Operations guidance for Consumer Data Right
This provides guidance on how MBIE will operationalise and deliver its role as regulator under the Consumer Data Right (CDR). It covers cross-sector regulatory processes, operational frameworks, and MBIE’s approach to matters such as accreditation, standards management, complaints, issues, guidance, compliance, and enforcement.
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Consumer Data Right operations guidance roadmap
The information below sets out the current priority order of guidance topics for MBIE’s operational delivery of the CDR. These topics focus on how MBIE will carry out its regulatory role in practice, rather than on sector-specific implementation matters, consumer guidance, or guidance on the legislative framework itself.
Using the roadmap
The roadmap is a planning and transparency tool. It:
- does not set a fixed publication schedule: guidance will be published as it is ready
- may change over time: as regulations are developed and sector engagement continues
- is updated as priorities change: and as the likely implementation approach becomes clearer.
Each roadmap helps participants:
- see what guidance is available: including what is planned, in development, and already published
- understand relative priority: across topics
- see what each topic will cover: so they have a clearer sense of what to expect
- plan ahead: by understanding what guidance is likely to be published and when
- identify gaps: by telling us where additional guidance would be useful.
These topics reflect areas where:
- potential data holders and other electricity participants need early visibility of what regulated open electricity is likely to involve
- the sector may need to understand likely impacts, implementation challenges, and dependencies before regulations are finalised
- MBIE expects early guidance to support more informed feedback on design, timing, and readiness
- consumers and non-specialist readers may benefit from clear explanations of how the framework is expected to apply in electricity.
Guidance topic roadmap for Consumer Data Right operations
This roadmap outlines the main areas where we expect guidance will be useful about how MBIE will operate the CDR in its role as regulator. This roadmap covers cross-sector topics such as accreditation, participant lifecycle management, standards management, fees and levies, guidance publication, compliance and enforcement, complaints, issues, escalation, and other operational matters relevant to MBIE’s delivery of the CDR.
The prioritisation rationale explains why topics are ordered as they are.
1. Applying for accreditation
What accreditation is and why it matters
Explains the purpose of accreditation, the role it plays in the CDR, and the types of assurance it is intended to provide before a participant enters the CDR.
How MBIE manages accreditation applications
Sets out how applications are received, assessed, and decided, including what applicants can expect from MBIE during the process.
What information applicants need to provide
Clarifies the information and supporting material needed to assess whether an applicant meets the relevant accreditation criteria.
How accreditation decisions, conditions, and changes are managed
Explains how MBIE approaches accreditation decisions, conditions, variations, and other participant lifecycle changes after accreditation is granted.
Status: Published
Accredited requestors
2. Consumer Data Right fees and levies
What fees and levies apply under the CDR
Explains the types of fees and levies that may apply, what they relate to, and when they may be payable.
How MBIE charges, invoices, and administers fees and levies
Sets out how charges are calculated, invoiced, and managed in practice, including what participants can expect from MBIE’s processes.
Who is responsible for payment and when charges arise
Clarifies payment responsibility across different participant roles and lifecycle stages, including application, accreditation, and ongoing participation.
How to raise questions or seek clarification
Explains how participants can seek clarification where they are unsure about a charge, payment timing, or how the fees and levies framework applies to them.
Status: Published
Fees and levies for Consumer Data Right
3. Guidance, compliance and enforcement
MBIE’s approach to compliance and early regulatory intervention
Explains how MBIE expects to support early compliance, promote issue resolution, and respond proportionately where concerns arise.
MBIE’s enforcement posture and enforcement policy
Sets out the principles that guide enforcement decisions, including proportionality, seriousness, consumer impact, participant behaviour, and the wider purpose of the CDR.
How guidance supports compliant behaviour
Clarifies how MBIE uses guidance to support understanding, consistent implementation, and earlier identification of issues before formal intervention is needed.
How compliance concerns may be raised and assessed
Explains how MBIE expects concerns to be escalated, what information is useful, and how possible non-compliance may be considered in context.
Status: In progress
Will include MBIE’s compliance and enforcement policy once finalised.
Guidance, compliance and enforcement
Prioritisation rationale: This is prioritised early because participants need to understand not only what MBIE expects, but how MBIE will approach compliance support, issue resolution, and enforcement where concerns arise. This guidance helps set regulatory expectations across sectors.
4. Guidance development, publication and updates
How MBIE develops, consults on, and publishes guidance
Explains MBIE’s approach to prioritising guidance, engaging participants where appropriate, and publishing guidance on the website.
How guidance updates and changes will be communicated
Sets out how MBIE will explain changes, summarise updates, and help participants understand what has changed over time.
How guidance roadmaps support transparency and planning
Clarifies how roadmaps are used to give visibility of current and planned guidance across sectors and operations.
How feedback may shape future guidance priorities
Explains how participant feedback, operational experience, and emerging issues may influence future guidance development.
Status: Published
Guidance for the Consumer Data Right
5. Consumer Data Right standards management
How MBIE will manage standards over time
Explains MBIE’s role in standards development, change management, publication, and ongoing maintenance across the CDR.
MBIE’s standards principles
Sets out the principles that guide how standards are designed and maintained, including interoperability, clarity, proportionality, and consumer benefit.
How standards issues, guidance needs, and regulatory concerns interact
Clarifies how MBIE distinguishes between matters that are best addressed through standards, through guidance, or through compliance activity.
How participants can engage on standards matters
Explains how participants can raise standards issues, provide feedback on change, and understand future standards direction.
Status: In progress
Cross-sector standards management guidance.
Prioritisation rationale: This is prioritised early because standards are central to how the CDR works in practice, and participants need visibility of how MBIE will manage standards over time. This guidance also helps distinguish standards matters from guidance and compliance matters.
6. Complaints, issues and escalation
How MBIE receives and triages complaints and issues
Explains how complaints, participant issues, and escalations are received, assessed, prioritised, and directed within MBIE.
When participants should raise issues directly and when MBIE expects escalation
Clarifies when matters should first be worked through between participants and when escalation to MBIE is appropriate.
What information MBIE needs to assess an issue
Sets out the type of information that helps MBIE understand a matter quickly, including context, evidence, steps already taken, and the issue in dispute.
How issue handling may interact with complaints, supervision, and enforcement
Explains how some matters may remain an operational issue, while others may raise wider complaint, compliance, or enforcement considerations.
Status: In progress
Operational issue and complaint handling guidance.
Prioritisation rationale: Complaints, issues, and escalation are prioritised early because unresolved operational issues can quickly affect participant behaviour, implementation progress, and consumer confidence. Clear guidance helps participants know when and how MBIE expects issues to be raised.
7. Participant lifecycle and regulatory processes
How MBIE manages participant lifecycle changes
Explains how MBIE manages variations, changes in circumstance, participant exits, suspensions, revocations, and other lifecycle events.
How regulatory processes will operate in practice
Sets out how key operational processes are expected to work across the CDR, including notifications, information handling, and participant interactions with MBIE.
What good participant engagement with MBIE looks like
Clarifies expectations for transparency, timeliness, early engagement, and good-faith issue resolution in dealings with the regulator.
How cross-sector operational matters will be managed
Explains how MBIE expects to manage operational issues that are not confined to a single sector.
Status: Pending
Cross-sector regulatory process guidance.
Prioritisation rationale: This follows early entry topics because participants need confidence in how MBIE’s regulatory processes will continue to operate once they are in the CDR. This includes lifecycle events, regulatory interactions, and cross-sector operational matters.
Roadmap feedback
We welcome feedback on all aspects of the guidance produced. Your input helps ensure guidance is practical, relevant, and supports effective implementation across the sector.
Email our CDR team to provide input on:
- guidance topics: areas where further guidance would support understanding or implementation
- content detail: whether draft or published guidance is clear, accurate, and reflects operational realities
- priority and sequencing: whether the current priority order reflects areas of greatest need
- emerging issues: new or evolving areas where guidance would be helpful.
Feedback may be used to refine existing guidance, adjust priorities, and inform future guidance development.
We encourage early engagement where clarification is needed, or where guidance would support consistent interpretation across participants.
