Ofwat allows bilateral flexibility

Ofwat has allowed the programme to bring standardisation to bilateral transactions in the business retail market more timetable flexibility, but confirmed the overall scheduled end date must be met.

In a new change proposal to CPW070 (which set out the timetable for the bilateral programme – originally issued in July 2019 and amended in October 2020) the regulator has removed the hard delivery dates for each phase of the programme but restated that the final report for all phases must be with Ofwat by no later than 30 November 2022.

Specifically, the latest amendments:

Confirmed the delay sought by MOSL to the implementation timeframe of ‘Phase 2’ from the end of July 2021 to 22 September 2021.

Moved from the current approach of specifying a minimum number of processes delivered by the end of each phase on a fixed date, to using the Panel process detailed in the MAC to determine which deliverables will be delivered and the date on which their use will be mandated.

Reaffirmed that the project’s end date remains no later than 30 November 2022.

Established a companion change proposal (CPM043) to incorporate proposed changes to the MAC as they arise over the course of the CPW070 timetable.