Renewable Energy Consumer Code (RECC)

The Renewable Energy Consumer Code (RECC) was formed in 2006 and sets out the standards applicable to the selling or leasing of small-scale heat and power generators, whether from renewable or other low carbon sources, to domestic consumers. These include marketing, pre-contractual information, quotations, deposits, contracts, guarantees and after-sales service.

The RECC was developed and is sponsored and run by Renewable Energy Assurance Ltd (REAL). REAL administers several certification and registration schemes as well as two consumer codes. All schemes promote renewable energy and the circular economy. REAL is a subsidiary of the trade association The Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology.

The Code has been designed to help members achieve high consumer protection standards when selling or leasing small-scale heat and power generators, whether from renewable or other low carbon sources, to domestic consumers. Consumers should have the confidence to generate their heat and power in their own homes. Offering high standards of service will increase code members' chances of winning future business. The Code also dovetails with the MCS, and a requirement of companies wanting to gain MCS certification is that they are members of a CTSI Approved Consumer Code of Practice scheme in the first instance.

SEARCH : Find an RECC Member (by Postcode)

CERTIFIED

Approved Code of Practice

This is to certify that the published Consumer Code of Practice of the Renewable Energy Consumer Code (RECC) was officially granted APPROVED CODE status in 2007. Since then, the relevant provisions, processes and procedures have been continuously monitored and regularly audited by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) - the representative body of the UK Trading Standards profession, since 1881, and one of the primary Government-endorsed consumer protection bodies in the United Kingdom - operating on behalf of the Approved Code Scheme (see Code Audit Record, below).

Approved Code Registry :

Code Sector	Renewable Energy
Code of Practice	Click here to view (pdf opens in new tab)
Year of Approval	2007
Members	1,800
Last Audited	September 2023
Code Audit Record	RECC Audit 2024 (pdf opens in new tab)

More about the Renewable Energy Consumer Code (RECC)

VERIFY A COMPANY : If you want to check that a business displaying the Approved Code Scheme logo is genuinely a member of the scheme, please enter their details in the search box at the top of the page (or use the main search box on the Homepage).

The RECC Code of Practice

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RECC sets out high consumer protection standards for businesses who are selling or leasing renewable heat or power generation systems to domestic consumers. RECC is the largest and most experienced CTSI (Chartered Trading Standards Institute) approved Code in the industry.

Established in 2006, REAL has worked tirelessly on behalf of RECC members and their consumers since then to ensure high standards across the sector. In this way, RECC aims to ensure that consumers wishing to install renewable heat or power generation systems in their homes have the necessary confidence and service standards to enable them to make an informed choice.

RECC is based on consumer law but goes beyond it in some instances. It has been designed to be sector-specific and to dovetail with Government-approved Certification Schemes.

Read the RECC Code of Practice (pdf)

Why is a Code of Practice so essential in this Sector?

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The value of each transaction in our sector can be as high as £20,000. There is therefore a lot of potential for consumer detriment. RECC aims to de-risk the process of installing renewables at home and give consumers confidence in the process. When choosing a RECC member, consumers can expect the highest level of service, quality, and reliability, as well as important additional protections including deposit and workmanship warranty protection in case they go out of business.

At REAL we are convinced that only consumers with confidence can ensure a vibrant and growing small-scale renewables sector. This is vital if the UK is to meet its Net Zero target by 2050. That is why it is so important, not only that consumers expect the high protection standards set out in RECC, but also that compliance with these standards is robustly monitored and enforced.

Summary of the RECC Code of Practice

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As members of RECC, companies agree to abide by the Code. It covers all the factors that contribute to a high standard of consumer service, before, during and after a contract is agreed. These include:

Clear information on the systems planned and their performance
Acceptable sales and marketing techniques
Arrangements for installing and connecting the system
The selection and quality of goods supplied
Details of the conditions of business that apply
The standard of any installation and other on-site work
Guarantees, and any maintenance and after-sales services needed
What action will be taken to deal with any problems, and
arrangements for monitoring and continuously improving the Code.

Read the RECC Code of Practice (pdf)

What types of businesses are Members of RECC?

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RECC members are companies selling or leasing small-scale renewable or low carbon heat or power generation units. They range from sole traders to large companies employing hundreds of staff. RECC members are those who are committed to consumer protection. By displaying the logo, RECC members signal they have agreed to abide by the high standards set out in the Code, following the consumer journey from start to finish.

How are businesses vetted - before and after joining?

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RECC carries out extensive Due Diligence Checks on all new applicant business, and individuals associated with those businesses, against a series of important legal undertakings and questions to check their ability to comply with the Code. As part of a comprehensive monitoring programme RECC reviews advertising and documentation for compliance with the Code, consumer protection legislation and Government Approved Certification Schemes standards. RECC also reviews director and business trading history.

RECC uses a variety of tools to monitor compliance with the Code. In line with the Monitoring Strategy agreed with CTSI, RECC:

Carries out risk-based Compliance Checks;
undertakes an in-depth audit programme; analyse Consumer Satisfaction Questionnaires (CSQ) and consumer complaints
Liaises closely with other enforcement bodies including local and national Trading Standards departments and Companies Investigation Branch
Liaises closely with consumer-facing bodies, including Age UK, Which? and Citizens Advice, and other industry stakeholders, including MCS, TrustMark and DESNZ.

What happens if a business breaks the RECC Code of Practice?

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RECC is continually monitoring RECC Members to ensure that they comply with the Code. There are various disciplinary steps RECC can take against RECC Members, set out in the Bylaws. They include:

Communicating with the RECC Member
Auditing the RECC member
Issuing a Consent Order
Convening a Hearing of the Non-Compliance Panel
Terminating RECC Membership following a Non-Compliance Panel Determination
Terminating RECC Membership without reference to the Non‐Compliance Panel.

Disputes and Complaints

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As a consumer, if you ever enter into a dispute with a business that is a member of the Renewable Energy Consumer Code (RECC), the business must offer you Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). This is a simpler, cheaper and faster alternative to going to Court. And the adjudications of the independent ADR body are binding on the business (although you are still free to go to Court afterwards).

Offering customers ADR is a mandatory and non-negotiable requirement for membership of the Approved Code Scheme - ensuring that only the best, most customer-centric businesses remain in the scheme. It also acts as a powerful incentive for any member business to treat you with respect, courtesy and fairness, at all times.

RECC's Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) :

Independent ADR Body	Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution
Website	www.cedr.com
Phone number	020 7536 6000
NOTES

Complain about a RECC Member business

If you feel you have been mistreated by a business that is a member of the Approved Code Scheme, there are steps you can take. In the first instance, please reach out to them - explaining the nature of your complaint in clear and unambiguous language, and mentioning that you are aware of their membership of the Renewable Energy Consumer Code (RECC) and the Approved Code Scheme. In most cases, this approach will ensure your complaint receives proper attention - and, ideally, a resolution will be forthcoming. If you are not happy with the result, they must offer you Alternative Dispute Resolution, or you can request it.

Only if this approach fails to bear fruit should you contact RECC, or their nominated ADR body (see their contact details, above) - who will then do their best to help you resolve your dispute with the business.

RECC's Advice :

Customer satisfaction and protection is of upmost importance to RECC members. However, if customers are not happy with the service, RECC members should take all reasonable steps to resolve complaints speedily and effectively.

RECC is a CTSI approved Alternative Dispute Resolution body under the Alternative Dispute Resolution for Consumer Disputes (Competent Authorities and Information) Regulations 2015.

If customers are not satisfied with how a RECC member has handled their complaint, and the complaint is about issues linked to the Code, they can register a complaint by completing the online Complaint registration form here or by requesting a hard copy of the form by email or telephone. The complaint will be handled through RECC’s Dispute Resolution Process to achieve a resolution.

Complain about the Renewable Energy Consumer Code

In the interests of complete transparency and fairhandedness, if you represent a business and would like to complain about the way that the Renewable Energy Consumer Code (RECC) operates as part of the Approved Code Scheme, please contact us at : ccab@tsi.org.uk

The RECC, is also accountable to its Code of Practice and, in the event of dispute with one of its Members over its management of this Code, is also subject to review and referral to the Approved Code Scheme (CCAB/CTSI) and its disciplinary processes. Where a potential breach of the management the Code has been identified through investigating a Member complaint, the RECC will normally endeavour to resolve the complaint before referring the matter to CTSI for their involvement.

Organisation Information

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Code Sponsor Name	Renewable Energy Consumer Code
Website	www.recc.org.uk
Contact Number	0207 981 0850
Email or Online Form	info@recc.org.uk
Contact Address	York House, 23 Kingsway, London, WC2B 6UJ

Corporate Details (from Companies House) :

Registered Name	RENEWABLE ENERGY ASSURANCE LIMITED
Company Reg. No.	05720606
Established	2006
Reg. Address	York House, 23 Kingsway, London, England, WC2B 6UJ

Return to the Approved Code Directory

PLEASE NOTE : We recently changed the consumer-facing name of the scheme from the Consumer Codes Approval Scheme (CCAS) to the Approved Code Scheme. However, some of our publicity and contractual materials (produced before June 2024) may still include references to the original name. Until we have adapted everything, both names remain valid - and we apologise for any confusion.