HOMEflex
HOMEflex builds on experience and learnings from the Flex Assure Compliance Scheme for I&C Flexibility Services Providers, the Centre for Sustainable Energy's Smart & Fair? Project, and the ADE's Heat Trust scheme. From this, it became clear that with the number of participants in the Domestic and Micro-Business Flexibility Market growing and therefore the potential of the domestic flexibility market increasing, it is vital that all parties involved are protected to build trust and encourage engagement in flexibility services.
In partnership with Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) and funded by the NIA, HOMEflex is focussed on ensuring transparency, inclusivity and respect between service aggregators and consumers. The project will define common standards of practice for companies delivering energy flexibility services to domestic and micro-business customers, encouraging good practice and accountability. The code of conduct will then act as a foundation and business case for a Compliance Scheme that will go hand in hand following the clear benefits of regulation in the domestic flexibility industry. This will furthermore increase communication between flexibility aggregators and consumers by streamlining a method of complaint and complaint resolution.
The basis of the code will be formed around research conducted by the Centre of Sustainable Energy (CSE) which will address the primary requirements of domestic flexibility service users to ensure the code addresses all worries and requirements. In turn this will lead to developing research into how this may be able to benefit those who can be considered as vulnerable.
HOMEflex Code of Conduct
- Information regarding the HOMEflex Open Consultation held in July 2023 can be found here.
- The first version of the HOMEflex Code of Conduct can be read here.
- You can access the slides from the the HOMEflex Open Consultation Webinar here.
- Any existing Laws and regulations in relation to the Code are listed and linked below.
Chapter 2 - Sales and Marketing
- Advertising Standards Agency (ASA).
- Sales Promotion and Direct Marketing (The CAP Code)
- UK Code of Broadcast Advertising (the BCAP code)
- Business Protection for Misleading Marketing Regulations 2008
- Privacy and Electronic Communications (Amendments etc) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019
- General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/67
- Data Protection Act 2018
Chapter 4 - Technical Due Diligence, Data, Cyber Security, and Installation.
- Data Access and Privacy Framework (DAPF)
- Data Protection Act 2018
- General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/67
- Any regulations enacted in accordance with Section 8 of the Energy Security Bill 2022.
- National Cyber Security Centre *Cyber Assessment Framework*
- For Microbusiness Customers – ISO 27001 compliance.
- Any regulations enacted in accordance with Section 8 of the Energy Security Bill 2022.
- Cyber Essentials Plus
- Cloud Control Matrix (CCM)
- Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS)
- PAS 1878
- PAS 1879
- Battery Storage Standard (MIS 3012) 2021
- G98
- G99
- Consumer Protection Act 1987
- PAS 2030/ 2035
- NICEIC
- NAPIT/Elecsa
- Stroma
Chapter 5 - Ethics and Fair Conduct
- The Equality Act 2010
- The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008
- Business Protection from Misleading Marketing Regulations 2008
Working Group Organisations
| Carbon Trust | Gemserv |
| Centrica | National Energy Action |
| Citizens Advice | Octopus Energy |
| Electricity Northwest | OVO Energy |
| Energy Networks Association | Powervault |
| Energy Savings Trust | Renewable Energy Consumer Code |
| Equiwatt | Smart Metering Systems Plc |
| Flexitricity | Association for Decentralised Energy |
