Minutes of Meeting on Wednesday 19th August 2025
Venue: Online via teams
Time: 15:00-18:00
Type: Panel Meeting
ATTENDEES:
Panel: Matthew Cole, Kirsten Jenkins, Alister Steele and Fraser Stewart
Secretariat: Philippa Brosnan and Roanna Sefton
Agenda item 1: Introductory Remarks
Matt welcomed everyone to the meeting and ran through the agenda.
Agenda item 2: Periodic Report Response (PRR)
Matt started by saying thank you so much for the hard work in getting to this point in the document. The Panel reviewed the document looking at their comments and having a discussion on how they felt it was positioned and agreeing on how to input stakeholders feedback. The Panel agreed on the next steps for signing the response off and looking at different ways on how to promote the PPR. The panel agreed to have a final copy by the 28th August and ready for sign off.
Agenda item 3: Ofgem Consultation
Roanna ran through the Ofgem consultation “Energy system cost allocation and recovery review” with the Panel. Roanna advised that the consultation period was due end on the 24th September 2025. The Panel agreed that this is something they need to respond on but because of capacity challenges it will need to be a short response. The plan is to focus on the Panel’s social tariff recommendations, as they have done in previous consultation responses, and then include some high-level principles on energy cost allocation and recovery. The Panel agreed to submit the consultation by the 5th of September 2025.
Agenda item 4: Intern
Roanna advised that the Scottish Government application process for interns has closed. Roanna advised that the Office of the Chief Researcher is now reviewing applications. Interns will be allocated on skill set or preference and the Panel should find out by the end of the month if there is an intern who matches the Panel’s research interests. Interns, once matched, need to go through security clearance but hopefully it might be possible to have an intern starting in October. The Panel will want to discuss which specific project an intern would take on at the next meeting.
Agenda item 5: EAS conference
The Panel discussed attendance and who would present at the EAS conference on the 20th and 21st November 2025. The Panel decided that they would all attend the conference. Trisha will send a calendar hold out for the diaries.
Agenda item 6: Public Appointments’ Process – update & Induction – new Panel Members
Matt provided an update on progress made during the recruitment process for new Panel members, and the next stages of the process and asked the Panel’s view about the communication approach to highlighting the Panel vacancies. The Panel were content with the planned information session to be run by the Secretariat and sharing the vacancies with its stakeholder network. The Scottish Government, it was noted, has its own advertising and awareness raising plan.
Agenda item 7: Panel reflection
Matt invited reflections and then closed the meeting.
Next meeting – 6th of October 9;00 – 17:00pm at St Andrew’s House, Edinburgh.