Clarification of SIP Qualification Requirements
Summary
REC Schedules 1, 14, and 15 all note that in order to Qualify as a Safe Isolation Provider (SIP), the Party needs to be a Qualified Meter Operator Agent (MOA). It has since been determined that Qualified Electricity Metering Operatives (EMOs) should also be able to Qualify as SIPs.
Latest update and next planned activity
Date of latest update
Latest Update
This Change Proposal has been implemented as part of the February 2026 REC Release.
Impacts Overview
Impacted REC Parties and Market Participants
Electricity Metering Operative
Meter Operator Agent
Safe Isolation Provider
Impacted REC Documents
Schedule 1 - Interpretations and Definitions
Schedule 14 - Metering Operations
Schedule 15 - Metering Accreditation
Priority and rationale
High
Priority last updated on 29 May 2026
Change Reports, Impact Assessments, Consultations and Documents
Change Reports
Solution development
Problem Statement
Requiring SIPs to be fully Qualified MOAs may be hindering smaller Parties who wish to be SIPs from Qualifying under the REC. This in turn may be reducing the number of Qualified SIPs in the market for Consumers to choose from or causing Consumers inadvertently to contract with people who are not Qualified SIPs to carry out SIP Works.
No documents available.
There is currently no Change Plan.
Original submission
Change details
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30 Jul 2025
Change details
Clarification of SIP Qualification Requirements
REC Schedules 1, 14, and 15 all note that in order to Qualify as a Safe Isolation Provider (SIP), the Party needs to be a Qualified Meter Operator Agent (MOA).
When REC and DCUSA designed the initial process to Qualify SIPs, the intention was that only MOAs would be eligible to become SIPs. Subsequently, during the implementation of the SIP role, we agreed to create a route for Electricity Metering Operatives (EMOs) to Qualify as a SIP.
The REC Code Manager implemented the agreed process to allow EMOs to Qualify as a SIP, however this updated process is not currently aligned with the Code as of the implementation of R0064.
When REC and DCUSA designed the initial process to Qualify SIPs, the intention was that only MOAs would be eligible to become SIPs. Subsequently, during the implementation of the SIP role, we agreed to create a route for Electricity Metering Operatives (EMOs) to Qualify as a SIP.
The REC Code Manager implemented the agreed process to allow EMOs to Qualify as a SIP, however this updated process is not currently aligned with the Code as of the implementation of R0064.
There are SIPs operating in the market who are Qualified as EMOs but not as MOAs, which is not in-line with the Code.
REC Schedules 1, 14, and 15 should be updated to remove the requirement for SIPs to be already Qualified as a MOA.
At the same time, a requirement should be added to Schedule 14 that the Party should either be accredited to complete physical work as a SIP and/or EMO under CoMCoP, else they should sub-contract physical work to Parties that are accredited as a SIP and/or EMO under CoMCoP.
A further impact assessment should also be undertaken to capture any other REC documents, or documents from other Codes, that also need to be updated.
At the same time, a requirement should be added to Schedule 14 that the Party should either be accredited to complete physical work as a SIP and/or EMO under CoMCoP, else they should sub-contract physical work to Parties that are accredited as a SIP and/or EMO under CoMCoP.
A further impact assessment should also be undertaken to capture any other REC documents, or documents from other Codes, that also need to be updated.
Prior to R0064, there was no distinction between MOAs and EMOs in the Code, and at the time both were under the umbrella of “Metering Equipment Manager”.
There was a requirement in Schedules 1/14/15 for SIPs to be a Qualified MEM, which at the time was not impacted by the decision to allow EMOs to Qualify as SIPs.
However, during the R0064 implementation, the requirement for SIPs to be a Qualified MEM in Schedules 1/14/15 was updated to a requirement of being a Qualified MOA (in line with the original intention of the SIP role), rather than a MOA or EMO (in line with the implementation of the SIP role). This was an oversight, rather than a deliberate decision.
There was a requirement in Schedules 1/14/15 for SIPs to be a Qualified MEM, which at the time was not impacted by the decision to allow EMOs to Qualify as SIPs.
However, during the R0064 implementation, the requirement for SIPs to be a Qualified MEM in Schedules 1/14/15 was updated to a requirement of being a Qualified MOA (in line with the original intention of the SIP role), rather than a MOA or EMO (in line with the implementation of the SIP role). This was an oversight, rather than a deliberate decision.
Impacts
No details provided
Safety, Trust and confidence
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Schedule 1 - Interpretations and Definitions, Schedule 14 - Metering Operations, Schedule 15 - Metering Accreditation
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Consolidated Metering Code of Practice (CoMCoP)
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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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Electricity Metering Operative, Meter Operator Agent, Safe Isolation Provider
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No details provided
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No details provided
Priority & timing
No
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No details provided
Safety, Trust and confidence
Activity
Status has been changed to Implemented.
Implementation Date has been updated to 27 Feb 2026.
Change Report - Initial Assessment and Change Plan Report has been updated to Comments deadline for I0270 Change Report (Proposal Plan) V1.0.pdf - 2025-11-15.
Status has been changed to Issue Review.
amoden has been allocated as SME.