Case studies

EDF Energy Networks: Distribution Price Control Review consultation

Download a pdf version of this case study: EDF Energy Networks case study [pdf document, 288KB - opens in a new tab/window]

The Brief

Every five years all energy network providers are required by their regulator, Ofgem, to produce a Business Plan as part of their pricing review. This determines how the companies will make investments and set their pricing over the next five year period. Ofgem asks companies to consult their stakeholders as part of this process. At the outset of this process EDF Energy Networks asked Dialogue by Design to help them design, manage and report on a proactive consultation and engagement process which would follow the principles of consultation best practice.

The Process

Dialogue by Design ran a full online consultation process complemented by two regional stakeholder workshops and one overarching stakeholder event.

The consultation website was hosted by Dialogue by Design. We designed the consultation document and provided support in structuring the questions. The website was easy for stakeholders to access and they could choose to respond to one or more of the questions by navigating to different parts of the document. Participants could choose to update or edit their submission up until the last day of the consultation.

The workshops enabled EDF Energy Networks to present their plans to stakeholders face-to-face as well as to answer direct questions. The events allowed participants to consider in some depth the issues in the draft plan. Dialogue by Design's team of facilitators created a process for these events that encouraged an open exchange of views.

The Outcome

The online consultation and workshops were well received, both by stakeholders and the client. Dialogue by Design produced an integrated report to inform changes to the draft business plan prior to submission to the regulator Ofgem. In particular, Dialogue by Design's approach to making analysed submissions available on a public website meant EDF Energy Networks could show Ofgem exactly how they had taken on board comments made during the consultation and revised their Business Plan accordingly.

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