The Code Administration Code of Practice (commonly CACoP) is a set of principles that support consistency and transparency of common processes underpinning the various energy industry code arrangements. As the Retail Energy Code (REC) is within the remit of CACoP, the Code Manager is required to design and maintain its processes in a way that aligns with the CACoP principles.

History

As part of a programme of Code Governance Review led by Ofgem, the CACoP was established in 2010. To support the progression of the arrangements, a CACoP Forum was established to encourage dialogue between the various code administrators. Upon designation on 01 September 2022, the Retail Energy Code became party to the arrangements.

CACoP principles

CACoP contains 14 principles designed to facilitate transparency in the code modification processes, and protect the interests of market participants and consumers. The principles are detailed within the CACoP document, and are:

1. Code administrators shall be critical friends
2. Documentation published by code administrators shall be in clear English
3. Information will be promptly and publicly available to users
4. The CACoP will be reviewed periodically and subject to amendment by users
5. Code administrators shall support processes which enable users to access a ‘pre-modification’ process to discuss and develop modifications
6. A proposer of a modification will retain ownership of the detail of their solution
7. Code administrators will facilitate alternative solutions to issues being developed to the same degree as an original solution
8. Estimates of implementation costs to central systems will be produced and consulted upon prior to a modification being recommended for approval
9. Legal text will be produced and consulted upon prior to a modification being recommended for approval
10. Modifications will be consulted upon and easily accessible to users, who will be given reasonable time to respond
11. There will be flexibility for implementation, to allow proportionate delivery times and realisation of benefits
12. The code administrators will report annually on agreed metrics
13. Code administrators will ensure cross-code coordination to progress changes efficiently where modifications impact multiple codes
14. Code administrators shall support prospective energy innovators

CACoP products

In 2021, the CACoP website was launched and is the home of all products and guidance produced by the CACoP Forum. Products on the website include:

• Central Modifications Register - a list of all live Change Proposals progressing through industry code arrangements
• Horizon Scanner - a forward look of anticipated milestones over the next five years with an expected cross-code impact
• Meetings Calendar - a aggregated list of meetings convened under all industry codes in a calendar display
• CACoP Newsletters - an archive of the quarterly newsletters published that detail relevant industry news

CACoP Forum

The CACoP Forum is a monthly meeting of those organisations responsible for the management and administration of the CACoP codes. At these meetings, attendees review and discuss cross-code issues and co-ordinate solutions. These meetings are also open for interested parties to attend.

The responsibility for chairing the CACoP Forum rotates on an annual basis between the codes. In 2022, the REC Code Manager has the chair..

Annual performance survey

Since 2017, Ofgem has commissioned an annual survey to assess and monitor improvements to code administrator performance. Carried out by an independent organisation, code users are contacted if they agree to participate in the survey. Feedback is detailed in summary reports and participant data is aggregated to ensure anonymity. The CACoP Forum and each CACoP party receives the findings report and is expected to implement improvement plans where opportunities are identified.

CACoP codes

The following industry codes are subject to CACoP and expected to align with the principles:

• Retail Energy Code
• Balancing and Settlement Code (BSC)
• Connection and Use of System Code (CUSC)
• Distribution Code (D Code)
• Distribution Connection and Use of System Agreement (DCUSA)
• Grid Code
• Independent Gas Transporters Uniform Network Code (IGTUNC)
• Smart Energy Code (SEC)
• System Operator Transmission Owner Code (STC)
• Uniform Network Code (UNC)