The CRU is pleased to announce, following a competitive public procurement process, the appointment of SGS Ireland as the single Safety Supervisory Body (SSB) who will operate the Safe Electric and RGI Schemes from January 2023. These arrangements will be in place for a period of 5 years with two possible extensions of 1 year each. SGS Ireland will be required to operate the schemes under the Safe Electric and RGI brands.
The CRU is, under legislation, responsible for the regulation of electrical contractors and gas installers, with respect to safety, in Ireland. By law, electrical contractors carrying out most electrical work and gas installers carrying out gas works in the home must be registered with Safe Electric and RGI respectively. In advance of the procurement process the CRU undertook a review of the arrangements to identify improvements for implementation in the Designation period commencing January 2023.
The CRU, RECI, RGII and SGS Ireland will work closely together over the coming months to ensure an uninterrupted transition of Safe Electric and RGI services. All current services will remain available to Registered Electrical Contractors (RECs), Registered Gas Installers (RGIs) and the public. Customers can continue to have peace of mind that RECs and RGIs, who carry out work in their home, do so safely thereby protecting lives and property.
Initial responses to your questions are provided below. This FAQ will be updated at regular intervals in the coming weeks and months. We appreciate your patience with this.
FAQs for RECs and RGIs
Q1. What does the announcement from CRU mean for a RGI/REC in the immediate future?
The Safe Electric and Registered Gas Installer Schemes will continue to operate as normal – ‘business as usual’. All services remain available to REC’s, RGIs and the public.
The legal requirement to register as a Registered Electrical Contractor (REC) in order to undertake most electrical work in the home has not changed. The requirements of the Electrical Criteria document including the requirement to maintain your registration status has not changed.
The legal requirement to register as a Registered Gas Installer (RGI) to undertake gas works has not changed. The requirement of the Gas Criteria document including the requirement to maintain your registration status has not changed.
As a priority, the CRU, RECI, RGII and SGS Ireland are working together to ensure a smooth, uninterrupted transfer of services.
Q2. What has changed?
In advance of the procurement process to appoint an SSB, the CRU commenced a review of the regulatory arrangements including engaging with industry stakeholders and with the market. This allowed for the identification of improvements for implementation in the next designation period commencing in 2023. The CRU made three key decisions:
- A single Safety Supervisory Body (SSB) operator, who will operate as the Electrical Safety Supervisory Body and the Gas Safety Supervisory Body, was appointed in order to gain efficiencies in the running of the Schemes as well as to ensure consistency in the level of service provided. While operated by a single entity, the two Schemes have not been amalgamated.
- The newly appointed SSB will operate under a Services Contract – this model option has a greater potential to drive cost reductions and service improvements while delivering on the safety objectives and principles of the Schemes.
- The SSB will operate under an updated performance management framework, which is composed of Service Levels and Key Performance Indicators, across the key activities i.e. inspections and audits, registrations, certification, complaints resolution, system availability and engagement, and has a focus on outcomes leading to Safety and customer service. The performance management framework also introduces a financial incentive mechanism that will encourage ongoing and incremental improvements and drive efficiencies as well as penalise the SSB for instances when the established targets are not met.
Q3. What will happen in January 2023?
From January 2023, SGS Ireland will be responsible for the day-to-day operation of both the RGI and Safe Electric schemes. As a priority, the CRU, RECI, RGII and SGS are working together to ensure a smooth, uninterrupted transfer of services.
Q4. How will I pay my 2023 subscription fee? / Who will I pay my 2023 annual subscription fee to?
The process for payment of your 2023 annual subscription fees will be confirmed as early as possible in Q4 2022. Please do not pay your 2023 annual subscription until the payment process is communicated to you.
Q5. Will there be any change to my 2023 subscription fees for next year?
The CRU is undertaking a fees and charges approval process with SGS Ireland. Similar to the current arrangement, fees and charges for 2023 will be communicated as early as possible in Q4 2022.
Q6. Who will I purchase certificates from up to the end of December 2022 and/or in January 2023?
REC’s and RGIs can continue to purchase certificates as normal. Any changes to the certificate purchasing process will be confirmed in Q4 2022.
Q8. Where will I collect new certificates and other items up to the end of December 2022 and then in January 2023?
Purchased certificates can continue to be dispatched by post or collected from RGII or RECI in the KCR Business Park as normal.
Changes to this process for 2023 will be confirmed as early as possible in Q4 2022.
Q9. Who do I send updated insurance certificates to?
Please continue to send your insurance certificates / R44 forms to Safe Electric and RGI as normal until notified otherwise.
Changes to this process for 2023 will be confirmed as early as possible in Q4 2022.
Q10. Will there be changes to the audit/inspection process?
The Safe Electric/ RGI Audit and Inspection process will continue to operate as normal, in line with the Criteria document. Please continue to engage with your inspector as per the requirements of the Criteria Document.
Q11. Will my current inspector be the same for 2023?
The Safe Electric/ RGI Audit and Inspection process will continue to operate as normal. Please continue to engage with your inspector as per the requirements of the Criteria Document.
If there is a change in your inspector this will be communicated to you in in due course.
Q12. Will certs issued by RECI still be valid from January 2023
Safe Electric and RGI certificates of conformance purchased from RECI and RGII will remain valid beyond January 2023.
Q13 Will the current RECI Electronic Completion Certificate System (recicerts.ie) be operational and available in January 2023?
Yes, the existing ECC system will remain available.
Q14. I am in the process of becoming a REC/RGI – Will this have any impact on my recent new application?
The appointment of SGS Ireland does not affect your recent/new application.
Q15. How do I find out more about the processing of my personal data by the new Safety Supervisory Body (SGS Ireland)?
Currently, the CRU is responsible for safeguarding scheme member’s personal data. This means that CRU is the data controller for Scheme personal data with RECI and RGII acting as data processors.
Under the new contract arrangements, the CRU and SGS Ireland will be Joint Data Controllers for scheme member personal data. This means that both the CRU and SGS will be responsible for safeguarding member’s personal data and will have an arrangement in place on where specific responsibility rests.
SGS will be responsible for protecting your personal data as part of the service they provide to you on a daily basis. The CRU will ensure it is satisfied with the arrangements put in place by SGS to protect your personal data as part of this service.
The CRU will, before January 2023, update its Privacy Notice (available here) in order to provide you with updated information on how it will process your personal data under the new arrangement.
SGS Ireland will also provide a Privacy Notice on the websites for Safe Electric / RGI Scheme members outlining how it will process your personal data.
The CRU will, before January 2023, be providing your details to SGS Ireland to enable them to provide you with services as a member of the Safe Electric or RGI Scheme and to contact you.
If your personal data is processed as part of the Professional Qualifications process, the CRU remains responsible for safeguarding your personal data. SGS Ireland will administrate the Professional Qualifications application process as a CRU data processor. This role is currently being performed by RECI / RGII.
Q16. Where can I get further information?
The CRU is working closely with SGS Ireland, RECI and RGII to ensure a smooth transition of services. The above FAQs will be answered in greater detail in the coming months.
If you have queries in addition to those set out above, please contact CRU on ssbdes23@cru.ie or 01-4000800.