Intelligent Customer meaning

In practice, an intelligent customer is the in‑house capability of a dutyholder (typically a nuclear site licensee) to act as an informed buyer, specifier and controller of work that could affect nuclear safety, so that risks are identified, controlled and minimised across all aspects of its undertaking. The phrase is not defined in statute or case law; it is a descriptive term used in UK nuclear regulatory guidance (including ONR guidance associated with nuclear site licence conditions). Key features include the ability to: - understand the safety case and determine requirements; - retain and exercise design authority; - assess supplier competence and place contracts that reflect safety significance; - supervise, challenge and audit contractors and the supply chain; - verify, accept and maintain configuration control of deliverables; and - keep sufficient technical knowledge and records to avoid any transfer of legal responsibility for nuclear safety. The concept underpins licence condition compliance (e.g. management systems, procurement and contractor oversight) and supply chain assurance. Usage and expectations are broadly consistent across England & Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland under the UK nuclear licensing regime. In Ireland (which has no nuclear power plants), the term is used descriptively in regulated procurement and safety‑critical contexts to...