The RECCo Performance Assurance team has announced the development of an Annual Rating Initiative designed to introduce a transparent, fair, and constructive peer comparison system for Metering Agents, including MEMs, MAMs, MOAs, EMOs, and AMIs. This new framework builds on the established system for Suppliers and DNOs, aiming to benchmark compliance, encourage positive behaviours, and support continuous improvement across the market.
Consultation Period Now Open
The consultation period runs from December to February, providing stakeholders with the opportunity to refine assessment criteria. An impact assessment will be published shortly via the REC and shared with members. Draft ratings are scheduled for release between July and August, followed by a query window for parties to review and challenge provisional ratings. Final market-wide scores will be published in September, after the query window closes. Criteria will be reviewed annually to ensure relevance and fairness.
Assessment Criteria
For MEMs, ratings will focus on:
- Data Quality: High-quality data transfer to support market performance.
- Compliance with CoMCoP: Timely audits and addressing all findings, not just minimum compliance.
- Consumer Experience: Responsiveness and prompt issue resolution.
For MAMs and MOAs, criteria include:
- CoMCoP Audit Timeliness: Delays negatively impact ratings.
- Action Plan PATs: Issuance and progress on action plans, especially for data cleanse.
- Maintenance of Qualification: Delays in submission are penalised.
- Persistent Performance Issues: Escalations or repeated poor engagement reflected in ratings.
- CME Condition Breach: Breaches affect ratings proportionally to severity.
Ratings will range from “No Material Weakness” to “Severe Weakness”, with the lowest score across criteria determining the overall rating. Discussions are ongoing to better recognise positive performance and refine terminology to avoid negative connotations.
Controls and Engagement
Key measures include:
- Query Window: Parties notified of provisional ratings and reasons, with time to respond and provide evidence.
- Education: Targeted webinars and published guidance on criteria and methodology.
- Annual Review: Stakeholder input sought to ensure relevance and fairness.
Key Discussion Points
- Consistency and Fairness: Concerns about consistent application of CoMCoP and audit processes.
- Recognising Positive Performance: Calls for better acknowledgement of those exceeding expectations.
- Transparency and Commercial Impact: Phased approach to visibility to balance transparency with sensitivities.
- Continuous Improvement: Iterative process offering opportunities for feedback and refinement.
Representatives from RECCo will attend the General Meeting on 26 February 2025 to present an update and answer questions.