AI in the energy sector guidance consultation

Please submit if you are an energy sector licensee, market participant or operator of essential services.

Our first AI Reg Lab invites submissions of hypothetical AI uses and scenarios from energy sector licensees and other regulated entities. Successful submissions will be used to provide novel challenges to our draft guidance on AI use in the energy sector.  

We are seeking hypothetical AI uses and scenarios that encompass a range of challenges, including regulatory compliance and ethical considerations covering safety, security, fairness and environmental sustainability.  

The AI Reg Lab will:  

• explore the challenges through a presentation to the AI Reg Lab panel of experts (consisting of AI and broader technology, ethics, data governance and energy expertise) to facilitate robust discussions and provide insights into potential regulatory implications.

• be energy sector-focused and in line with Ofgem’s regulatory remit only.

The AI Reg Lab will not be able to provide feedback on regulatory compliance of submissions but will only consider the regulatory impacts.  

Note: if Intellectual Property (IP) associated with your submission going before the AI Reg Lab could pose issues, please consider your submission carefully.  

Submission requirements  

Scenario, 50 to 100 words (mandatory):  

• Describe the scenario, the role of AI, and the context in which the hypothetical AI use or scenario would operate.  

Regulatory challenge (mandatory):  

• Regulatory or ethical challenges posed, how the hypothetical AI use or scenario challenges the draft AI guidance particularly around governance, risk approach and capability.    

• Brief impact assessment, describing potential impacts on energy consumers (including those in vulnerable circumstances), the wider energy sector and environment, both positive and negative.  

Additional information (optional):  

• Fairness challenges or potential biases within the hypothetical AI use or scenario.   

• Level of AI maturity, readiness and any hypothetical timeline for example, are you considering deployment of your hypothetical AI use into a live environment?  

• Detail of the potential risks posed by the AI use, such as in the supply chain.    

• Sustainability issues for example, hypothetical AI use impact on energy consumption.  

Submission guidelines  

The AI Reg Lab will assess the impact on innovation of the draft AI guidance. To support this, clear and concise submissions are essential.

The AI Reg Lab will consider the characteristics and impacts of the technology, not the specific details of any technology. Therefore, such details should be kept to a minimum.  

Please provide your submission by Friday 17 January 2025. You can also submit via email to AIPolicy@ofgem.gov.uk, following the format outlined on the submission form with AI Reg Lab as the subject.  

We look forward to receiving your submission.  

Successful submissions will be notified by Wednesday 29 January 2025.