Establishing the Safe Isolation Provider (SIP) as a Standalone REC Party

Date of latest update
Type
Issue
ID
I0278
Change Category
Change Path
Priority
Urgent
No
Latest Update
21/07/2026 - An Update to Plan has been approved by the Change Panel on 21 July 2026.
Summary
This proposal recommends the formal recognition of the Safe Isolation Provider (SIP) as a standalone Party under the Retail Energy Code (REC). This aligns with the direction set out in Ofgem’s recently published Strategic Direction Statement (SDS), which explicitly calls for the establishment of SIPs as a standalone Party role. The aim is to address the growing scale of unregulated SIP activity, mitigate associated consumer safety risks, and ensure the metering industry is equipped to support the UK’s Net Zero ambitions. By enabling easier access to certified SIPs, this change will enhance consumer protection, accelerate low-carbon technology deployment, and improve operational efficiency across the energy sector.
Proposer
Rebecca Griffiths
Change Report - Initial Assessment and Change Plan Report

Comments deadline
Status
Implementation Status
Date Raised
REC Decision Maker
Date of Update to Priority
Solution Development
Problem Statement
The current SIP framework poses several risks: - Consumers, MEMs and unaccredited practitioners’ safety. Unaccredited and unregulated isolation work increases the risk of unsafe installations and potential harm to Consumers. NAPIT highlighted to RECCo and DESNZ that 17 and 13 unregulated practitioners respectively died in 2023 and in 2024 due to unsafe isolation. With the right Party undertaking this work, there would also be less safety issues for the Consumer at their premises; - Inequity. Independent Installers face longer wait times compared to supplier-led installations, creating a two-tier system; - Low competitive market. Currently prospective Parties can be put off from applying to be a SIP as it appears they would need full MEM Accreditation which is often too far outside their current business operating model. Providing SIPs with their own pathway and requirements could result in more Parties becoming SIPs and therefore giving Consumers more choice in their provider; and - Decarbonisation delays. The inability to scale SIP capacity undermines the timely deployment of LZCTs, threatening Net Zero targets.
SME
SME Role
Lead Technical Analyst
SME Role
Lead Assurance Analyst
SME User
amoden@deloitte.co.uk
I0278 submission form
I0278 Change Report (Proposal Plan) V1.0 (Pre-Approval) 09.10.2025
I0278_Change Report (Extension to Plan) v1.0 (Pre-Approval) 12.01.2026
I0278_Change Report (Extension to Plan) v2.0 (Pre-Approval) 13.07.2026
I0278_Change Report (Extension to Plan) v2.1 (Approved) 21.07.26
I0278_Consolidated Information Request DNO Responses
I0278_Consolidated Information Request MEM-SIP Responses PUBLIC
I0278_Consolidated Information Request RPA Responses
Company Name
-
Review status
Review required
Schedule 3 - Accession Agreement 2.0 – Implemented on
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