November 2020
Price: £95 PLUS VAT
Format: DOWNLOADABLE PDF
***Full-scale policy conference taking place online***
This conference focuses on reform of the industry codes that underpin UK energy markets.
With a ministerial keynote contribution, it is bringing stakeholders together with key policy officials who are due to attend from BEIS; POST; DfT; the Department for the Economy, NI; the Department for International Trade; the Health & Safety Executive; the Office of Science & Technology; and the Welsh Government.
The discussion at a glance:
- the Energy network codes review - latest developments in the work by BEIS and Ofgem aimed at code reform and modernisation to accommodate energy market changes
- next steps - priorities and practicalities for achieving the policy aims of simplification, establishing level playing fields, and facilitating technological innovation
- the focus of reform - what type of codes require changes and how new iterations should be designed
- code management - what new powers and duties will be needed in order for the code system to run effectively
The agenda:
- Options for a strategic direction for regulatory and policy reform for energy codes
- Energy code structure and next steps for simplification, reducing complexity, and creating an agile framework
- Regulatory reform, climate goals and smart energy readiness
- Ensuring code reform widens participation and market competition - latest thinking on reducing entry barriers, expanding supplier engagement, and delivering greater consumer benefits
- The changing code governance landscape - accountability, effectiveness, dynamism, and options for the future:
- Modernisation of code administrator powers - system responsibilities, governance over disputes, and faster resolutions
- Ensuring code reform supports network services and whole-system change - supply balancing, grid flexibility, and smooth power transmission
- Priorities for creating dynamic energy sector code and market arrangements that support new business models
- Opening up opportunities for smart and low-carbon energy services - household energy, benefitting consumers, and innovative network management
- Regulatory priorities for delivering code reform and ensuring the energy system is fit for the future
- Priorities for designing a code system to support a modern UK energy market
Background to the discussion:
- The Energy network codes review and consultation - ongoing work by BEIS and Ofgem aimed at reform and modernisation of the code framework to accommodate energy market changes:
- the focus - areas such as clean and distributed generation, smart and flexible technology, and market entrants and new services
- The Retail Code Consolidation Significant Code Review - by Ofgem, with its recent Retail Energy Code schedules and proposed changes to licences progress report following COVID-19 disruption:
- the focus - Government’s objectives around retail energy markets looking at reducing the number of codes in retail energy, supporting innovation, and enabling more flexible decision-making among code administrators
- Code Administration Code of Practice Version 5.1 - Ofgem’s recent update outlining duties:
- the focus - maintaining smooth energy system operations, increasing help for innovators in navigating codes, and working with industry stakeholders to explore rule modification options
- The Energy White Paper - expected alongside the Autumn Budget, outlining government objectives for energy policy and transformation up to 2050, and next steps for integrating code reform into regulatory frameworks
- Modernising access to smart energy data - the competition organised by Innovate UK, Ofgem and BEIS for investment in developing products and services to modernise energy sector data services
- Ofgem proposes £25bn to transform Great Britain’s energy networks - looking towards a green transformation for energy networks, including funding to deliver clean energy and support innovation
- Electricity Settlement Reform - the Significant Code Review looking at how code modification can help deliver half-hourly settlements for suppliers and consumers
Key areas for discussion:
Policy and regulatory reform
- code structure - how the system’s ability to adapt can be improved, including steps for reducing code complexity and consolidating the range of codes
- implementation and future-proofing - reducing institutional disruption, and enabling a living code system that is agile and can deliver reform when required
- competition - how it can be supported in the energy marketplace and ensuring that code reform widens participation and reduces barriers to entry
Achieving benefits from reform
- overall aims - what will be needed to realise opportunities envisaged in changes to code manager and administrator responsibilities
- working arrangements:
- code management - assessing options for enhanced code administrator autonomy, including addressing disputes, overcoming system challenges, and delivering material change
- network operators and code managers - increased cooperation and aiding the delivery of whole-system change, flexible networks, and grid balancing
- industry stakeholders - closer working in designing more dynamic and agile codes that support new business models and innovation
- code and system governance - balancing flexible low-carbon energy and accelerating decarbonisation
- customer service improvements - enabling code administrators to resolve supplier issues at greater speed and reduce administrative costs passed to energy users
System and household energy management - looking more specifically at the role of code reform in:
- reducing grid connection barriers to non-generation devices - energy storage and demand side response, and improving the benefits and information provided to users of smart meters
- making local and community energy projects more viable - overcoming grid connection challenges and barriers for local energy trading
- integration of innovative data-driven services - digital marketplaces and swift digital information exchange
Policy officials attending:
Our forums are known for attracting strong interest from policymakers and stakeholders. Places have already been reserved by parliamentary pass-holders from both Houses of Parliament and the Parliamentary Office of Science & Technology, and officials from BEIS; the Department for Transport; the Department for the Economy, NI; the Department for International Trade; the Health & Safety Executive; the Office of Science & Technology; and the Welsh Government.
This is a full-scale conference taking place online***
- full, four-hour programme including comfort breaks - you’ll also get a full recording to refer back to
- information-rich discussion involving key policymakers and stakeholders
- conference materials provided in advance, including speaker biographies
- speakers presenting via webcam, accompanied by slides if they wish, using the Cisco WebEx professional online conference platform (easy for delegates - we’ll provide full details)
- opportunities for live delegate questions and comments with all speakers
- a recording of the addresses, all slides cleared by speakers, and further materials, is made available to all delegates afterwards as a permanent record of the proceedings
- delegates are able to add their own written comments and articles following the conference, to be distributed to all attendees and more widely
- networking too - there will be opportunities for delegates to e-meet and interact - we’ll tell you how!
Full information and guidance on how to take part will be sent to delegates before the conference
