Energy Theft

DCUSA Ltd’s and SPAA Ltd’s responsibility for the Theft Risk Assessment Service (TRAS) and Energy Theft Tip Off Service (ETTOS) ended on the 31 March 2021. Energy Theft issues are covered in the by the Retail Energy Code (REC).

Queries about Energy Theft and the current regulations can be directed via the REC Portal https://recportal.co.uk/. Alternatively the REC Service Desk can be reached via enquiries@recmanager.co.uk or 0800 640 4300

What was the TRAS?

In February 2016, Ofgem introduced the Theft Risk Assessment Service (TRAS), setting out new licence obligations on Suppliers to detect, investigate, prevent and deter theft. SPAA Ltd and DCUSA Ltd appointed Experian to develop and implement a Theft Risk Assessment Service (TRAS). This significant dual fuel, cross code, service was launched on the 01 April 2016 placing a requirement on electricity and gas Suppliers to submit defined data items, split by domestic and commercial monthly.

The TRAS contract between DCUSA, SPAA and Experian ceased on 31 March 2021.

The Theft Steering Group (TSG) and Secretariat are overseeing Experian’s termination Contract Assistance Plan which will facilitate an orderly exit by 30 June 2021.

RECCo will be consulting later in 2021 on a replacement TRAS service to be introduced in 2022.

Obligations

Prior to 01 April 2021, the TRAS arrangements existed under Schedule 25 of the DCUSA and Schedule 34 of the Supply Point Administration Agreement (SPAA). The Supply Point Administration Agreement (SPAA) was a multi-party agreement to which all gas Suppliers and Gas Transporters were required to accede to in order to fulfill their licence obligations.

All gas and electricity Suppliers that have registered supply/metering points had to adhere to their TRAS obligations under SPAA and DCUSA.

The TRAS schedules set out details of the service to be provided by the TRAS service Provider and the rights and obligations of DCUSA and SPAA Parties in relation to the TRAS.

How Does It Work?

The Theft Risk Assessment Service (TRAS) enabled Suppliers to assess the risk of energy theft at consumer premises to help target theft investigations. The TRAS Service Provider used data provided by Suppliers and augment it with third party data such as credit history to derive potential consumption outliers that Suppliers may choose to investigate. Outliers were low consumption customers identified by comparing actual consumption at a supply point against a modeled or expected consumption for that property/customer type.

Theft Operational Contacts

Below is the link to the Supplier theft contacts. The purpose on the Supplier Theft Contacts Register is to provide a clear communication channel for electricity theft matters. The register will ensure instances of suspected theft are communicated, investigated and resolved in a timely manner.

Theft Operational Contacts List

Where else can I find information on TRAS?

More information on the TRAS can be found on the Energy Theft website for which you will require a user account. All energy Suppliers can obtain access to the energy theft website. Please contact energy-tras@electralink.co.uk to request access.

TRAS guidance and technical documents are also uploaded to the website. Should you have any questions please feel free to contact the Energy.TRAS@electralink.co.uk.

Key Background Documentation

Please follow the links below to Key Background Documentation on the Ofgem website.

Direction under paragraph 8 of condition 12A of the Standard Conditions of the Gas Supply Licence to introduce the Theft Risk As

What is ETTOS?

The Energy Theft Tip Off Service (ETTOS) transferred over to the Retail Energy Code (REC) on 01 April 2021.

The ETTOS was implemented in September 2016.

The ETTOS allows tip offs regarding suspected energy theft, received from the general public, to be sent to the relevant Supplier or network operator for investigation. The ETTOS Service Provider Crimestoppers, provide the stay energy safe line open 24- hours, 7 days a week and a website for members of the public to report suspected energy theft here is their website https://www.stayenergysafe.co.uk/.

Individuals can fill out an online form to report suspected energy theft.

Obligations

The ETTOS arrangements did exist under Schedule 26 of the DCUSA and Schedule 37 of the SPAA. All Suppliers, Distributors and Transporters had to adhere to their ETTOS obligations under SPAA and DCUSA.

As part of the service, Suppliers and network operators were required to provide a nominated single point of contact (ESPOC) for ETTOS matters.

Crimestoppers will continue to provide the ETTOS, but under a new contract with RECCo that took effect on 01 April 2021. Parties should therefore continue to communicate directly with Crimestoppers for the receipt of tip-offs, as per the current process. However, from 01 April 2021 any Secretariat issues should be addressed to RECCo. RECCo will manage updates to party operational contacts and notification contacts. Crimestoppers will manage the establishment of the secure email portal for the exchange of information on tip-offs directly with each party.

Where else can I find information on ETTOS?

TRAS Register

CCN	Title	Area	Status	Changed
TRAS206	TRAS206 – Specific Tamper Outcome Code for Fiscal Theft	Programming Manual	Raised	12/08/2019
TRAS205	TRAS205 – Specific Outcome Code of ‘No Theft – Faulty Meter’	Programming Manual	Raised	12/08/2019
TRAS203	TRAS203 – Use of M3 in TRAS system	Contract	Raised	12/08/2019
TRAS198	TRAS198 – Transfer of TRAS Anonymised Data to ElectraLink	TRAS Data	Approved	12/08/2019
TRAS197	TRAS197 – Commercial Outlier Low Consumption Threshold change	Programming Manual	Approved	12/08/2019
TRAS194	TRAS194 – Sharing of TRAS data beyond the three-year retention period	Contract	Approved	12/08/2019
TRAS190	TRAS190 – New operational report to measure the performance of the ETTOS	TRAS Data	Approved	12/08/2019
TRAS148	TRAS148 – PrePayment and Payment Data Proof of Concept	TRAS Data	Raised	12/08/2019
TRAS189	TRAS189 – Extra Theft Lead Sources	TRAS Data	Withdrawn	12/08/2019
TRAS185	TRAS185 – Measuring TRAS QO Performance	TRAS Data	Approved	12/08/2019