Ofwat gives green light for bilaterals hub

Ofwat has given the go ahead for a new Bilaterals Hub to be set up and its use by wholesalers and retailers mandated for the verification of meter details from 22 September.

The regulator has approved with modifications code change CPW070a / CPM043a. This provides for the establishment of a centralised Bilateral Hub solution and implementation of its use for the C1 process – verification of meter details or meter supply arrangements. Currently this is one of many processes undertaken bilaterally between wholesalers and retailers using a range of different systems and methods, and it is the first process to be earmarked for centralisation through the new hub.

Ofwat’s modifications were to ensure that it is clear that where requests are in progress prior to implementation of a change proposal under CPW070, they will not be transferred over to the Bilateral Hub but should continue to follow the process as set out in the version of the WRC which precedes the mandatory use of the Bilateral Hub for that operational process.