Ofgem’s ED3 framework is not simply raising the performance bar for the UK’s electric utilities. It is demanding proof of performance in real time, replacing the comfort of end-of-cycle reviews with a higher standard of ongoing, transparent delivery. The expectation has shifted from intent to evidence. The Regulator wants to see what is happening as it unfolds. Internal assurance alone is no longer sufficient.
However, most electric utilities remain hindered by one unresolved operational vulnerability: a lack of shared visibility with their supply chain. Without a unified, real-time view of what is happening on the ground across contractors and subcontractors, electric utilities are left exposed—unable to intervene early, enforce compliance consistently, or demonstrate operational certainty when it matters most.
The formal release of Ofgem’s ED3 Framework Decision marks a critical turning point in the regulatory expectations placed on UK electric utilities. This five-year control period, running from April 2028 to March 2033, mandates a shift from retrospective oversight to real-time performance validation, aligning with Regional Energy Strategic Plans and introducing metrics that assess project-level progress continuously. Utilities are now required to demonstrate transparent, auditable delivery of infrastructure outcomes, not just promise them.
The warning signs have already appeared in Ofgem’s recent assessments. From underspending against capital allowances to lagging progress on essential upgrades, the trend is clear. Projects are slipping, delivery is fragmented, and traditional reporting methods are no longer adequate.
ED3 reinforces this accountability shift. It prioritises continuous, data-backed validation of performance over retrospective justification. In this environment, delayed insights equal regulatory risk. Utilities cannot afford to discover problems weeks after they’ve occurred. They must be able to detect, diagnose, and resolve emerging issues in the moment, not in hindsight.
That means creating operational visibility in real time. It means integrating subcontractors and suppliers into the same flow of data, insight, and action. Anything less represents a blind spot with consequences.
Many utilities continue to operate with a patchwork of disjointed systems. Compliance processes reside in spreadsheets. Risk updates trickle in through emails or messaging apps. Field status is understood days after the fact—if it is captured at all. This decentralised model might seem manageable on paper, but in practice it creates fragmentation of operations, confusion about the status of jobs, and delay in delivering plans. Costly rework is all too common.
Contractors and suppliers—despite being central to daily field work—are often disconnected from the digital workflows that drive project performance and compliance. As a result, critical updates are delayed, blockers go unresolved, and quality work can be overlooked. When utilities are forced to react rather than lead, both delivery speed and safety suffer.
This operational gap is not just inefficient. According to the Energy Networks Association, ED3 will place additional pressure on utilities to develop supply chain resilience and improve internal capability to manage long-term capital planning and delivery risk.
Further supporting this view, Energy UK has urged a more proactive, input-led approach to ED3, stressing the need to secure skilled workforces and resilient supply chains to deliver successfully. SSEN Distribution has also endorsed Ofgem’s direction for ED3, noting that successful outcomes will require new delivery governance and stronger field insight to operate efficiently under the new regime.
In the context of ED3, the inability to see and act on field performance in real time will no longer be excusable. It will be seen as a failure to govern delivery effectively and will carry real regulatory and reputational consequences.
This adds a new dimension to the challenge:
Transparency - Plans will be in the public domain, opening companies to scrutiny from customers, media, and environmental groups.
Sustainability Compliance - Incorporating nature-based solutions will require measurable, reportable progress—not just good intentions.
Operational Proof - Companies will need evidence to show not only that they’ve responded to incidents but that they’re actively working to prevent them.
In short, your pollution response strategy now has to perform under the spotlight—both in the EA’s audit room and in the court of public opinion.
FYLD provides a unified solution to this challenge. Our AI-powered field intelligence platform enables utilities and their supply chain partners to operate from a shared source of truth. Through real-time video capture, structured data inputs, and predictive analytics, FYLD delivers a continuous operational feed that connects every job, every contractor, and every manager in the network.
Rather than relying on weekly updates or end-of-shift summaries, decision-makers can see what is happening as it happens. Potential delays, emerging hazards, and compliance shortfalls are identified proactively. This early visibility enables immediate intervention, helping teams prevent issues before they disrupt outcomes.
The results from utilities already using FYLD speak for themselves (FYLD Case Studies):
100% risk assessment compliance among subcontractors, up from a baseline as low as 16%
Over 60,000 proactive remote interventions conducted by managers, reducing site disruption
Greater than 6x ROI delivered through reductions in downtime, safety incidents, and rework
The operational model enabled by FYLD is not about increasing oversight. It is about co-owning delivery across the entire field ecosystem. By bringing utilities and subcontractors into the same real-time environment, FYLD creates conditions for alignment, transparency, and mutual accountability.
Contractors gain access to live feedback on job performance and safety compliance, giving them the insight needed to act decisively and demonstrate progress. Utilities regain control over outcomes without needing to scale site visits or administrative overhead. And critically, compliance becomes embedded in the daily rhythm of work rather than tacked on as an afterthought.
This collaborative model replaces reactive, fragmented execution with coordinated delivery. It moves the supply chain from a risk to a competitive advantage.
This is a pollution response without the chaos—built for speed, compliance, and confidence.
What utilities must now recognise is that visibility is not a technical convenience. It is a regulatory imperative. Without live operational intelligence, organisations are unable to manage risk effectively or validate performance credibly.
FYLD equips utilities with the capabilities to:
Detect and resolve field risks in real time before they escalate into safety incidents or delivery failures
Monitor and validate supplier performance against compliance frameworks and project timelines
Eliminate rework and wasted effort through early identification of procedural or logistical blockers
Utilities are already accountable for what happens in their supply chain. FYLD provides the means to manage that accountability intelligently, proactively, and at scale.
See what’s happening across your entire delivery ecosystem. Book a FYLD demo today.
What is Ofgem’s ED3 framework?
Ofgem’s ED3 is the UK’s regulatory framework for electricity distribution networks covering April 2028–March 2033. It introduces real-time performance validation and continuous project-level accountability (Ofgem).
How will ED3 impact utilities and contractors?
It will shift utilities from retrospective oversight to real-time compliance, placing new demands on supply chain visibility, workforce resilience, and operational intelligence (Energy UK).
How can utilities achieve real-time compliance visibility?
By integrating contractors and subcontractors into a shared, data-driven platform that provides predictive field intelligence and proactive oversight which solutions like FYLD are already delivering.
Who are some of FYLD’s customers benefiting from real-time supply chain insight?
Leading UK utilities including SGN and Southern Water have already deployed FYLD to deliver safer, more efficient operations (FYLD customers).