DCC Price Control: November 2026 to March 2028

Consultation description

DCC (Data Communications Company) provides the centralised, secure communications network for smart metering in GB. It operates as a monopoly and its costs are subject to Ofgem’s control under a licence regime.

We are consulting on our proposals for DCC’s Required Revenue in the first  Price Control Period from November 2026 to March 2028. We are moving from an “ex-post” form of price control to a forward-looking “ex-ante” framework as part of broader shift to a new regulatory framework. This is the first time we are fully assessing DCC’s revenues upfront.

This document sets out our analysis and proposals for DCC’s Required Revenue (costs) for the first Price Control Period and the reasons for our proposals.

Who should respond

We welcome responses from a wide range of parties, including:

• DCC
• DCC’s customers (energy suppliers, networks, innovators and other users)
• industry bodies, consumer organisations
• anyone with interest in smart metering

How to respond

We want to hear from anyone interested in this consultation. We have asked for your feedback in each of the questions throughout. Please respond to each one as fully as you can.

Submit your response by 14 July 2026 by emailing DCCregulation@ofgem.gov.uk.