Smart Energy Code meaning

In this issue: Electricity and gas market regulation and licensing Renewable energy Conventional power, waste to energy, biomass, and CHP projects Hydrogen, CCUS and emerging technologies Energy disputes Air emissions, efficiency, and climate change International energy LexTalk®Energy: a Lexis®Nexis community New and updated content Dates for your diary Trackers Energy resources on Lexis+® Daily and weekly news alerts Electricity and gas market regulation and licensing DESNZ confirms enduring governance for Smart Secure Electricity Systems DESNZ has issued its response to the 2025 consultation on enduring governance for the Smart Secure Electricity Systems (SSES) Programme, confirming that Elexon, through the Balancing and Settlement Code (BSC), will establish new Technical and Security Governance Groups to guide the technical and security frameworks that enable consumer-led flexibility. Using powers in section 245 of the Energy Act 2023, the government will amend the BSC so Elexon can run these groups as BSC Panel sub-committees and...

In this issue: Electricity and gas market regulation and licensing Networks and grid connections Renewable energy Capacity Market, balancing services and system flexibility Air emissions, efficiency and climate change International energy Daily and weekly news alerts New and updated content Dates for your diary Trackers Energy resources on Lexis+® Electricity and gas market regulation and licensing DESNZ has opened a consultation to strengthen Energy Ombudsman (EO) powers. It will concentrate on complaints from domestic energy suppliers, small enterprise complaints against non-domestic suppliers, and heat network complaints. Electricity and gas networks and third-party intermediaries will instead be consulted on separately. The plans include shortening the escalation period for complaints from eight to four weeks, allowing automatic compensation where EO decisions are not put into effect promptly, and granting the EO a statutory designation. DESNZ has also stated that Ofgem will regulate third‑party intermediaries, including energy brokers and price comparison sites, which have previously operated...

In this issue: Key developments and materials Electricity and gas market regulation, licensing and taxation Networks and network connections Capacity Market, balancing services and energy system flexibility Nuclear energy Oil and gas International energy New and updated content Dates for your diary Trackers Energy resources on Lexis+® Daily and weekly news alerts Key developments and materials DESNZ announces 100 schools now have Great British Energy solar panels DESNZ confirmed that Great British Energy solar arrays are now fitted at 100 schools and colleges nationwide. By summer 2026, roughly 250 institutions will benefit through a focused deployment that gives precedence to deprived communities in the North East, West Midlands and North West, and guarantees a minimum of ten schools in each English region. Across their lifespan, these installations are expected to deliver around £220m in cumulative savings for the 250 schools and colleges, allowing funds to be redirected into teaching spaces. See:...

Protection of critical infrastructure and cybersecurity—EU strategy In October 2016, the European Parliament’s Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) issued a Cybersecurity Strategy for the Energy Sector. The paper reviewed prevailing policies and legislation, and considered routes for developing energy‑specific cyber security solutions and protective practices. It found that the continued rollout of smart energy systems, coupled with growing interconnection and interdependence across Member State borders, has produced rapid expansion of networked intelligence throughout energy grids and into consumers’ premises via smart devices. This enlarged attack surface, together with the fact that the energy system is inherently linked to every other critical infrastructure network, renders the sector especially susceptible to cyber attacks. That exposure has only grown since the 2016 strategy was released. On 16 December 2020, the European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy presented a new EU Cybersecurity Strategy. The 2020 plan encompasses the security of essential EU services (for example energy grids, railways and hospitals) and also...

What is the Retail Energy Code (REC)? The Retail Energy Code (REC) sets the framework for the retail elements of the gas and electricity markets in Great Britain (GB). It supports Ofgem’s Switching Programme and brings together, aligns and streamlines a range of retail obligations that were previously spread across different codes. For more on GB energy industry codes, see Practice Note: Industry Bodies and Codes—Great Britain electricity and gas market. The Switching Programme seeks to enhance customers’ experience of changing gas or electricity supplier, especially by enabling rapid switching. This accelerated switching model is delivered through the Central Switching Service (CSS), which became operational in July 2022 and is run by the CSS Provider under the REC. Under its smart metering communications licences, the Data Communications Company (DCC) must procure and provide the CSS and is, accordingly, the designated CSS Provider under the REC. For further detail on developments to date regarding Ofgem’s Switching Programme, see Practice Note: Great Britain energy market—policy and policy implementation tracker...

What is smart metering? For an introduction to smart meters, see also Practice Note: What is a smart meter? In Great Britain, licensed electricity and gas suppliers are required under their supply licences to take all reasonable steps to roll out smart meters to domestic and small business customers. The programme is expected to lower customers’ energy bills, boost energy efficiency, and make it simpler to switch energy supplier. The UK government views smart metering as a crucial instrument for a low‑carbon economy, reaching net zero emissions by 2050, and realising ambitions for an affordable, secure and sustainable energy supply chain. The smart meter roll‑out has been extended on several occasions since the Electricity Act 1989 and Gas Act 1986 were amended to place duties on licensed suppliers to complete it. There have also been multiple reviews and publications on progress, including National Audit Office reports such as Rolling out smart meters (November 2018) and Update on the rollout of smart meters (June 2023). In August 2025, DESNZ...