Regulatory Sandbox: UK Power Networks
Decision
- Publication date
- Industry sector
- Supply and Retail Market
- Generation and Wholesale Market
- Licence type
- Electricity Distribution Licence
About the Sandbox
As the Guidance explains, the Sandbox can support schemes operating in different parts of the regulated gas and electricity markets. It can enable trials (or pilots or demonstrators) that have to be done in a live energy environment, involving consumers or interacting with market rules or the physical system: the Sandbox can provide innovators with bespoke guidance, comfort and time-limited derogations (relief) from specific rules. For innovators considering market entry, the Sandbox can confirm (not an endorsement) that an activity is permissible, and, where a rule is blocking an innovation, potentially remove this by way of a derogation.
The range of activities that can be supported and the various tools at our disposal, mean that each Sandbox we grant will be bespoke, although we can expect common use-cases to emerge.
While the Sandbox has been designed to help innovators trial or bring to market new products, services or methodologies, our mission is to support and enable innovation more widely. To that end, all applicants to the Sandbox agree to surface and share knowledge and insights that can aid in this endeavour.
As this Sandbox supported scheme completes, evaluation and insights information will be added to this page.
UK Power Networks – Sandbox granted on 30 June 2021
London Power Networks plc/ Eastern Power Networks plc (LPN and EPN respectively) are trialling a new price-discovery methodology for facilitating investment in on-street electric vehicle (EV) chargepoint infrastructure, where reinforcement costs may be a barrier to deployment. Funded through its Network Innovation Allowance, the trial will happen in Cambridge, Norwich and Redbridge and should enable higher EV take-up for those without access to off-street parking.
Scheme name: Charge Collective
Scheme type: Trial.
Business model category: Electric Vehicles.
Sandbox support provided: Temporary consent to not comply with Licence Condition 13.1 of the Electricity Distribution Licence.
Supporting documentation: Confirmation of Consent - UKPN
Evaluation: Sandbox Evaluation Report: UKPN.