In May, we reconvened the Steering Group for Open Energy. The Steering Group comprises a wide range of industry leaders and subject matter experts spanning the commercial, regulatory and government landscapes. The Steering Group plays a critical role in Open Energy’s development, providing a sector perspective that ensures that Open Energy is designed for and with the energy industry.
Date: 13 May 2025 11:00-12:30 BST
Location: In person and online
Co-Chairs: Sara Vaughan & Gavin Starks
Secretariat: IB1
Summary:
- It was noted in the co-chair update that:
- There have been a series of determinations since the last meeting, including:
- Ofgem – Appointing NESO as interim Data Sharing Infrastructure coordinator, with a refined governance model and new approach to use case development
- Ofgem – has appointed Elexon as the delivery body for the Flexibility Market Asset Registration (FMAR) system to streamline the registration process for flexible energy assets
- Ofgem – has appointed RECCo as the delivery body for the Consumer Consent Solution
- DESNZ – have made key decisions on delivering a smart and secure electricity system, as a response to the 2024 consultation on the Smart Secure Electricity Systems (SSES) Programme to enhance the flexibility, security, and interoperability of the electricity grid.
- Foundational work on Smart Data, finance and energy will inform the evolution of water, transport and other non-financial sectors
- There have been a series of determinations since the last meeting, including:
- It was discussed that
- going through the consultation design phase for consumer consent poses challenges to industry: to work together and make pragmatic consensual decisions, and to build on existing work rather than reinvent frameworks
- there are a mix of views across the SG as to how optimistic to be about the recent progress on decision making: there exists a sentiment that there are “decisions to consult further” rather than making firm choices. Lack of certainty represents a risk to future investment.
- It was noted that the Data Bill is anticipated to receive Royal Assent before summer recess
- It was discussed whether the SG members should be a mix of commercial and non-commercial or non-commercial only. Options included continuing to run as a non-profit, or whether to create a dedicated special purpose vehicle (SPV), for example as a community interest company.
- It was noted that
- IB1 is continuing research in this area and discussion is needed
- while there is a spectrum of data maturity across the sector, energy code bodies have put in place structures that allow them to manage the balance of interests and that there may be some useful elements to draw from them
- there is value in taking learnings from cross-sector work, and that this is important for the energy sector in representing wider interests: broad consensus will drive collective behaviour
- It was noted that Advisory Group 1 (AG1’s) first meeting prioritised a use case focussing on data sharing across regions to develop Local Area Energy Plans (LAEPs) with county councils, and potentially sharing the underlying data with other users.
- The use case will look at high energy demand point integration in the Oxford region, where an LAEP exists that borders SSEN, NGED and UKPN
- The Assured Open Data (AOD) Scheme was presented to members:
- A new draft of the Assurance Levels is being reviewed and will be published for further feedback on 22nd May.
- The AOD Scheme has been designed to be applicable across data schemes and there has been extensive work on the definition and legal agreement to make the components reusable