Martin Brailsford, Author at Association of Meter Operators

REC Highlights Three Years of Metering Assurance Improvements and Future Plans

Posted on 3rd September 2026 by Martin Brailsford

The Retail Energy Code Company (RECCo) has published an update outlining the significant progress made to Metering Assurance audits since the introduction of the Consolidated Metering Code of Practice (CoMCoP) in 2023. Working closely with its Metering Scheme Auditor (Wilcock Consultants Ltd), RECCo has enhanced guidance, reporting, stakeholder engagement and audit support resources to improve both compliance and the experience of audited parties.

Key improvements include the introduction of downloadable audit templates, FAQs and example submissions, alongside strengthened reporting and management information. These changes have resulted in higher stakeholder satisfaction, improved clarity of audit requirements, and greater confidence in audit preparation. Overall satisfaction with the audit process increased from 8.7 to 9.1 out of 10, while ratings for audit preparation and advance notice reached 9.85 out of 10.

Looking ahead, RECCo has extended the Metering Scheme Auditor contract until March 2028, providing continuity and enabling further development of the Metering Assurance regime. The organisation remains focused on delivering a robust, transparent and proportionate assurance framework that supports consumer protection, industry confidence and continuous improvement across the metering sector.

Source: Three years of improving Metering Assurance audits – and what’s next published by the Retail Energy Code Company on 20 August 2026.

BSC Issue 123: MHHS Asset Metering Review

Posted on 17th August 2026 by Martin Brailsford

Elexon has launched BSC Issue 123: MHHS Asset Metering Review and is seeking industry participants to join the Issue Group. The review will examine how Asset Metering arrangements should operate under the Market-wide Half-Hourly Settlement (MHHS) framework, ahead of key implementation milestones.

The Issue will consider whether existing Asset Metering roles, including HHDC, MOA and AMHHDC, remain appropriate under MHHS arrangements or whether they should be retained, extended, restructured or replaced. It will also assess whether Asset Metering data exchanges should migrate from the Data Transfer Network (DTN) to the Data Integration Platform (DIP), reflecting preferences previously identified by MHHS industry experts.

In addition, the review will address known process gaps relating to the Loss of MSID Pair Allocation and Loss of AMSID Pair Allocation arrangements, including the development of a clearer escalation route where parties are unable to reach agreement. The Issue Group will also assess impacts on existing BSC arrangements, qualification requirements, industry systems and participating organisations.

For AMO members, this review is particularly significant as it has the potential to reshape Asset Metering governance, associated market roles, industry data flows and operational responsibilities under MHHS. The outputs may ultimately lead to BSC Modifications, Change Proposals and wider industry changes affecting meter operators and other market participants.

Elexon expects the first Issue Group meeting to be held in early September 2026 and is encouraging interested stakeholders to participate. AMO members with an interest in Asset Metering, MHHS implementation, market roles or industry data exchange arrangements may wish to consider joining the Issue Group or subscribing to the workgroup mailing list to help influence the future design of these arrangements.

Nominations Open for Supplier Representative on the REC Metering Expert Panel

Posted on 14th August 2026 by Martin Brailsford

The Retail Energy Code (REC) Code Manager is inviting nominations from Supplier Parties to fill a vacant Supplier representative position on the REC Metering Expert Panel (MEP).

The Metering Expert Panel plays a key role in supporting the development and governance of metering arrangements under the REC. Panel members provide industry expertise, review metering-related change proposals, and help ensure that metering processes continue to meet the needs of consumers and market participants.

This vacancy provides an opportunity for a Supplier representative to contribute directly to the future direction of metering policy and industry change, while working alongside experts from across the energy sector.

Who Can Nominate?

Supplier Parties may nominate an individual with appropriate industry knowledge and experience. Supplier Contract Managers are responsible for submitting nominations on behalf of their organisation.

Please note that each organisation may submit only one nomination for the vacancy.

How to Submit a Nomination

Nominations must include:

The name of the nominee.
A summary of the nominee’s relevant experience and expertise.

Completed nomination forms should be submitted by email to:

📧 committees@recmanager.co.uk

The REC Code Manager can also be contacted at this address should you have any questions regarding the role or nomination process.

Deadline

The nominations window closes at 5:00pm on 21 August 2026.

AMO encourages eligible Supplier members with an interest in metering governance, industry change, and code development to consider this opportunity to represent the Supplier community on the Metering Expert Panel. Participation provides valuable insight into emerging industry developments and the chance to influence key decisions affecting the metering sector.

Ofgem AI Reg Lab – High-Level Findings for Licensees and Stakeholders

Posted on 13th August 2026 by Martin Brailsford

Ofgem has published the findings from its July 2026 AI Regulatory Lab, providing valuable insight into how artificial intelligence can be safely and effectively used within the energy sector. The initiative brought together industry participants and AI experts to explore the regulatory, operational and governance considerations associated with AI-enabled decision-making, particularly in areas linked to investment and capital allocation within critical national infrastructure.

For AMO members, the findings reinforce that AI should be viewed as a tool to support human decision-making rather than replace it. Ofgem emphasises that accountability for decisions with financial, operational, safety or regulatory consequences must remain with individuals and organisations, regardless of the level of automation involved.

A key message throughout the report is the importance of explainability, transparency and data quality. Organisations adopting AI are encouraged to ensure that recommendations can be understood, challenged and audited, while maintaining robust data governance processes. Ofgem warns that poor-quality data can undermine AI outcomes and may amplify existing issues rather than resolve them.

The report also highlights the need to embed AI within existing governance, assurance and risk management frameworks. Higher-risk applications should be subject to greater validation and human oversight, with strong governance focused on decision outcomes as well as model performance. Ofgem notes that successful AI adoption depends as much on organisational capability, skills and trust as it does on the technology itself.

For the metering sector, the findings provide a useful framework for organisations considering AI applications in areas such as asset management, operational planning, field service optimisation, risk assessment, customer support and data analysis. As digitalisation and data volumes continue to grow, the report serves as a timely reminder that responsible AI deployment requires clear accountability, effective governance and a continued focus on consumer outcomes.

Ofgem has confirmed that the lessons from the AI Reg Lab will inform its ongoing approach to AI regulation and guidance, signalling the growing importance of responsible AI adoption across the energy industry.

AI Reg Lab: July 2026 | Ofgem

Ofgem to Administer Bill Discount Scheme for Communities Hosting New Electricity Infrastructure

Posted on 7th August 2026 by Martin Brailsford

Ofgem has been appointed by the Government to administer a new Bill Discount Scheme that will provide financial benefits to households located near new electricity transmission infrastructure. The initiative forms part of the UK’s wider strategy to deliver Clean Power by 2030 and accelerate progress towards Net Zero.

Under the scheme, eligible households could receive discounts of up to £250 per year on their energy bills. The Government intends for the first payments to be made in early 2027, recognising the important role communities play in hosting infrastructure required to support the transition to a low-carbon energy system.

The announcement reflects the growing need to expand Great Britain’s electricity transmission network to connect renewable generation, improve energy security and meet increasing electricity demand. By ensuring local communities share in the benefits of national infrastructure projects, policymakers hope to support the delivery of critical investments needed for the UK’s Net Zero ambitions.

For AMO members, particularly those with an interest in Net Zero and the future energy landscape, the scheme demonstrates how Government and regulators are seeking to balance infrastructure delivery, consumer engagement and community benefit. While not directly impacting metering operations, it represents another important policy development supporting the wider decarbonisation of the energy sector.

Ofgem Energy Redress Scheme Reaches £250 Million Milestone

Posted on 7th August 2026 by Martin Brailsford

Ofgem has announced that its Energy Redress Scheme has now distributed a record £250 million to support energy consumers, helping more than one million customers across Great Britain since the scheme was established in 2018. The funding is derived from payments made by energy companies that have breached regulatory obligations, ensuring that money recovered through enforcement activity is reinvested for consumer benefit.

To date, the scheme has funded 887 projects, delivering practical assistance including fuel vouchers, energy efficiency advice, support for vulnerable households and innovative community energy initiatives. Funding has also enabled the development of community-owned renewable energy projects, helping to address fuel poverty whilst supporting the transition to a cleaner energy system.

Since 2020, Ofgem reports that more than £500 million has been returned to consumers through a combination of compensation payments, fines and voluntary redress contributions. Recent enforcement actions contributing to the fund include payments from British Gas following prepayment meter compliance failures and National Grid Electricity Transmission in relation to asset maintenance obligations.

The announcement reinforces Ofgem’s continued focus on consumer protection, regulatory compliance and delivering positive consumer outcomes. While the Energy Redress Scheme operates primarily as a consumer support mechanism, it demonstrates the increasing importance Ofgem places on ensuring energy market participants meet their obligations and that failures result in tangible consumer benefit. For metering organisations, the initiative highlights the broader regulatory emphasis on vulnerability support, customer protection and maintaining trust in the energy system.

Executive Summary – RECCo Annual Report 2025/26: Key Messages for AMO Members

Posted on 17th July 2026 by Martin Brailsford

The Retail Energy Code Company (RECCo) has published its 2025/26 Annual Report, highlighting a year of strong operational delivery, positive outcomes for industry stakeholders, and continued preparation for significant market change. As RECCo approaches five years of live operation, the report demonstrates how it has maintained reliable REC services whilst supporting major industry initiatives, including Energy Code Reform, market digitalisation, and preparation for the transition to the licensed Code Manager model.

What Matters Most for Metering

For meter operators and the wider metering industry, the report reinforces the importance of a stable and effective code framework during a period of significant change. RECCo reported that REC service providers achieved 96% of their KPIs, with £120,000 returned to industry through performance credits, demonstrating a continued focus on service quality, accountability and value for market participants.

The report also highlights ongoing work supporting market digitalisation and Energy Code Reform, both of which will have a direct impact on metering processes, data flows, consumer interactions and future market arrangements. RECCo’s continued development towards becoming the licensed REC Code Manager from November 2026 provides additional confidence that governance arrangements are evolving to support future market needs.

Energy Theft and Revenue Protection

Of particular interest to AMO members is the continued focus on energy theft prevention and enforcement. The report highlights global recognition for the Energy Theft Tip-Off Service and the successful pilot of the Energy Theft Enforcement Service. RECCo also strengthened support for theft detection activities and is continuing to develop more data and insight-led approaches to tackling energy theft across the industry.

These initiatives support safer working environments for field staff whilst improving collaboration across suppliers, meter operators, revenue protection organisations and enforcement partners.

Safety Considerations

Although the report is primarily focused on governance and market delivery, several of the highlighted initiatives contribute directly to safety outcomes. Improved energy theft detection, enhanced enforcement arrangements, and greater industry collaboration help reduce risks associated with meter tampering, unsafe installations and dangerous electrical conditions encountered in the field. The continued development of learning resources and industry capability in energy theft investigations also supports safer and more consistent operational practices.

Looking Ahead

RECCo’s priorities for the coming year include supporting Energy Code Reform, advancing digitalisation programmes, and preparing for the introduction of licensed code management arrangements. For AMO members, these developments reinforce the need for continued engagement with evolving industry governance, data-sharing arrangements, consumer protection initiatives and energy theft reduction programmes. The report demonstrates a strong commitment to delivering value for consumers whilst ensuring the retail energy market remains fit for the future.

Source: RECCo Annual Report 2025/26 – Delivery Today, Preparing for the Future.

Government Action to Reduce the Impact of Gas Prices on Electricity

Posted on 23rd April 2026 by Martin Brailsford

The Government has announced a package of measures to reduce the influence of volatile gas prices on electricity prices in Great Britain, with the stated aim of protecting households and businesses from future energy price shocks. While the measures are primarily focused on electricity generation and wholesale pricing, they have important downstream implications for energy consumers, suppliers, and the wider system in which meter operators play a critical role.

At present, gas continues to set the wholesale electricity price around 60% of the time, despite renewables and nuclear providing a growing share of generation. As a result, fluctuations in international gas markets directly impact electricity bills, even where the underlying cost of generation has not changed. This results in bill volatility that consumers often struggle to understand, and which feeds through supplier pricing, billing complexity, and consumer trust—issues that directly affect AMO members operating at the customer interface.

To address this, the Government is strengthening the Electricity Generator Levy (EGL), increasing the marginal tax rate on excess revenues from 45% to 55% from July 2026 for non‑CfD renewable and nuclear generators. This is intended to ensure that windfall profits arising during periods of high gas prices are more effectively recycled to support households and businesses facing higher energy costs, rather than remaining within the generation sector.

In parallel, the Government plans to introduce a new voluntary Wholesale Contract for Difference (CfD) for legacy renewable generators, with the first auction expected in 2027. This mechanism aims to move a greater proportion of electricity generation onto long‑term, fixed‑price contracts, reducing exposure to gas‑driven wholesale price volatility. Around 30% of Britain’s electricity supply is currently estimated to remain exposed to gas‑set prices, and these reforms are intended to materially reduce that exposure over time.

For AMO members, these measures are significant in several respects. Greater price stability at the wholesale level should support more predictable retail pricing and billing structures, potentially easing consumer confusion and complaint volumes during energy price shocks. Over time, reduced price volatility may also lower pressure on emergency policy interventions and short‑term customer support mechanisms, supporting a more stable operating environment for suppliers and metering providers.

More broadly, the reforms align with the Government’s clean energy mission to accelerate the transition to low‑carbon power, strengthen energy security, and ensure consumers see the benefits of cheaper renewable generation reflected in their energy bills. AMO will continue to monitor the detailed design and implementation of these measures to assess their practical impact on metering operations, consumer outcomes, and the wider energy market framework.

Decisive action to break influence of gas on electricity prices – GOV.UK

IGEM/IG/1 Edition 2 – Supplement 1 (Edition 2): Non‑domestic Training Specification

Posted on 20th April 2026 by Martin Brailsford

IGEM has published IGEM/IG/1 Edition 2 – Supplement 1 (Edition 2), setting out updated training requirements for those working within the non‑domestic gas utilisation sector. The specification aligns with the Health and Safety at Work Act and the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations and is intended to provide a consistent, industry‑approved framework for developing and evidencing competence.

The updated specification applies to new entrants, those extending their scope of work, and individuals seeking optional re‑certification. It introduces a structured pathway beginning with generic core competence, followed by progression into sector‑specific specialisms, including metering, heating, catering, laundry, and process or plant installations.

Training requirements cover both off‑site learning—including technical knowledge, legal duties, and performance criteria—and supervised on‑site work experience, with minimum guided learning hours defined for each pathway. Learners are required to gather on‑site evidence before progressing to ACS assessment and Gas Safe registration, ensuring practical competence is achieved prior to independent working.

This edition strengthens generic core competence requirements and introduces several key updates of relevance to AMO members. Tightness testing and purging to IGEM/UP/1A is now mandatory for all learners, with an optional route to include IGE/UP/1. A limited‑scope pipework installer pathway has also been introduced, supporting proportionate training for specific work activities while maintaining safety standards.

The specification has been facilitated by IGEM and Energy & Utility Skills and approved through IGEM’s technical governance framework, with extensive industry involvement across employers, certification bodies, and training providers. It is intended to support safe, compliant delivery of non‑domestic gas work across all relevant sectors, including gas metering.

AMO members involved in non‑domestic metering, training, or workforce development may wish to review the specification to understand its potential implications for competence frameworks, training provision, and future skills requirements.

The document is available as a free download from the IGEM website.

Smart Metering: From Installations to Infrastructure

Posted on 17th April 2026 by Martin Brailsford

Smart metering is no longer simply a rollout programme. It is evolving into a long‑term national service, central to how the UK’s energy system operates, how consumers interact with their energy use, and how the transition to a smarter, more flexible grid is delivered.

The UK’s smart metering programme has entered a new phase. From 2026, national policy moves decisively beyond large‑scale installation targets and places greater emphasis on the long‑term operation, maintenance, and performance of smart gas and electricity meters as part of the country’s critical energy infrastructure. This reflects the reality that smart meters are now embedded across much of the housing stock and must be managed as enduring assets rather than short‑term delivery outputs.

With most households already equipped with smart meters, the post‑2025 framework shifts attention toward reliability, security, and consumer experience. The priority is ensuring that meters continue to operate effectively throughout their lifespan, provide accurate data, and support consumers to engage confidently with their energy use. Alongside this, the policy supports a more stable and sustainable approach to installations, upgrades, replacements, and fault resolution—avoiding the disruption, inefficiency, and workforce instability associated with stop‑start delivery models.

A key milestone in this transition is the end of the previous installation targets in December 2025. These targets are followed by updated regulatory obligations confirmed in early 2026, which introduce a more flexible, outcomes‑focused approach. From this point onwards, energy suppliers and delivery partners are required to take “all reasonable steps” to complete remaining installations, maintain system performance, and address issues such as meters not operating in smart mode, rather than meeting fixed annual quotas.

Looking ahead to 2030, the government’s objective is for the vast majority of homes to have a functioning smart meter, supporting accurate billing, flexible energy use, and a more resilient and responsive energy system. Success in this next phase will be measured less by installation numbers and more by quality, trust, resilience, and long‑term value for consumers and the energy system as a whole.

Smart metering policy framework post 2025 – GOV.UK