The company revealed that it is looking at how data could be shared to notify suppliers if a customer is on the priority service register when they switch, to help vulnerable customers get the support they are entitled to from suppliers.
When a customer is vulnerable or entitled to help or special payment arrangements they are put on the priority service register, however this information is not currently shared when the customer switches supplier.
Electralink governance service operations manager Stefan Leedham told Utility Week: “What we’ve learnt over the years is when you deliver change to the industry it is all about working together and being open and transparent.
“There is a piece of work that we are looking at doing, working across the codes, on how we can share vulnerability information on change of supply.
“Possibly using the Data Transfer Service to share the information, at change of supply, supplier A would tell supplier B about the customers’ arrangements they are entitled to.”
Leedham said that previous work may have been done with the department for work and pensions looking at how fuel poor credit could be shared with suppliers, but the plans fell against “barriers from the data protection side, despite suppliers being keen to progress”.
He added that the information could also be used to improve other aspects of vulnerability including supporting the Debt Assignment Protocol.
The plans follow the successful launch of Electralink’s Energy Theft Tip-Off Service earlier this year, which will allow suppliers to improve the identification and detection of energy theft. The scheme marked the first time the industry has worked together to share data and analytics in this way.
Electralink provides governance services and a regulated data transmissions service to the gas and electricity market.