Modernising the exchange of energy market data

Correspondence and other

Publication date

Industry sector

  • Supply and Retail Market
  • Generation and Wholesale Market

Ofgem is championing the better use of data to modernise energy regulation and ensure nothing stands in the way of the energy industry modernising itself.

We want greater openness and interoperability of data, and are leading by example by developing an energy Data Exchange service. Our aim is to provide a secure, modern and streamlined approach to data sharing from industry to us and the users of data we hold. Data, after all, is the constant underpinning the performance of essential services like energy – for today and tomorrow.

We’re pleased to update that we’ve completed the first phase of the Data Exchange. This work was part funded by the Regulators’ Pioneer Fund launched by The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and administered by Innovate UK. We are now testing usability aspects with an initial group of data providers in the energy industry. This includes looking at how users will be able to easily upload, download or view energy market data through a simple interface. 

We’re keen to test the Exchange with more data providers, tech innovators and external consumers of energy data in future, and hope to roll out the service to a broader number of energy data users later in the year. If you’d like to get involved, please contact us via the details below.

Once we’re fully launched, we aim for the Exchange to replace our current data collection approach, so we can reduce the burdens our research with data providers uncovered. Our information requests will be streamlined and standardised, and requests cut that may have before duplicated from across our different departments. We have also built the exchange so it is suitable for all levels of technological ability and, to keep things efficient, ensured that there are different levels of automation available to users through features like scheduled data transfers.  

These steps are one of a number in our evolving data journey, and we continue to invite challenge on what we can do better. Looking across other regulated sectors, we recognise common data best practices propelled through modernising tools like the Data Exchange are highly transferable – supporting cohesive insights on consumer needs across marketplaces, effective regulation and potential cost efficiencies. That’s why, amongst other initiatives, we are working with government to make our Exchange re-usable, adaptable and scalable so that it can be easily adopted by others. We are also working with industry and the UK Regulators Network to understand what the future of regulation could look like and how data may shape it.

If you are interested in the Ofgem energy Data Exchange, would like to participate in the broader service rollout later this year, or want to learn more about our approach, please get in touch today at ofgemdataservices@ofgem.gov.uk or check out our page for regular updates: Ofgem, cyber security and data services.