Smart Secure Electricity Systems Programme (SSES): enduring governance
Applies to England, Scotland and Wales
Read the full outcome
Detail of outcome
The government response summarises government’s decisions on each of the questions posed in this consultation and sets out the next steps for delivery of these enduring governance arrangements.
Following the general support for our proposals, we have decided to:
- modify the Balancing and Settlement Code (BSC) to enable Elexon to deliver the Technical and Security Governance Groups. This modification will be made alongside publication of this government response and enable Elexon to prepare sufficiently for the Technical and Security Governance Groups becoming operational from mid-2026
- set up the Technical and Security Governance Groups as Balancing and Settlement Code Panel Subcommittees
- implement cost recovery for the transition phase through BSC costs. However, we will keep this under review and reassess the cost recovery mechanism when load controllers become licensed
See the Decision Notice implementing the BSC modification.
We will continue to work with Elexon to support the establishment of the Technical and Security Governance Groups and ensure timely progress against the relevant milestones set out in the timeline included in this government response.
Detail of feedback received
We received 31 responses to this consultation from a mix of parties, including:
- manufacturers
- energy suppliers
- network operators
- technology companies
- consumer groups
- other stakeholders
We also held a webinar in September 2025 with a wide range of stakeholders. This and other events aimed to raise awareness of the consultation’s proposals, help government to obtain feedback on them, and support participants to develop their own responses to the consultation.
The consultation responses broadly supported our proposals.
Original consultation
Consultation description
The Smart Secure Electricity Systems (SSES) Programme is designed to create the technical and regulatory frameworks to enable the untapped flexibility from small scale devices, such as domestic electric vehicle charge points and heat pumps.
It should contribute to electricity system decarbonisation in a way that protects consumers and the electricity system and as such is a key enabler for consumer-led flexibility that will help consumers make energy bill savings and deliver the government’s Clean Energy Superpower Mission.
To make sure the technical and security requirements for energy smart appliances and flexibility services continue to meet the evolving needs of industry and government’s policy objectives, we plan to establish industry-led governance arrangements to manage these considerations and recommend any changes to government and regulators in light of emerging risks and market developments.
We are consulting on:
- our minded-to position for Elexon to be responsible for SSES Enduring Governance through modifications to the Balancing and Settlement Code
- the technical and security governance functions to be managed by the SSES Technical and Security Governance Groups
- the proposed membership arrangements for the SSES Technical and Security Governance Groups
- cost recovery proposals for Elexon to recover costs for managing the enduring governance functions
- the proposed code modifications to the Balancing and Settlement Code (Annex A)
This consultation builds on the policy proposals in both the 2024 Delivering a Smart Secure Electricity System consultation and its government response, and is in the context of both the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan and Clean Flexibility Roadmap.
The consultation is open to anyone to respond, but will primarily be of interest to:
- energy and technology companies
- energy smart appliance manufacturers
- flexibility service providers and load controllers
- consumer and environmental groups
- innovators, and third-party intermediaries in energy and / or other sectors
- parties to the Balancing and Settlement Code
Documents
or
CompleteAnnex aA: responseBalancing formand Settlement Code proposed modification and
Email to:
SSESconsultation@energysecurity.gov.ukexplanatory notes (accessible webpage)
or
CompleteAnnex aA: responseBalancing formand Settlement Code proposed modification and
Email to:
SSESconsultation@energysecurity.gov.ukexplanatory notes (accessible webpage)
Updates to this page
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Government response published.
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First published.
Update history
2025-11-28 09:00
Government response published.
2025-08-04 09:30
First published.