Expert Communications Support for the National Smart Meter Programme Customer Engagement Workstream

Tender description

The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) is Ireland’s independent energy and water regulator. The CER was established in 1999 and now has a wide range of economic, customer protection and safety responsibilities in energy. The CER is also the regulator of Ireland’s public water and wastewater system. The National Smart Metering Programme (NSMP) is a plan for upgrading how electricity and gas retail markets operate with Smart Meters, in order to improve levels of service for all customers. The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), working closely with the Department of Communications Energy and Natural Resources (DCENR), established the NSMP in 2007. The aim of the NSMP is a national rollout of smart meters to all residential consumers and the vast majority of SMEs in line with the target European legislation which requires that 80% of residential electricity smart meters have been installed by the end of 2020, subject to a positive CBA, allowing consumers gain better insights into their electricity consumption. The exact timing of the rollout and the approach to the delivery of new customer services will be defined over phase 3 of the programme. Following a decision on the High Level Design and the progression to the detailed design phase the CER requires expert communications support to develop the framework for engaging with consumers and stakeholders. The successful tenderer will be producing deliverables within the defined governance structure for the NSMP. The deliverables will involve work in the following areas: Communications strategy; Consumer engagement roadmap and work programme; Reporting mechanisms on consumer awareness and attitudes; Programme identity and branding; Research requirements (quantitative and qualitative) ; Stakeholder engagement; & Information gathering on smart metering rollout strategies and experiences in other jurisdictions. A detailed specification of requirements is set out in Section 2 of the ITT attached to this notice