The Market Support Services (“MSS”) Code sets out the minimum standards of performance for the provision of market support services by the Market Support Services Licensee (“MSSL”). The MSS Code also sets out the rights and obligations of a Retail Electricity Licensee, a Generation Licensee, the Transmission Licensee and a contestable consumer with respect to market support services.

When MSSL receives a service transaction request for a contestable consumer to change his electricity purchase arrangement (e.g. switch to buy from a New Retailer), MSSL is obliged under section 8.4 of the MSS Code to notify the Existing Retailer and wait three business days from the date of such notification (“Initial Waiting Period”) before effecting the service transaction request. The Existing Retailer may notify the MSSL of its objection to the service transaction request anytime during the Initial Waiting Period. Once anobjection has been lodged by the Existing Retailer, MSSL will need to wait a further ten business days from the date of the objection notice (“Second Waiting Period”) before effecting the service transaction request provided MSSL does not receive a service transaction request from the Existing Retailer to terminate the initial change request.

It is proposed to shorten the Second Waiting Period from ten business days to three business days so that a contestable consumer can be transferred to his New Retailer faster. With the shorter Second Waiting Period, the Existing Retailer will still have a total of six business days (three business days each for the Initial Waiting Period and Second Waiting Period respectively) to seek clarification from the consumer and to submit a service transaction request to terminate the initial request if justified.

Pursuant to Section 1.6 of the MSS Code, EMA seeks comments and feedback on the proposed modifications to the MSS Code as set out in Appendix 1.