Smart Secure Electricity Systems Team
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
7th Floor
3-8 Whitehall Place
London
SW1A 2AW
Delivering a smart and secure electricity system: implementation
- From:
- Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
- Published
- 16 April 2024
- Last updated
-
323JuneApril20242025 — See all updates
This consultation has concluded
Read the full outcome
Summary
Smart Secure Electricity Systems Programme: government response
PDF, 1.05 MB, 155 pages
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Smart Secure Electricity Systems Programme: government response
PDF, 1.05 MB, 155 pages
This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.
Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alt.formats@energysecurity.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.
Detail of outcome
The 2024 consultation package set out proposals in three distinct but interrelated policy areas:
- energy smart appliances (ESAs)
- licensing
- tariff interoperability
This document summarises this government’s decisions on each of the questions posed in the 2024 consultation, and sets out the next steps for delivery of standards and regulations based on these decisions.
The government will, subject to Parliamentary approval, put forward secondary legislation on ESAs within the next year.
To complement regulation of relevant ESAs, we will also, through a new load control licence framework, licence organisational load control activities.
We can also confirm our minded to position for Elexon to deliver the necessary enduring governance functions to maintain and supervise these standards and requirements through modifications to the Balancing and Settlement Code.
We are also committing to proceeding with Time-of-use Tariff Interoperability which, by mid to late 2026, will require energy suppliers to comply with a tariff data specification set out in the Retail Energy Code so ESAs can easily receive and respond to tariff information.
The government response confirms our intention to progress with the proposals and sets out next steps, including our plans for further consultation on points of detail.
Detail of feedback received
We received 97 responses to this consultation from a mix of parties, including:
- manufacturers
- energy suppliers
- network operators
- technology companies
- consumer groups
- other stakeholders
We also held webinars in June 2024 with a wide range of stakeholders. These events aimed to raise awareness of the consultation’s proposals, help government to obtain feedback on them, and support participants to develop their own responses to the consultation.
The consultation responses broadly supported the government’s proposals.
Original consultation
Summary
We're seeking views on new standards for energy smart appliances and organisations which provide demand side response services or can remotely control electrical load.
This consultation closesran atfrom
to
Consultation description
Update: 3 June 2024
The original closing date for this consultation was 11 June. Given pressures on stakeholder time during the pre-election period, we have extended the closing date to 21 June 2024.
Update: 8 May 2024
We have made the following changes:
Tariff data accessibility: proposals on scope and delivery approach - consultation paper:
Added new question 5: What is your view on the methodology and cost assumptions used in the cost appraisal as presented in the analytical annex?
Energy smart appliances analytical annex: First phase regulations:
Definition of heat batteries updated to: An electric heating appliance that can be used flexibly to utilise periods of cheap and clean electricity generation by heating a thermal storage medium, which then heats water via a heat exchanger to feed a central heating system and/or a sanitary hot water system.
The Smart Secure Electricity Systems (SSES) Programme is designed to create the technical and regulatory frameworks to enable the untapped flexibility from small scale devices, such as domestic electric vehicle charge points and heat pumps. It should contribute to electricity system decarbonisation in a way that protects consumers and the electricity system.
This consultation builds on both the 2022 Delivering a smart and secure electricity system consultation and the 2023 government response to that consultation.
The consultation questions are split into sections over 3 documents:
1. The Energy Smart Appliances (ESA)(ESA) paper (58 questions) sets out proposals on:
- a set of minimum standards for ESAs that adhere to the principles of interoperability, cybersecurity, data privacy and grid stability
2. The Licencing Regime paper (56 questions) sets out proposals on:
- the type of organisations that will require a load control licence
- requirements around consumer protections, data privacy, consumer switching, management and financial controls
- a framework and design principles for cyber security and technical requirements in the licence
3. The Time of Use Tariff paper (12 questions) sets out:
- the scope of a tariff data standard for energy suppliers to meet so energy smart appliances can easily receive and respond to tariff information from different energy suppliers
- the proposed regulatory and delivery solutions (which are intertwined)
The consultation is open to anyone to respond, but will primarily be of interest to:
- energy and technology companies
- energy smart appliance manufacturers
- consumer and environmental groups
- innovators, and third party intermediaries in energy and / or other sectors
Read our consultation privacy notice.
Documents
Smart Secure Electricity Systems Programme consultation: summary
PDF, 372 KB, 24 pages
Energy smart appliances: proposals for their appropriate regulation - consultation paper
PDF, 697 KB, 74 pages
Energy smart appliances analytical annex: First phase regulations
PDF, 530 KB, 21 pages
Licensing regime: proposals for a load control licence - consultation paper
PDF, 764 KB, 85 pages
Tariff data accessibility: proposals on scope and delivery approach - consultation paper
PDF, 612 KB, 29 pages
Tariff data analytical annex: Improving accessibility for flexibility services
PDF, 306 KB, 21 pages
Ways to respond
or
Complete a response form and
either
Email to:
SSESconsultation@energysecurity.gov.uk
Write to:
Share this page
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Updates to this page
Published 16 April 2024
Last updated 323 JuneApril 2024
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href="#full-history">+ show all updates
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Sign up for emails or print this page
Update history
2025-04-23 11:53
Published government response.
2024-06-03 11:31
This consultation has been extended to 21 June 2024.
2024-05-08 16:30
“Tariff data accessibility: proposals on scope and delivery approach – consultation paper”: new question added – 5. What is your view on the methodology and cost assumptions used in the cost appraisal as presented in the analytical annex?Energy smart appliances analytical annex: First phase regulations – Definition of heat batteries updated to: “An electric heating appliance that can be used flexibly to utilise periods of cheap and clean electricity generation by heating a thermal storage medium, which then heats water via a heat exchanger to feed a central heating system and/or a sanitary hot water system.”
2024-04-16 11:01
First published.
Consultation description
Update: 3 June 2024
The original closing date for this consultation was 11 June. Given pressures on stakeholder time during the pre-election period, we have extended the closing date to 21 June 2024.
Update: 8 May 2024
We have made the following changes:
Tariff data accessibility: proposals on scope and delivery approach - consultation paper:
Added new question 5: What is your view on the methodology and cost assumptions used in the cost appraisal as presented in the analytical annex?
Energy smart appliances analytical annex: First phase regulations:
Definition of heat batteries updated to: An electric heating appliance that can be used flexibly to utilise periods of cheap and clean electricity generation by heating a thermal storage medium, which then heats water via a heat exchanger to feed a central heating system and/or a sanitary hot water system.
The Smart Secure Electricity Systems (SSES) Programme is designed to create the technical and regulatory frameworks to enable the untapped flexibility from small scale devices, such as domestic electric vehicle charge points and heat pumps. It should contribute to electricity system decarbonisation in a way that protects consumers and the electricity system.
This consultation builds on both the 2022 Delivering a smart and secure electricity system consultation and the 2023 government response to that consultation.
The consultation questions are split into sections over 3 documents:
1. The Energy Smart Appliances (ESA)(ESA) paper (58 questions) sets out proposals on:
- a set of minimum standards for ESAs that adhere to the principles of interoperability, cybersecurity, data privacy and grid stability
2. The Licencing Regime paper (56 questions) sets out proposals on:
- the type of organisations that will require a load control licence
- requirements around consumer protections, data privacy, consumer switching, management and financial controls
- a framework and design principles for cyber security and technical requirements in the licence
3. The Time of Use Tariff paper (12 questions) sets out:
- the scope of a tariff data standard for energy suppliers to meet so energy smart appliances can easily receive and respond to tariff information from different energy suppliers
- the proposed regulatory and delivery solutions (which are intertwined)
The consultation is open to anyone to respond, but will primarily be of interest to:
- energy and technology companies
- energy smart appliance manufacturers
- consumer and environmental groups
- innovators, and third party intermediaries in energy and / or other sectors
Read our consultation privacy notice.
Documents
Smart Secure Electricity Systems Programme consultation: summary
PDF, 372 KB, 24 pages
Energy smart appliances: proposals for their appropriate regulation - consultation paper
PDF, 697 KB, 74 pages
Energy smart appliances analytical annex: First phase regulations
PDF, 530 KB, 21 pages
Licensing regime: proposals for a load control licence - consultation paper
PDF, 764 KB, 85 pages
Tariff data accessibility: proposals on scope and delivery approach - consultation paper
PDF, 612 KB, 29 pages
Tariff data analytical annex: Improving accessibility for flexibility services
PDF, 306 KB, 21 pages
Ways to respond
or
Complete a response form and
either
Email to:
SSESconsultation@energysecurity.gov.uk
Write to:
Share this page
The following links open in a new tab
Updates to this page
Published 16 April 2024
Last updated Sign up for emails or print this page
Update history
2025-04-23 11:53
Published government response.
2024-06-03 11:31
This consultation has been extended to 21 June 2024.
2024-05-08 16:30
“Tariff data accessibility: proposals on scope and delivery approach – consultation paper”: new question added – 5. What is your view on the methodology and cost assumptions used in the cost appraisal as presented in the analytical annex?Energy smart appliances analytical annex: First phase regulations – Definition of heat batteries updated to: “An electric heating appliance that can be used flexibly to utilise periods of cheap and clean electricity generation by heating a thermal storage medium, which then heats water via a heat exchanger to feed a central heating system and/or a sanitary hot water system.”
2024-04-16 11:01
First published.