The Pros of Procode

Xoserve is the Central Data Service Provider for Britain’s gas market and their central register holds details of all gas supply points live in the UK.

New suppliers who wish to join the gas market need to make an application to Xoserve as they manage the market entry process for new Gas Traders and Shippers. Xoserve also register and provide services to other businesses who wish to enter the market.

Elexon was originally established to manage the Balancing and Settlement Code (BSC) ahead of the New Electricity Trading Arrangements (NETA). Since then other changes have taken place that have transformed Elexon’s role within the electricity market.

Elexon now provide an ‘end-to-end’ management of the BSC, a Balancing Mechanism Reporting Service (BMRS), Electricity Market Reform (EMR) Settlement Services and is part of the The Capacity Market Advisory Group (CMAG).

In order to be granted qualification in the UK energy market you must be approved by the Elexon Performance Assurance Board (PAB), alongside the other supplier requirements from Ofgem and The Retail Energy Code Company (RECCo). Once an electricity supplier has satisfied the Elexon Performance Assurance Board requirements, they can proceed to obtain their Elexon Accreditation.

The DCC provide products and services to enable efficient communication of energy data and information between consumers (homes and businesses), the energy supplier, network operators and other authorised DCC users for smart meters.

There are currently over 25 million smart meters connected to the DCC network. For suppliers and other businesses to gain access to this smart meter data they must gain a connection to the DCC, either directly by creating their own software or through a third party such as Procode.

Ofgem is Great Britain’s independent energy regulator. They are responsible for ensuring good practices, and fairness within the energy market.

Ofgem’s main focus is to ensure compliance from UK energy suppliers. Within the energy market, they investigate suspected breaches to energy supply licence conditions, consumer acts or competition regulation. They have the power to mandate supplier fines, enforcement actions or even business closures.

The Gas Act 1986 and The Electricity Act 1989 prohibit certain activities unless the person carrying on that activity is licensed. Ofgem oversee the energy license application process in Great Britain.

The Retail Energy Code Company (RECCo) is an independent, not-for-profit organisation responsible for the Retail Energy Code (REC), a set of rules suppliers in the retail energy sector must follow when selling to consumers. All licensed energy suppliers, gas transporters, electricity distribution network operators, metering operators and the Data Communication Company (DCC) must comply with the REC.

RECCo also controls the Controlled Market Entry (CME) process, which all new energy suppliers must adhere to. Once the CME criteria has been reached and approved, a supplier can begin to operate without constraint within the UK electricity market.