TO BE PUBLISHED December 2026
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This conference will examine next steps for developing a smart data scheme for energy, and the potential implications for consumers, businesses and the wider energy market. The agenda will consider priorities for scheme design and governance, access to energy and smart meter data, and issues around shared infrastructure and interoperability. Further areas include consumer consent, protection and confidence, and the conditions needed to support innovation, competition, and the development of new services.
With detailed proposals for an energy smart data scheme being developed ahead of consultation later this year - following publication in March 2026 of the Energy Digitalisation Framework and Smart Data 2035 - the conference will bring together stakeholders and policymakers to consider how the developing scheme and associated data-sharing arrangements can support trusted and effective participation by consumers and third-party providers. Delegates will examine practical requirements for suppliers, networks and other market participants, including proportionality, accreditation and assurance, commercial viability and routes for new entrants.
Further discussion will focus on changing arrangements for access to smart meter data, including Elexon’s development of the Smart Data Repository to make aggregated half-hourly consumption data more widely accessible, and its planned integration with the Consumer Consent Solution being delivered by the RECCo to enable consumers to manage consent for access to their energy data. The agenda will consider what these arrangements could mean for the development of consumer and business services, alongside questions around access, cost allocation, accountability, data quality, consent and redress.
The conference will also consider the development of shared digital infrastructure and the approach set out in the Energy Digitalisation Framework for coordinating data activity across the sector, including common architecture, standards, interoperability and assurance. Discussion will examine what will be required for these arrangements to work effectively in practice, including clarity of responsibilities, coordination between delivery bodies, security and consumer confidence, and avoiding unnecessary barriers or duplication for established market participants and new providers.
Scheme design, framework & governance
The agenda will consider the scope and design of an energy smart data scheme, governance arrangements, and what is needed for effective delivery within the developing energy data framework.
Areas for discussion include:
- scheme design: scope for data, participants and phasing - roles of data holders, authorised third parties and delivery bodies - proportionality for suppliers, networks and smaller providers
- statutory & regulatory framework:
- smart data powers under the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 - interaction with the Energy Act 2023, supply licence conditions and industry codes
- appropriate use of regulation and code-based arrangements
- governance:
- implementation of the Energy Digitalisation Framework - proposed digitalisation coordination function and Digitalisation Board
- domain responsibilities across NESO, Elexon and RECCo - transition from interim to enduring arrangements
- wider alignment:
- links where relevant with flexibility, settlement reform and other data-dependent market developments
- coordination with Smart Data 2035 and the wider development of smart data schemes
- accountability: oversight and enforcement - liability where data moves beyond the energy sector - respective roles of Ofgem and the ICO - routes to redress for consumers and businesses
Data access, shared infrastructure & interoperability
Further sessions will focus on the shared digital infrastructure being developed to support access to and use of energy data, and the standards and arrangements needed for it to work effectively across the sector.
Areas for discussion include:
- smart meter data access:
- outcome of the DESNZ-Ofgem scoping exercise - development of the Elexon Smart Data Repository and access to aggregated data
- consent-based access following integration with the Consumer Consent Solution - roles of the Data Communications Company and the Smart Energy Code
- Data Sharing Infrastructure: NESO’s interim coordinator role - architectural reference framework - responsibility for maintaining key data services - cost allocation and recovery
- assurance requirements: common standards and interoperability - accreditation - proportionality for smaller innovators and new entrants - avoiding duplication across repositories and registers
- data quality:
- registration of distributed energy assets - network visibility of heat pumps, chargepoints, batteries and solar
- implications for market-wide half-hourly settlement and local energy planning
- analysis & application:
- data readiness for AI and advanced analytics in the energy system - research access through services such as the Smart Energy Data Service
- implications of the forthcoming AI for Clean Energy Strategy
Consumer consent, protections & security
Delegates will assess priorities for consumer consent, protection and confidence as access to household energy data supports a wider range of services. Discussion will also consider cyber security and resilience, following publication in May 2026 of the Energy Sector Cyber Security Strategy and as data-sharing arrangements involve a wider range of organisations.
Areas for discussion include:
- consent arrangements: Consumer Consent Solution design and delivery - granting, managing and revoking consent - consistency across suppliers and third parties
- transparency & control:
- information for consumers on who is accessing their data and for what purpose - treatment of existing consents and data shared under licence conditions or other lawful bases
- arrangements for consent management across industry and third-party services
- protections:
- assessing risks around profiling and use of data in pricing and service provision - anonymisation and data security
- preventing unfair or discriminatory outcomes - complaints handling and redress
- inclusion: customers without a working smart meter - vulnerable and digitally excluded households - affordability - accessibility and clarity of benefits for different consumer groups
- confidence: lessons from Open Banking and wider smart data schemes - implications of differences between banking and energy data-sharing models
- security & resilience: embedding requirements into data-sharing arrangements - implementation of the Energy Sector Cyber Security Strategy - supply chain and third-party risk as access widens
Innovation, competition & market development
The agenda will also consider implications of an energy smart data scheme for competition, investment and the development and adoption of new services.
Areas for discussion include:
- market entry & competition: barriers for new entrants - accreditation and assurance requirements - implications for switching, tariff comparison and third-party intermediaries
- new services: flexibility and demand management - EV charging - heat electrification and smart appliances - propositions for SMEs, social landlords and local authorities
- investment & commercial development: clarity and credibility of timelines - conditions for investment and scale-up - commercial viability of data-driven services
- cross-sector interoperability:
- alignment with smart data schemes in financial services, transport, retail and property - potential interfaces between energy, water and transport data
- development of the Smart Data Guidebook
All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those already due to attend include officials from the Department for Business and Trade; Department for Energy Security and Net Zero; Ministry of Defence; Ofcom; Office for Investment; Office for Science; National Audit Office; and The Scottish Government.
