Introduction
Retail Market Design Service (RMDS) is the "ringfenced" function within ESB Networks responsible for all aspects of the retail electricity market design on behalf of the Commission for Energy Regulation.
Background
Following a public consultation the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) published its decision (CER/05/081) to assign the role of Design Administrator for the retail electricity market to a team to be established within ESB Networks.
Roles and Responsibilities
The role of the Design Administrator involves the cost effective support for and delivery of quality systems that will help achieve the Commission's objectives of encouraging competition in supply markets and quality of service to all customers.
This role involves the following duties:
- Support and Coordination of the change management process for the retail market
- Maintenance, Publication and Circulation of information relevant to retail market design
- Provision of Secretariat services to the IGG and associated sub-groups
- Supporting market assurance process
- Annual budget
- All-Island Project
- Interaction of retail market group with other relevant groups
Mission
Our mission is to provide cost effective, quality delivery of the market design approved by CER to all market participants.
Portfolio of Services
- Retail Market Design Information Service
- Operational Updates
- Change Control
- Release and cutover co-ordination
- Process Improvement
- New Entrant Service
- Secretariat for retail market forums
- Market assurance co-ordination
- Issue resolution
- Messaging Service
Ringfencing
Impartiality and transparency are vital in the role of Design Administrator. The Commission decision, required personnel, reporting and financial separation of RMDS from other parts of ESB and ESB Networks. These measures and others have been implemented:
- RMDS is a distinct, readily identifiable team
- Each team member receives market and service training
- Team members sign confidentiality agreements
- The RMDS team occupies separate offices within the Fleet St. building
- RMDS maintains separate financial records
- RMDS records its activities separately
- RMDS operates to a separate quality manual and quality procedures (under development)
- The annual budget and business plan for RMDS will be presented to the Industry Governance Group and approved by CER
- The RMDS manager and team leader meet monthly with CER
- The RMDS website is separate from that of ESB
Click here to view our 2007 Business Plan
The RMDS team aspire to the highest levels of transparency and are continuing to improve transparency throughout all our activities and those in the market in general. RMDS prides itself on its responsiveness and proactive assistance to market participants to ensure that all processes work as smoothly as possible and with minimum cost of participation.
Service Quality
RMDS is committed to delivering the highest quality of service. Our quality procedures have been certified to the IS EN ISO 9001:2000 standard. Next steps will be to gauge our performance against international benchmarks and publish metrics on our progress. RMDS is also subject to external Market Audit.
