Review of Data Specification Category in REC Baseline Statement
Summary
_
Latest update and next planned activity
Date of latest update
Latest Update
_
Impacts Overview
Priority and rationale
High
Priority last updated on 29 May 2026
Solution development
Problem Statement
The Data Specification was not included in the Switching Programme Change Requests that gave effect to REC V2.0. Therefore, the Data Specification was not formally designated as part of REC V2.0 and has temporarily been added to the REC Baseline Statement as a Category 3 product. This means that changes to the Data Specification, including changes to Market Messages and Data Items used by market participants to interface with other businesses and service providers, are not subject to the process set out in the REC Change Management Schedule. Changes to these artefacts can have significant impacts to the systems and processes of market participants and service providers. These changes should follow a robust and thorough assessment to ensure these impacts are identified and considered, and the most appropriate solution is considered. The Category 3 change process is not appropriate for this, as changes to Category 3 products should not cause a material impact to parties and stakeholders.
Proposed solution summary
- As a market participant, I need to understand any changes to market messages I send and receive that may impact my business, so I can engage in the change process and plan any required changes to my systems and processes.
- As the REC Code Manager, I need to ensure that proposals to amend the Data Specification are subject to appropriate scrutiny and impact assessment, so that impacted stakeholders can appropriately engage with the proposal and understand the impacts to their business.
No documents available.
Change Plan
Initial Assessment Report published
Completed
Start:
01 Sep 2021Due:
03 Sep 2021Completion:
02 Sep 2021Change Panel review
Completed
Start:
03 Sep 2021Due:
07 Sep 2021Completion:
07 Sep 2021Preliminary Change Report published
Completed
Start:
07 Sep 2021Due:
09 Sep 2021Completion:
09 Sep 2021Consultation start
Completed
Start:
09 Sep 2021Due:
14 Sep 2021Completion:
14 Sep 2021Consultation end
Completed
Start:
14 Sep 2021Due:
20 Sep 2021Completion:
20 Sep 2021Final Change Report published
Completed
Start:
20 Sep 2021Due:
24 Sep 2021Completion:
24 Sep 2021Change Panel decision
Completed
Start:
24 Sep 2021Due:
05 Oct 2021Completion:
05 Oct 2021Original submission
Change details
Jonathan Hawkins - -
1 Sep 2021
Change details
Review of Data Specification Category in REC Baseline Statement
The introduction of the Data Specification as part of REC V2.0 was consulted on by Ofgem in their consultation on REC V2.0 and Retail Code Consolidation and confirmed in their decision published on 30th April 2021. The intention was for this to be included in the Switching Programme Change Request to make the required changes to the REC for Retail Code Consolidation.
Unfortunately, the Data Specification was not included in CR-D0092 or CR-D099, which were the Switching Programme CR’s that gave effect to REC V2.0. Therefore, the Data Specification was not formally designated as part of REC V2.0 and has temporarily been added to the REC Baseline Statement as a Category 3 product.
This means that changes to the Data Specification, including changes to Market Messages and Data Items used by market participants to interface with other businesses and service providers, are not subject to the process set out in the REC Change Management Schedule.
Unfortunately, the Data Specification was not included in CR-D0092 or CR-D099, which were the Switching Programme CR’s that gave effect to REC V2.0. Therefore, the Data Specification was not formally designated as part of REC V2.0 and has temporarily been added to the REC Baseline Statement as a Category 3 product.
This means that changes to the Data Specification, including changes to Market Messages and Data Items used by market participants to interface with other businesses and service providers, are not subject to the process set out in the REC Change Management Schedule.
Changes to these artefacts can have significant impacts to the systems and processes of market participants and service providers. These changes should follow a robust and thorough assessment to ensure these impacts are identified and considered, and the most appropriate solution is considered. The Category 3 change process is not appropriate for this, as changes to Category 3 products as a rule should not cause a material impact to parties and stakeholders.
The formal REC change process will provide the formal engagement mechanisms for industry stakeholders and required controls for changes to the Data Specification, as originally intended by the Switching Programme.
The formal REC change process will provide the formal engagement mechanisms for industry stakeholders and required controls for changes to the Data Specification, as originally intended by the Switching Programme.
The following artefacts in the Data Specification should be formally classified as Category 2 REC documents:
- Standard Definition
- Market Message Catalogue
- Data Item Catalogue
- Data Access Matrix
The following products should remain as Category 3 products, as they are expected to follow a separate, expedited change process from the formal REC change process:
- MDD General
- Meter Product Table
- Meter Product Shadow Log
- Converter Product Table
- Converter Product Shadow Log
- Standard Definition
- Market Message Catalogue
- Data Item Catalogue
- Data Access Matrix
The following products should remain as Category 3 products, as they are expected to follow a separate, expedited change process from the formal REC change process:
- MDD General
- Meter Product Table
- Meter Product Shadow Log
- Converter Product Table
- Converter Product Shadow Log
-
Impacts
Other (please specify in the Additional information box below)
Other (please provide details in Additional information box below)
There is no direct impact to consumers for this change proposal. Although ensuring appropriate change controls to industry systems and processes has an indirect benefit to consumers, as this provides greater assurance that changes made will be fully formed and deliver the required benefits to the market and consumers.
No details provided
-
No details provided
-
No details provided
-
Data Item Catalogue, Market Message Catalogue, Data Access Matrix, Standards Definition
Proposal that these products are formally designated as Category 2 products
No details provided
-
No details provided
-
No details provided
-
No details provided
The Data Specification is used to store data catalogues from other codes. Market Messages and Data Items that are owned by other codes are still subject to change control by the relevant metadata owner. Designating these products as Category 2 documents will not impact the process followed by other codes to make changes to these artefacts.
-
No details provided
Priority & timing
Yes
We propose this change should follow an urgent timetable and target the first REC release date on 4th November 2021. There is a Change Proposal required to the Data Item Catalogue on 4th November 2021 to align with a change to the Smart Energy Code (R0001 – Amendments to DCC Service Flag). This change should follow the formal REC change process, and we therefore propose this follows the same timetable as R0001 so a decision can be made on both of them together.
If approved, this change should be implemented in the first available release to ensure future changes to the Data Specification can be managed appropriately through the formal REC change process.
This change proposal should follow the same timetable as R0001 - Amendments to DCC Service Flag
No details provided
-
Activity
Proposed solution summary changed to As a market participant, I need to understand any changes to market messages I send and receive that may impact my business, so I can engage in the change process and plan any required changes to my systems and p…
Proposed solution summary changed to As a market participant, I need to understand any changes to market messages I send and receive that may impact my business, so I can engage in the change process and plan any required changes to my systems and processes.As the REC Code Manager, I need to ensure that proposals to amend the Data Specification are subject to appropriate scrutiny and impact assessment, so that impacted stakeholders can appropriately engage with the proposal and understand the impacts to their business..
Show moreImplementation Date has been updated to 04 Nov 2021.