Regulatory

REC (Retail Energy Code)

The Retail Energy Code governs retail energy market operations in Great Britain, setting rules for suppliers, meter operators, and data exchange.

What is the REC?

The Retail Energy Code (REC) is the industry code that governs retail energy market activities in Great Britain. It replaced multiple legacy codes to create a unified framework for market operations.

REC Scope

The REC covers:

  • Metering - equipment standards and operations
  • Data flows - market messaging requirements
  • Supplier operations - customer switching and billing
  • Performance standards - service level requirements

REC Accreditation

Organisations must be REC-accredited to:

RoleActivities
MEM (Metering Equipment Manager)Own and maintain meters
EMO (Electrical Metering Operative)Physical metering work
SIP (Safe Isolation Provider)De-energisation without supplier

REC and SIP

To become a SIP, organisations must:

  1. Hold REC accreditation as MEM or EMO
  2. Meet SIP qualification requirements
  3. Accede to DCUSA for isolation permissions
  4. Implement required market messaging

REC Portal

The REC Portal provides:

  • Accreditation applications and management
  • Code document access
  • Industry consultations
  • Performance reporting

Governance

The REC is governed by:

  • RECCo (REC Company) - code administration
  • Ofgem - regulatory oversight
  • Industry panels and working groups