Third Party Data Access Requests 16 December 2020

Third Party Data Access Requests 16 December 2020

Third Party Data Access Requests • Background We are seeing increased interest in data access services from a number of organisations who believe they are PCWs or TPIs but don’t fit the ‘regular’ model of how a price comparison website operates or the permitted purpose set out in the terms of access. This may be linked to the REC proposals to remove the M Number Data File from implementation of Faster Switching.

• Examples of organisations requesting access: – Digital Comparison Tool Providers • • • – Delegated Switching Services • • – Providers to PCWs / TPIs They don’t provide services to consumers directly We don’t believe they are either a PCW or a TPI Consumers sign up with this service that initiates switch of supplier when better tariffs become available We believe this organisation fits the definition of a PCW and is line with the permitted purpose set out in the terms of access Home Moving Application • • • Service that the consumer elects when moving house They don’t assist the user switching tariff or supplier, they assist in change of address details We believe this organisation fits the definition of a TPI and is in line with the permitted purpose set out in the terms of access

Definition of PCW and TPI in the DPM Conditionality Document • PCW shall mean an internet-based price comparison service or other internet based TPI that provides comparisons between, and /or access to, personalised quotes for retail energy to domestic customers, and may carry out, on behalf of the domestic customer an instruction to change the domestic customer’s retail energy supplier, tariff or both; • TPI shall mean an organisation or individual acting as a third-party intermediary between a domestic customer and a retail energy supplier. Permitted Purpose in access agreement: • This Agreement is for the provision of Data for the specific purpose of retrieving supply point information for a domestic energy consumer who has requested the Customer to access their Data to explore switching energy providers (“Specific Purpose”)

Next Steps • Consider options for adding Digital Comparison Tool Providers to DPM and either: – amend the existing terms of the access; and – add a new organisation type to the DPM.