering arrangements and defined Terms of Reference for certain REC Committees. Service Definitions and Data Specifications govern how certain REC Services are delivered.

Further documents are categorised as Category 3 Products, including non-mandatory guidance documents, user guides and operational templates. These products are governed by the Category 3 Change Process.

REC Services

There are a number of services which underpin the processes defined within the REC. These include the REC Portal, EMAR, Electricity Enquiry Service, and the Green Deal Central Charge database.

RECCo

Main page: Retail Energy Code Company (RECCo)

The Retail Energy Code Company is the organisation that oversees the strategic direction of the REC, and manages contractual relationships with REC Service Providers.

REC Code Manager

The REC Code Manager is the organisation responsible for the end-to-end delivery of all code processes, including Change Management, Party Management, and Performance Assurance.