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Ofgem – Online Postcode Checker Tool

By 10 December 2014No Comments

10 December 2014

(Carbon Savings Community Obligation (CSCO Eligibility System)

We’ve just successfully delivered a new publicly available online Postcode Checker Tool to the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem).

Ofgem is the government regulator for the electricity and downstream natural gas markets in Great Britain.  Based in London, and employing a team of approximately 800 staff, Ofgem protect the interests of existing and future electricity and gas consumers in Great Britain.

Ofgem appointed thinkWhere in October 2014 to develop, maintain and host an online Postcode Checker tool to aid installations of energy efficiency measures under the Community Obligation (CSCO) of the Energy Companies Obligation (ECO).

The new tool makes use of publicly available data sources from data suppliers such as the Office of National Statistics (ONS), Scottish Government and the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC).  Working closely together on the development of the new tool, Ofgem and thinkWhere started the project mid October 2014, with release of the completed live product a few weeks later at the end of November.  Complex data management structures and algorithms sit behind the scenes of the data model.  However, the online tool has been designed to make the user experience as simple, clear and concise as possible.  Available 24/7 on desktop and mobile devices, the design of the Postcode Checker tool is responsive and supports all major, widely used browsers.

Consumers, energy suppliers, the ECO supply chain and Ofgem themselves can now easily confirm whether postcodes in GB are eligible under CSCO, to identify CSCO eligible areas and to validate CSCO specific information:

  • The Map Search allows the identification of CSCO eligible areas based on specific criteria via an online Mapping portal.  This uses Open Data available through the OpenSource “Location Centre” platform developed by thinkWhere.  The site includes black and white or full colour background maps and shows Low Income Areas, Low Income Adjoining Areas, Rural Areas and Deprived Rural Areas. Click here to perform a Map Search https://csco.locationcentre.co.uk/map-search.aspx
  • The Validation tool is designed for use by the ECO administrator, energy suppliers and those within the ECO supply chain wishing to validate ECO specific data (this function is not designed for use by consumers).  Click here to validate data https://csco.locationcentre.co.uk/measure-upload.aspx

The site will be hosted by thinkWhere for a 3 year period with regular updates to the information applied as required.

Further information about Ofgem https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/

Further information about thinkWhere’ s Location Centre platform http://www.thinkwhere.com/products/online-gis/

Further information about ECO policy and legislation https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/helping-households-to-cut-their-energy-bills/supporting-pages/energy-companies-obligation-eco.

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Contacts

Editorial Enquiries – Robert Peel (PR), +44(0)1666 823306, robert@market-it.co.uk
Reader Enquiries – Fiona Thomas, Business Development Manager, +44(0)1786 476060, Fiona.Thomas@thinkwhere.com

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Notes to Editors

thinkWhere provides an online platform for storing, sharing and using maps and geographic data. Utilising Open Source Geographic Information System (GIS) technologies, thinkWhere has developed cloud-based software applications and tools, backed by a wide range of Open GIS implementation, consultancy and training services.

Originally Forth Valley GIS, the company started in 1993 providing GIS services to Central Regional Council before, following local government reorganisation, developing a shared GIS service for three unitary authorities. In 2007 the company began operating as an arms-length commercial operation and rebranded as thinkWhere in 2007.

Based in the historic city of Stirling, Scotland, with customers across the UK and worldwide, thinkWhere pioneered the development of web-based platforms for collaborative GIS products and services. The company has a 10 year proven track record of delivering solutions at local, regional and national levels in the UK public and commercial sectors. For further information visit www.thinkwhere.com