1. Request for Approval: Introduction of rolling contracts for Third Party Services
Dave Harper
- 14th August 2019

2. Request for Approval: Introduction of rolling contracts for Third Party Services
Background
The Customer Contracts Team (CCT) is permitted to offer important data products and services to Gas Industry participants under the DSC Third Party and Additional Services Policy. Third Party Service products include the Data Enquiry Service, M Number Data File and Gas API Services. Contracts for these chargeable services are permitted to be for 24 months , are more typically for 1 year, with a renewal process commencing 1-3 months prior to expiry.
Current Situation
Decision Sought
The CCT process an average of 18 Customer renewals per month (average contract value of ~£1530)
Renewals take an average of 4 hours to complete with typically 3 ‘chasers’ required to Customers
Feedback from some Customers is that the process is ‘time consuming with too many forms’
Customers require the service to continue in >90% of renewals
The introduction of new data products such as Supplier and MAP APIs will increase renewal volumes
We are seeking approval from the Contract Management Committee to introduce rolling contracts for Third Party Services; meaning Customers need to do nothing if they wish for their services to continue
The new process would incorporate notification prior to annual renewal (should Customers not wish to continue with any services), including any annual price change details
Benefits
Remove c60 hours per month Admin for the CCT
Halve the number of touchpoints for Third Party Services Customers (from ~8 to 4)
Provides a seamless Customer experience (avoids previous issues where occasionally account access has been suspended when Customers fail to respond prior to contract expiry but still want/need the service)
Aligns to the process for ‘Specific Services’ which involves an annual notification and charging update