Gas Safe Parliamentary Reception – 11 September 2025

Posted on 12th September 2025 by Martin Brailsford

The Gas Safe Parliamentary Reception was a special event taking place on 11 September 2025, from 12:00 to 4:00 PM, at the House of Commons, Westminster. It is hosted by Paul Davies MP on behalf of the Gas Safe Register, as part of Gas Safety Week 2025, which runs from 8–14 September.

AMO members were in attendance, including the GMF Chair, Jon Rand and GMF Vice Chair of the AMO, as well the AMO Consultant Martin Brailsford.

The reception celebrated the 15th year of Gas Safety Week — a pan-industry initiative focused on keeping the nation gas safe. It brings together stakeholders from across the sector to raise awareness and promote best practices in gas safety.

Review of electricity market arrangements (REMA): Summer update, 2025

Posted on 10th July 2025 by Martin Brailsford

The UK Government’s REMA programme, launched in 2022, aims to modernise the electricity market to support a decarbonised, cost-effective, and secure power system. This 2025 summer update outlines key decisions and the next steps in delivering a future-fit electricity market aligned with the UK’s clean energy ambitions.

Key Decisions

Retention of a Single National Market: The government has decided to maintain a GB-wide wholesale electricity market, rejecting the proposal for zonal pricing. To ensure consistency and simplicity for investors and consumers.
Ambitious Reform Package: A comprehensive set of reforms will be introduced to:
- Improve market efficiency.
- Enhance coordination and strategic planning of the electricity system.
- Support the transition to a renewables-based, flexible, and resilient grid.
No Zonal Pricing: After extensive consultation, zonal pricing was deemed less effective in delivering value and certainty compared to a national model.

Strategic Objectives

Clean Power by 2030: REMA is a cornerstone of the UK’s mission to become a clean energy superpower, targeting full decarbonisation of the power sector by 2030.
Consumer Value and Security: The reforms aim to pass the benefits of renewable energy to consumers while ensuring energy security and affordability.
Investor Confidence: By providing a stable and predictable market structure, the government seeks to attract long-term investment in clean energy infrastructure.

Next Steps

Detailed Implementation Plans: Further details on the reform package and implementation timelines will be published later in 2025.
Collaboration with Stakeholders: Continued engagement with Ofgem, the National Energy System Operator (NESO), and industry stakeholders will be critical to delivering the reforms.

You can read the full update here.

Technical & Safety Bulletin ; Interconnection of Low Voltage AC Networks (Grid domestic supply) and 110V Metering Supply

Posted on 9th July 2025 by Martin Brailsford

On 08 /07/2025 the REC uploaded the following technical and safety bulletins to the ⁠Metering Hub on the REC portal

Interconnection of Low Voltage AC Networks (Grid domestic supply) and 110V Metering Supply

Purpose

This safety bulletin alerts staff working on high-voltage (HV) metered or large low-voltage (LV) supplies using electronic meters about the risks of unintentional interconnection between auxiliary supplies and main metering voltage supplies.

Key Risk

An incident occurred where a staff member received an electric shock while working on a dead and isolated LVAC board.
Investigation revealed a floating voltage on the neutral bus bar due to a failed isolation within a meter, which created a path between the 110V voltage transformer (VT) supply and the LVAC network.
This was caused by either a manufacturing defect or meter failure.

Technical Findings

The HV meters on two 33kV Network Rail feeders were replaced in 2021 and required a separate auxiliary supply, which was incorrectly connected to the panel lighting circuit.
The neutral supply was switched (4-pole), so the voltage had no return path and floated on the neutral.

Standards & Recommendations

Integrated electronic devices (IEDs) such as meters, relays, and transducers must not use 240V auxiliary supplies.
Auxiliary supplies should be sourced from:
- 110V DC systems, or
- 110V AC centre-tapped transformers (as per ETS 05-1501 specification).
Any non-compliant setups should be reported via AIRLine and corrected through a work order.

Actions Required

Be alert to potential internal isolation failures in devices.
Ensure all meter and IED supplies comply with relevant standards.
Record any modifications on site drawings and apply appropriate warning labels.
Line managers must ensure staff are briefed within the specified timeframe (1 week marked as completed).

Contact

For further information, contact: Paul Austin – 07875 111 068

REC Metering Expert Panel

Posted on 7th July 2025 by Martin Brailsford

The AMO is pleased to announce that Dean Berry, AMO Vice Chair, and Martin Brailsford, AMO Consultant, have been successfully voted onto the Retail Energy Code (REC) Metering Expert Panel.

The REC Metering Expert Panel plays a pivotal role in shaping the governance and evolution of metering provisions under the REC. Its key responsibilities include:

Reviewing Change Proposals: Evaluating preliminary Change Reports from the Code Manager and confirming consultation plans.
Voting on Changes: Approving or rejecting REC Change Proposals, including amendments to Market Domain Data tables, and making recommendations to the Authority where appropriate.
Operational Oversight: Addressing operational issues related to REC metering, proposing industry-wide solutions, and escalating risks when necessary.
Maintaining Guidance: Ensuring the upkeep of Category 3 operational products and guidance documents as outlined in the REC Baseline Statement.

These appointments reflect Dean and Martin’s valuable expertise and their continued commitment to advancing metering standards and operational excellence across the energy sector.

REC Consultations published

Posted on 20th June 2025 by AMO Gemserv

The following Consultations have been published and can be accessed from the Consultations Register on the REC Portal.

R0198 – Metering Asset Manager (MAM) Communication Method Register

REC Notice of Implementation: R0152, R0215, R0227

Posted on 20th June 2025 by AMO Gemserv

On 16 June 2025, the REC Metering Expert Panel voted to approve the following Change Proposal via ex-committee:

R0152 – Revision to the Consolidated Metering Code of Practice (CoMCoP)

On 17 June 2025, the REC Change Panel voted to approve the following Change Proposals:

Subject to no appeals being raised, these Change Proposals will be implemented on 07 November 2025.

June 2025 REC Release

Posted on 20th June 2025 by Martin Brailsford

The June 2025 REC Release will be implemented next week, on 27 June 2025. Further information on the Change Proposals that are being implemented as part of this Release are available on the Code Releases page of the REC Portal.

The REC Baseline Statement will also be updated to reflect the new version numbers of the updated products and will be implemented as part of the June 2025 Release.

Ahead of the release, the Code Managed hosted the June 2025 REC Release Webinar on 10 June 2025 which provided an overview of the Change Proposals included in the June 2025 REC Release, along with the opportunity to raise questions to the Change Delivery and Release team. The recording and slide pack are now available on the Event Page on the REC Portal.

The Code Manager has also released the latest REC Podcast Episode, which explores all the changes to be implemented in the upcoming June Release. Listen to the episode on the dedicated Blog Post on the REC Portal.

Government Acts to Protect Households with Old Energy Meters

Posted on 20th June 2025 by AMO Gemserv

The UK government has intervened to prevent a widespread shutdown of Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) meters, originally planned for 30 June 2025. These meters, used since the 1980s to manage electricity tariffs and control heating systems, are being phased out due to outdated technology.

Key points:

No sudden switch-off: The phase-out will begin gradually, starting with a small number of homes in selected areas.
Consumer protection: The government aims to avoid disruption for the 314,000 households still using RTS meters.
Advance notice: Affected customers will be contacted by their energy suppliers to arrange meter replacements.
Supplier accountability: The government and Ofgem will closely monitor suppliers to ensure a smooth transition and protect vulnerable consumers

Government steps in to protect consumers with old energy meters – GOV.UK

REC I0197 Introducing a Process to Provide Updates During Fault Resolutions

Posted on 20th June 2025 by AMO Gemserv

The I0197 Change Proposal, initiated by the REC Performance Assurance team, aims to address persistent issues in the metering fault resolution process that negatively impact consumers—such as inaccurate billing and limited access to specific tariffs due to unresolved meter faults. At present, the Retail Energy Code (REC) lacks enforceable obligations for resolving these faults, resulting in inconsistent communication and delays across the market.

To improve transparency and coordination, the proposal introduces a structured process for providing updates to all impacted market participants during fault resolution. This includes the development of clear Service Level Agreements (SLAs) applicable across both gas and electricity markets and all meter types.

Working Group sessions are being scheduled for July 2025, during which the Code Manager will conduct separate sessions for electricity and gas to ensure a focused and tailored approach. A consultant representing the Association of Meter Operators (AMO) will be in attendance at these sessions. AMO members are encouraged to share any thoughts, concerns, or questions they would like raised during the discussions. These contributions will help ensure that the perspectives and operational realities of AMO members are considered in the development of effective and practical solutions.

REC Change Panel MEM Representative

Posted on 18th June 2025 by AMO Gemserv

Following a recent election process, Martin Brailsford has been appointed to the REC Change Panel as the Meter Equipment Manager (MEM) representative. Martin will be representing the Association of Meter Operators (AMO) and its members, bringing forward many years of metering experience to support the panel’s work.

The REC Change Panel plays a vital role in overseeing and managing changes to the Retail Energy Code (REC). Its core responsibilities include:

Approving Change Plans – Including Terms of Reference and timetables for the development of REC Change Proposals.
Reviewing Preliminary Change Reports – Submitted by the Code Manager and confirming plans for consultation.
Voting on Change Proposals – To approve or reject proposals, or recommend decisions to the Authority, taking into account the Code Manager’s recommendations.
Handling Escalated Issues – From sub-committees such as the Metering Expert Panel, Technical Expert Panel, and Green Deal Panel.

The panel operates under delegated authority from the RECCo Board to ensure effective governance and delivery of code changes.

If you have any queries regarding changes currently in progress or would like to share feedback, please feel free to contact Martin Brailsford directly. We also encourage you to keep an eye out for further updates in overnight messages and during upcoming AMO forums.