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Fast, frank feedback

What is Fast Frank Feedback? 

The Innovation Hub supports businesses looking to launch new products, services or business models by providing fast, frank feedback. We aim to help you navigate the regulatory framework in order to understand how the rules might impact your idea. We can provide you with instant feedback on issues innovators commonly ask us about or bespoke feedback on issues specific to your innovation. 

The feedback we provide is an informal steer from our team rather than an official view from Ofgem and is subject to our Innovation Hub legal disclaimer disclaimer. 

What Fast Frank Feedback can and cannot offer 

Fast Frank Feedback can: 

  • provide an informal steer on the regulatory implications for your proposition, however this is not a binding response
  • help organisations aiming to introduce an innovative product, service or business model  
  • support businesses whose product or service has the prospect of benefitting consumers
  • help businesses of any size and at any stage of development  
  • give assistance to organisations who operate, or intend to operate, in Great Britain  
  • explore relevant regulation in order to help you navigate the regulatory challenges you may face
  • help you identify regulatory barriers that may affect your business model
  • represent your views when inputting into long term policy development

Fast Frank Feedback cannot: 

  • provide financial assistance or advice 
  • act as a substitute for your own due diligence
  • provide a public, commercial endorsement or certification that your product, service or business model is compliant with our regulation
  • advise on eligibility for the government’s environmental and social schemes that are administered by Ofgem
  • introduce businesses to a specific customer and / or business partner
  • produce a steer as to the possible outcomes of ongoing policy changes and / or developments within industry
  • provide a position statement on Ofgem’s behalf in relation to generic topics such as blockchain, peer-to-peer trading or virtual private networks 

Accessing support 

We offer 2 types of regulatory feedback to innovators: 

Instant feedback

We have prepared a series of informal steers designed to provide instant feedback on regulatory topics that innovators frequently ask us about. 

To request instant feedback, please send an email to innovationhub@ofgem.gov.uk and specify which of the following topics you are interested in.

  1. Do I need an electricity supply licence? 
  2. In what circumstances can I be exempt from holding an electricity supply licence or from complying with certain licence conditions? 
  3. I want to establish an electricity supply business that would serve a specific type or group of customers only, what regulatory considerations apply to me? 
  4. How can third parties access Great Britain’s electricity balancing markets? 
  5. What licences or approvals do I need to supply electricity generated on site to non-domestic consumers located on the same site? 

Bespoke feedback

We can provide bespoke feedback on issues specific to your business model if your query is not answered by our instant feedback steers or our guidance documents Taking charge: selling electricity to Electric Vehicle drivers and Selling electricity to consumers: what are your options? .  

Bespoke feedback is available to innovators that meet the following criteria: 

  • the proposition must be innovative
  • there is a good prospect for consumer benefit
  • the innovator can demonstrate a genuine need for support
  • where more bespoke is required, the innovator can show they’ve undertaken a reasonable amount of background research and thinking

So that we can understand who you are, what it is you are looking to do and what support you need from us, please complete the Fast Frank Feedback enquiry form and send it to innovationhub@ofgem.gov.uk.  

Read how the Innovation Hub uses information you share with us.