Allowing REC accredited MEMs to de-energise and re-energise supply points independent of the Supplier
Summary
Currently only the Registered Supplier can instruct a Metering Equipment Manager (MEM) to work on their metering asset. There is no ability to request that a single MEM completes work on multiple properties that may have different Electricity Suppliers. This creates barriers to developing solutions for local authorities, private and social housing landlords who are refurbishing premises or to help any premise owner (whether domestic or non-domestic) install new equipment to facilitate Low & Zero Carbon Technology (LZCT) installation such as the retro-fit of Electric Vehicle Charging (EVC) Points to homes and business premises. This Change Proposal will introduce a new role for existing accredited MEMs that will enable them to accept instructions to undertake a limited set of activities at the request of the premise owners without the need to use the Registered Suppliers’ MEMs.
Latest update and next planned activity
Date of latest update
Latest Update
30/06/2023 - This change was implemented on 30 June 2023 as part of the June 2023 REC Release
Impacts Overview
Impacted Consumers
Electricity
Gas
Domestic
Non-Domestic
Impacted REC Parties and Market Participants
Energy Supplier
Distribution Network Operator
Impacted REC Documents
Schedule 1 - Interpretations and Definitions
Schedule 14 - Metering Operations
Other Industry Codes impacted
Distribution Connection and Use of System Agreement (DCUSA)
Priority and rationale
Standard
Priority last updated on 29 May 2026
Solution development
Problem Statement
It is difficult for landlords of local authority, social housing developments or private landlords of homes and businesses to co-ordinate the refurbishment of properties where they need the electricity supply to be de-energised to allow work being completed and the supply re-energised. Currently the landlord needs to liaise with the Electricity Supplier of each premise independently to arrange for the appointed MEM to attend and de-energise each supply point and then re-energise the site when the work is completed, as currently only the Registered Supplier’s appointed MEM or the DNO is permitted to undertake the work.
Proposed solution summary
- As a property owner or occupier I want to be to arrange for the installation of equipment for the use of the occupier, such as fitting an isolator, installing on-site generation equipment or electric vehicle charging points. I want the installer to use a Safe Isolator Provider (SIP) who is authorised to undertake the work at my instruction rather than arrange for this work to be completed through the premises’ Registered Suppliers.
- As a REC Accredited Metering Equipment Manager, I want to be able to work as a SIP and de-energise and re-energise a site on the instruction of the homeowner/landlord, so that equipment – such as an isolator, on-site generation or electric vehicle charging points can be fitted without the need to co-ordinate the work with the Registered Suppliers’ MEMs. As a Distribution Network Operator, I want to be assured that the work is only completed by a SIP that has the necessary skills and REC accreditation and has the appropriate permissions to de-energise and re-energise the supply and doesn’t introduce any additional risk to the Distribution Network.
- As the Registered Supplier, I want to know what steps the SIP who attends the site and finds the site in an unsafe situation to re-energise, will take so that my customer is not left off-supply unnecessarily. As the Registered Supplier, I want to be alerted if the SIP finds any evidence of meter tampering at the premises.
No documents available.
Change Plan
Solution Development
Completed
Start:
09 Dec 2021Due:
03 Feb 2022Completion:
19 Apr 2022Party Impact Assessment Issued
Completed
Start:
03 Feb 2022Due:
22 Apr 2022Completion:
22 Apr 2022Deadline for Alternative Change Proposal Submission
Completed
Start:
22 Apr 2022Due:
27 May 2022Completion:
27 May 2022Preliminary Change Report Issued Interim
Completed
Start:
27 May 2022Due:
27 May 2022Completion:
27 May 2022Consultation Issued
Completed
Start:
27 May 2022Due:
12 Jul 2022Completion:
12 Jul 2022Final Change Report Issued
Completed
Start:
16 Aug 2022Due:
26 Aug 2022Completion:
26 Aug 2022Responsible Committee Decision
Completed
Start:
26 Aug 2022Due:
14 Sep 2022Completion:
14 Sep 2022Preliminary Change Report (Updated) Issued
Completed
Start:
12 Jul 2022Due:
12 Jul 2022Completion:
12 Jul 2022Consultation closure (extended deadline)
Completed
Start:
12 Jul 2022Due:
16 Aug 2022Completion:
16 Aug 2022Original submission
Change details
Colette Baldwin - -
9 Dec 2021
Change details
Allowing REC accredited MEMs to de-energise and re-energise supply points independent of the Supplier
Currently, only the registered supplier is able to instruct a MEM to work on the metering asset. This creates a barrier for premise owners such as local authorities or social housing landlords who are undertaking the refurbishment of multiple premises or helping to deliver new technology, such as retro-fitting of Electric Vehicle Charging Points to those premises. The premise owner needs to work with the supplier for each premise and co-ordinate their work with the attendance of the supplier's MEM. This proves difficult to co-ordinate and missed appointments cause inconvenience and costs to the premise owners, who do not benefit from the Guaranteed Standards of Performance unless they are also the account holder.
It is difficult for landlords and local authorities to co-ordinate the refurbishment of properties where they need the supply to be de-energised prior to work being undertaken. Currently the landlord needs to liaise with each premise supplier independently to arrange for the Supplier's MEM to attend and de-energise each meter and then re-energise the site again once the work is complete. This makes it difficult for the premise owners to schedule work as they may need to rely on a metering appointment having been booked with the occupier and not the premise owner. The supplier then communicates with their customer regarding the appointment, and the local authority or social housing landlords are excluded from the process, if the premises are occupied by a tenant.
REC Accredited MEMs should be given permission to de-energise and re-energise any metering point at the request of the property owner, who may or may not be the tenant of the premises. The purpose of this permission is to allow the installation of generation equipment, or other technology which will assist with meeting the ambitions of net-zero strategies. It will also enable the MEM to install Isolators or address any other safety issues the premise owner may discover, it will not however, allow the MEM to undertake any wider metering works that would normally be carried out by the supplier who has the licence
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Impacts
Electricity, Gas, Domestic Prepayment, Domestic Credit, Microbusiness, Small and Medium Enterprise (SME)
Trust and confidence, Safety, On site experience
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Schedule 1 - Interpretations and Definitions, Schedule 14 - Metering Operations
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No details provided
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No details provided
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No details provided
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No details provided
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No details provided
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Energy Suppliers, Distribution Network Operators
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Distribution Connection and Use of System Agreement (DCUSA)
DCP394 has a cross-code impact
No
No details provided
Priority & timing
No
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we need to co-ordinate with the assessment of DCP395.
DCP394
No details provided
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Activity
Proposed solution summary changed to As a property owner or occupier I want to be to arrange for the installation of equipment for the use of the occupier, such as fitting an isolator, installing on-site generation equipment or electric vehicle char…
Proposed solution summary changed to As a property owner or occupier I want to be to arrange for the installation of equipment for the use of the occupier, such as fitting an isolator, installing on-site generation equipment or electric vehicle charging points. I want the installer to use a Safe Isolator Provider (SIP) who is authorised to undertake the work at my instruction rather than arrange for this work to be completed through the premises’ Registered Suppliers.As a REC Accredited Metering Equipment Manager, I want to be able to work as a SIP and de-energise and re-energise a site on the instruction of the homeowner/landlord, so that equipment – such as an isolator, on-site generation or electric vehicle charging points can be fitted without the need to co-ordinate the work with the Registered Suppliers’ MEMs. As a Distribution Network Operator, I want to be assured that the work is only completed by a SIP that has the necessary skills and REC accreditation and has the appropriate permissions to de-energise and re-energise the supply and doesn’t introduce any additional risk to the Distribution Network.As the Registered Supplier, I want to know what steps the SIP who attends the site and finds the site in an unsafe situation to re-energise, will take so that my customer is not left off-supply unnecessarily. As the Registered Supplier, I want to be alerted if the SIP finds any evidence of meter tampering at the premises..
Show moreImplementation Date has been updated to 30 Jun 2023.
colette.baldwin has been allocated as Lead Analyst.
beth.brown has been allocated as SME.