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ENA transforms Data Triage to enable an energy data sharing ecosystem
We partnered with the UK’s Energy Networks Association (ENA) to refresh its Data Triage playbook and develop a standardised framework for sharing data responsibly. The collaboration enables energy networks to make consistent and auditable decisions about when to open and share data, making it easier to find, understand, and reuse.
Project overview:
As the ecosystem of energy data sharing and security continues to evolve, energy network providers sought to ensure that their Data Triage playbook remained fit for purpose and aligned to emerging risks.
We ran a series of workshops with the UK’s energy network companies over three months. Having brought network representatives together, we reviewed existing approaches and helped define a more consistent method for triaging data.
The new Data Triage playbook and assessment framework give networks a commonly shared, practical structure for producing consistent decisions and outputs while allowing them to keep their internal processes flexible.
A sector-wide need for consistent data triage
Energy Networks Association (ENA) is a not-for-profit industry body representing the companies that operate energy networks across the UK and Ireland, supporting its members to deliver energy safely, sustainably, and reliably.
As the energy system becomes more decentralised and data-driven, networks play a critical role not only in operating physical infrastructure, but also in enabling a transparent data ecosystem. The data they publish underpins decisions made by developers, innovators, local authorities, and regulators, influencing everything from network planning to low-carbon technology deployment.
When Ofgem’s Data Best Practice guidance introduced a formal ‘Presumed Open’ principle in 2021, energy networks were required to treat data as open by default, with the burden on energy networks, as the data custodians, to justify when information should not be published.
This shift reflected a broader ambition across the sector – to unlock the value of energy data for consumers and market participants, while ensuring that sensitive information is appropriately protected. Done well, open energy data can enable smarter investment decisions, new services, better local planning, and increased transparency across the system.
The new guidance required consistent data triage processes to be carried out to identify data sensitivities, mitigate risks where possible, and document these decisions transparently. At the same time, the operating environment continued to evolve, particularly around data security and the risk of inappropriate access.
ENA recognised the need to refresh its initial Data Triage playbook to deliver the best outcomes for consumers and Ofgem’s guidance. This would help networks produce clearer, more standardised triage outputs in a way that gives end users confidence in dataset quality, context, and governance.
Drawing on our experience delivering digital and data initiatives across the UK energy sector, including work with Ofgem and National Grid ESO, our team was well positioned to support ENA in aligning networks around a consistent approach to data triage.
“Energy networks hold data that is increasingly valuable to developers, local authorities, and innovators across the energy system. Establishing a consistent approach to data triage helps ensure that information can be shared responsibly, supporting better decisions and helping build a more resilient energy system.”
Building alignment through structured collaboration
We designed a structured, collaborative process to facilitate alignment across energy networks while considering the complexity of regulation interpretation, as well as differing practices and risk appetites among the companies.
Over four workshops delivered across three months, we brought together representatives from the energy networks to review the original Data Triage playbook. We assessed its strengths and weaknesses as a practical tool for the networks and evaluated how well it aligned with Ofgem’s Data Best Practice guidance.
Each session had specific objectives:
- clarifying interpretation of the guidance
- identifying inconsistencies in current triage outputs
- defining shared principles
- testing improvements against real-world scenarios
“From the outset, Zühlke’s team understood the complexity of the challenge we were facing in the energy landscape. They brought strong data and digital strategy expertise, challenged us on key points, raised considerations we hadn’t thought about, and helped us gain clarity.”
Throughout the process, our role was to create clarity, translating regulatory expectations into practical decision criteria, facilitating constructive debate, and helping the group converge on a consistent structure for documenting triage outcomes.
Between workshops, we synthesised discussions into draft revisions, comparison frameworks, and other practical artefacts. This iterative approach ensured updates were grounded in operational reality and that networks could see their input reflected in the evolving playbook throughout the work.
As discussions progressed, it became clear that while networks had developed robust internal approaches, differences in interpretation were leading to variation in how triage outcomes were presented across the sector. This shared visibility created an opportunity to improve clarity and consistency without compromising individual governance structures.
Delivering a consistent triage framework for the sector
The refreshed Data Triage playbook provides clear, practical guidance on how networks should apply Ofgem’s ‘Presumed Open’ principle in real-world decision-making. It introduces a more structured approach to assessing datasets, identifying sensitivities, exploring mitigation or desensitisation techniques, and documenting triage outcomes transparently.
The updated playbook supports both reactive triage and proactive assessments initiated internally as part of broader data openness activities. Alongside the updated playbook, our team and the participating networks co-developed a standardised triage framework. The tool guides teams through a structured decision process and creates a consistent format for recording rationale and outcomes.
At a sector level, the updated playbook and triage framework strengthens collective data maturity, improves transparency, and builds confidence in how open data decisions are made. It provides a consistent foundation that enhances trust across networks, regulators, and stakeholders.
Crucially, this consistency makes it easier for external data users to discover, interpret, and reuse network data across regions.
Over time, this will support a more coordinated, data-driven approach to developing and operating the UK’s energy infrastructure, ensuring that investment in data ultimately delivers value back to bill payers.
“Zühlke’s involvement strengthened alignment between the energy networks. It’s a challenging environment – we all operate differently and have different risk appetites. Having an impartial, objective third party to moderate discussions, synthesise concerns, and bring clarity was invaluable.”
