Review of the REC's Address Management Service
Summary
Having the incorrect address can lead to a range of Consumer issues, including switching, billing and meter reading problems. The Meter Point Location (MPL) and Retail Energy Location (REL) have been added to the Code to resolve this issue. Whilst there had been progress resolving address data issues, there is not currently a mechanism to establish Code level targets for address improvement, resulting in around 2.8 million unmatched addresses.
Latest update and next planned activity
Date of latest update
Latest Update
13/05/2026 - The REC Code Manager is establishing a new REC working group to support the progression of I0200 – Review of the REC’s Address Management Service. If you would like to attend the I0200 Working Group, please register your interest by contacting the Code Manager at change.management@recmanager.co.uk. The first meeting will take place in June 2026, with the exact date and time to be confirmed in due course and communicated via the REC Change Bulletin and via email to all those who register their interest.
Impacts Overview
Impacted Consumers
Electricity
Gas
Domestic
Non-Domestic
Impacted REC Parties and Market Participants
Energy Supplier
Gas Transporter
DCC
Shipper
Other
Impacted REC Documents
Schedule 29 - Address Management
Impacted REC Services
Central Switching Service (CSS)
Gas Retail Data Service (GRDS)
Electricity Retail Data Service (ERDS)
Priority and rationale
Standard
Priority last updated on 29 May 2026
Solution development
Problem Statement
There has been progress resolving address data issues, but there is no mechanism to clearly establish Code level targets for address improvement, or overall market performance.
No documents available.
There is currently no Change Plan.
Original submission
Change details
Anton Moden - REC Code Manager
1 Aug 2024
Change details
Improving address management targets
Address management is the responsibility of DCC, with support from REC Parties. There has been progress resolving address data issues, but there is no mechanism to clearly establish code level targets for address improvement, or overall market performance.
Progress on cleansing address data may be hampered.
We think that there needs to be an appropriate mechanism to set targets for address data cleanse under the REC, perhaps with the REC PAB approving targets and utilising PATs where appropriate. It is essential in the development of this change to get input from DNOs, Xoserve, Suppliers and others on any concerns that they have in these processes that can be addressed and gain input into the relative value of improvements so that decisions on data cleanse can be informed by simple cost benefit analysis.
Please see DCC's address management plan on the REC Portal as background, and consultation responses to this. We think this is a REC Issue that needs shared development. We think that this will result in changes that require the PAB to take action and therefore require that the PAB is responsible committee.
Impacts
Electricity, Gas, Domestic Prepayment, Domestic Credit, Microbusiness, Small and Medium Enterprise (SME), Industrial and Commercial (I&C)
Switching experience
This directly relates to the reduction of erroneous switches and issues with initial registration and subsequent registrations.
Schedule 29 - Address Management
Also Operational documents – PAB terms of reference and Performance Assurance Report Catalogue.
Its possible PARC changes are required, alongside risk register, PAOP etc. changes. The solution will dictate this
Its possible PARC changes are required, alongside risk register, PAOP etc. changes. The solution will dictate this
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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Central Switching Service (CSS), Gas Retail Data Service, Electricity Retail Data Service
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Energy Suppliers, Gas Transporters, DCC, Shippers, EES Users, GES Users
Third-party intermediary.
The key organisations are those during the switching process, but also other users of enquiry services.
The key organisations are those during the switching process, but also other users of enquiry services.
No details provided
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No
No details provided
Priority & timing
No
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No
Consideration of the annual address cycle should be made on the implementation date. E.g. if a new plan is to be issued 1 month before the implementation then re-issued this would not be a natural time to release.
No details provided
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Activity
Change Report - Initial Assessment and Change Plan Report has been updated to Comments deadline for I0200 - Update to Plan (Pre Approval) 14.04.2026.pdf - 2026-04-20.
Status has been changed to Issue Review.
james.hardy has been allocated as Lead Analyst.
amoden has been allocated as SME.