How the Forward Work Plan and Budget fit together
The Draft Forward Work Plan 2026–29 and Budget 2026–27 are linked. The Forward Work Plan sets out the direction and delivery priorities. The Budget sets out the costs and funding needed to deliver them. The Draft Forward Work Plan consultation closes on 5 February 2026, and the final Budget will be published by 20 February 2026, followed by a Budget-focused webinar on 25 February 2026.
Key dates at a glance
- Draft Forward Work Plan consultation: Closes 5 February 2026 | 17.00 GMT
- Budget publication: By 20 February 2026
- Budget webinar: 25 February 2026 | 11:00–12:30 GMT
- Final Forward Work Plan publication: By 31 March 2026
Forward Work Plan webinar recap
On 29 January 2026, we hosted a stakeholder webinar on the Draft Forward Work Plan 2026–29. The session outlined RECCo’s proposed strategic priorities for the year ahead, details of key programmes over the next three years, our financial projections for 2026–27, and how stakeholders can provide inputs during the consultation period.
Our role is to deliver excellent, future-fit retail market services today, while building the capability and resilience needed to support the future market and more consumer-focused outcomes.
Sid Cox | Chief Executive Officer
What we covered
- Our role and strategic priorities for the Retail Energy Code and its services
- Our transition towards a Code Manager licence status and what that means in practice for stakeholders
- REC Services’ evolution and system modernisation, focusing on improving resilience, performance, and usability
- Our support for Consumer-Led Flexibility and delivering existing programmes, including Tariff Interoperability and the Consumer Consent Solution
- Financial projections and budget planning for 2026–27, and how planning assumptions link to delivery ambition
- Stakeholder engagement, consultation, and Q&A, including live discussion to challenge assumptions and sharpen the plan
Your webinar questions answered
Will the Consumer Consent Service allow easier Priority Services Register (PSR) management for home movers and switchers?
No. PSR data is not in scope for the initial Consumer Consent delivery. There is a longer-term ambition to include PSR data, but it needs careful handling because it is sensitive. Indicatively, this was discussed as a potential future addition around 2028.
Will RECCo introduce third-party performance incentives for systems or processes it relies on to meet expectations?
Yes. RECCo uses service levels in Service Partner contracts, tailored to the nature of each service. These can include quantitative and qualitative measures and may draw on stakeholder feedback. Where KPIs are not met, service credits are triggered automatically, with broader contractual levers available where needed. In limited cases where service credits are not possible, service levels still apply.
If you have further questions, please contact recco_strategy@retailenergycode.co.uk
Catch up and take part in the consultation
- Download the Draft Forward Work Plan 2026–29
- Watch the webinar recording on YouTube
- Download the webinar presentation slides
- Respond to the consultation via the short online form by 5 February 2026 | 17.00 GMT
What happens next: Budget 2026–27
Budget 2026–27 will be published in mid-February 2026. It sets out our financial projections for the year ahead, alongside estimates for the two subsequent years, and the investment needed to deliver the Forward Work Plan 2026–29, covering these key topics.
- Financial projections for 2026–27, plus estimates for the following two years
- Investment to improve REC Services, including service quality, resilience, and delivery capability
- Funding to deliver our portfolio of programmes and the services we manage on behalf of industry
- Internal resourcing to support safe, effective delivery at pace
How it’s shaped, plus the appeal window
After the Draft Forward Work Plan 2026–29 consultation closes, we‘ll use your feedback to refine our assumptions ahead of publication of the final Budget and Forward Work Plan for 2026-29.
In accordance with Section 9 of the Retail Energy Code, the Budget is subject to a 10-working-day appeal window. This window opens when the Budget is published. We will confirm the closing date and time in the publication notice and future communications distributed via our News & Events and LinkedIn channels.
Join the Budget stakeholder webinar
We’ll walk through Budget 2026–27, explain the key cost drivers and planning assumptions, and take live questions. It’s your opportunity to have your say.
- When: 25 February 2026 | 11:00–12:30 GMT
- Where: Microsoft Teams: Save your space
