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. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
Last updated: 23 October 2026
