A new chapter for DCC

Today marks a new chapter for DCC. The transition to a new licence, our move to a not-for-profit model and the appointment of a new Board give us both a clear responsibility and a real opportunity to deliver enduring value for customers, consumers and Great Britain’s energy system.

It is a privilege to join DCC as Interim Chair at this point in its development. This is not about starting again. DCC enters this new chapter with strong foundations. A smart meter network that is already a major national asset, deep technical and operational capability, committed people and established relationships across the sector. I want to thank the previous Board for its leadership and stewardship in building those foundations.

Our new Board brings experience from across energy, technology, digital infrastructure, consumer advocacy and corporate governance. We intend to put that experience to work for DCC’s customers and the wider energy system.

As we do that, I want customers and stakeholders to know what they should expect from us.

Transparency and visibility matter. We will be open about our priorities, performance, costs and the choices we face. We will not always have every answer, but customers should expect candour from us, about what is going well, what needs to improve and how their feedback is shaping our thinking.

The same applies to collaboration. DCC sits at the intersection of energy, technology, government and consumer interests, and we cannot deliver our ambitions alone.

Customers helped shape what to expect from this next chapter. We will involve the full breadth of our customer base and wider industry stakeholders as we develop our thinking, not after decisions are made. This will ensure our services deliver what they need. Where that requires technology, regulatory or wider system changes we are committed to tackling those together.

Our new construct also gives us an opportunity to think longer term about where DCC can create the greatest value, while remaining disciplined about the responsibilities at our core. Our first responsibility remains to provide secure, reliable and efficient services for the customers and consumers who depend on the smart metering system and central switching service.

But we should also look ahead.

The smart meter network is already an important national asset. We now have an opportunity to build on it, enabling new services, supporting greater flexibility and helping the energy system work better for consumers. We should be ambitious about what DCC can enable, but disciplined about where we focus. That brings with it an obligation to demonstrate value, not simply assert it.

None of this can be done by DCC alone. So my invitation is simple: engage with us, challenge us and tell us where DCC can make the greatest difference.

We have strong foundations. Our task now is to build on them, together.

Colin SempillInterim Chair, DCC