Smart Meter Communication Licensee: decision
- Publication type:
- Decision
- Publication date:
- Topic:
- Metering
- Subtopic:
- Data Communications Company (DCC), Smart meters
Related links
Outcome of the tender process to select a new Licensee for the Smart Meter Communication Licence (SMCL).
We have now selected a new Licensee by running an open competitive tender process. We are pleased to announce that we have selected a Successor Licensee to hold the new Smart Meter Communication Licence (SMCL). The Successful Applicant is DCC2 Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of SECCo ltd.
DCC2 will be the not-for profit purpose driven organisation that will enact the changes that we have implemented during the DCC review program.
The main changes that DCC2 will oversee are:
- transition to a majority independent governance
- transition to an ex-ante cost control process
- production of Business strategy and technology roadmap
We plan to conclude and publish the final version of the SMCL and bring the licence into effect in March 2026.
Background
Following an Expression of Interest in March 2025, we decided to run a competitive selection process to identify the Successor Licensee for the SMCL. The process was conducted in line with the Tender Regulations (set out in SI 2012/2414). The process began with a Qualification stage that was open to any applicant. Applicants who demonstrated eligibility, capability and capacity to deliver the obligations of the new SMCL were invited to a closed Proposal stage. Below is a timeline of the process.
Timeline
Expression of interest and questionnaire, March 2025
Evaluation criteria published, July 2025
Licence application competition opens, 8 September 2025
Qualification stage, 8 September 2025 to 6 October 2025
Proposal stage, 5 November 2025 to 12 January 2026
Successor licensee selected, 9 February 2026