In May 2020 we consulted on revising the Operational Performance Regime (OPR) to optimise the financial incentives placed on DCC to drive better performance. As a monopoly company, it is important that DCC faces sufficient incentives to play its role well, delivering value for money and high quality services to support smart metering. This is key to ensure consumers are able to fully take advantage of the benefits of the smart meter rollout.
To achieve this, we are revising the OPR framework. This includes incentivising DCC’s system performance under four new outcome based measures, broken down by meter type and region where relevant. In addition, we are incentivising DCC under two new areas that have caused concern among DCC’s stakeholders: DCC’s engagement with its customers, and contract management and procurement.
This document also contains our decision on a modification to the Smart Meter Communication Licence which enables the amendment of the OPR. The modification will take effect from 23 December 2020.
Alongside this decision we have published a consultation on increasing DCC’s revenue at risk against the OPR. That consultation will close on 27 November 2020.
Following this decision, we will consult on the OPR Guidance in January 2021.