The Independent Stakeholder Group (ISG) has been set up to challenge us as we shape and deliver our business plans. They played an important role in the development of our latest RIIO-GD3 Business Plan, providing feedback and challenge throughout the planning process. Their assessment of our Plan is set out in their response to Ofgem’s Call for Input.
As we move into RIIO-GD3, our next regulatory price control period starting in April 2026, they will continue to provide scrutiny and challenge.
The group is chaired by Maxine Frerk, who brings with her a wealth of experience from her 15 years at Ofgem including as a member of Ofgem’s executive board, responsible for all aspects of regulation of the gas and electricity distribution networks.
To reflect the different needs and perspectives of local stakeholders in both our network areas, Maxine is joined by a range of stakeholder experts from across Scotland and the south of England, reflecting specialisms such as customer research, business users, future consumers and vulnerable customers. Together, the group ensures that we capture and act on the views of a range of customer and stakeholder groups in developing our current and future business planning. If you’d like to contact the ISG, please email engagement@sgn.co.uk.
Documents and information
ISG Response to GD3 Draft Determination
ISG Response to RIIO3 Call for Evidence on GDN Business Plans
2024 ISG Annual Report
ISG RIIO3 Sector Specific Methodology Consultation response
2021/22 CSEG Annual Report
Scottish Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan response
CSEG response to Ofgem Frameworks for Future Systems and Network Regulation consultation
CSEG strategic conversation blog
ISG Terms of reference
Maxine brings deep experience to our work, built over 15 years at Ofgem where she led major regulatory projects including the RIIO‑ED1 price control. Before that, she headed up regulation at BT.
Since leaving Ofgem, she has become a respected independent voice in the energy sector, focusing on consumer outcomes and environmental issues.
Maxine chairs SGN’s Independent Stakeholder Group and previously sat on similar groups for Scottish and Southern Electricity Network Transmission and Distribution. She is now an independent director for SSEN Distribution and for the Low Carbon Hub (a community energy company). She also chairs the SIF Advisory Group for Innovate UK.
A regular Utility Week contributor and an Associate with Sustainability First, she combines strong analytical expertise with a practical understanding of customers’ needs.
Maxine holds a degree in maths and management science from Cambridge University and an MBA from Cranfield.
Lucy has spent more than 30 years championing Scotland’s voluntary sector. She has led major organisations including Citizens Advice Scotland and the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, and her background also includes grant‑making with the Big Lottery Fund.
She previously served two terms as co‑chair of Scotland’s Open Government Partnership and spent six years on the OGP global steering committee. She continues to be closely involved in open government and transparency projects, contributing her expertise to a wide range of initiatives.
Lucy brings a clear, people‑focused voice to everything she does, with a strong commitment to fairness and openness. She also serves as a trustee of a local regeneration charity.
Eddie has dedicated his career to the gas industry, working across British Gas and Transco before launching his own consultancy, Lafferty Associates, in 2003.
His experience spans industrial gas engineering, sales and marketing leadership, and public and corporate affairs. He has served on the board of Energy Action Scotland and was a member of the first Scottish Government Fuel Poverty Advisory Group. One of his most rewarding roles was establishing a successful Warm Zone in Redcar.
Eddie’s interests include biomethane, decarbonisation, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions across transport and industrial projects.
He brings practical insight and a genuine commitment to supporting vulnerable customers.
Rosie McGlynn is the Founder and Director of Mentone Energy Consultancy Ltd and has over twenty years’ experience in the energy sector. Rosie has worked for three of the major utilities, E.ON Energy, EDF Energy and Centrica in roles in retail energy regulation, smart metering commercial and policy design.
In the early 2010’s Rosie led Energy UK’s Smart Metering Programme which involved liaising between the energy retailers and Ofgem, DECC/BEIS, other trade associations, European and International standards bodies.
In the mid 2010’s Rosie led the development of Energy UK’s strategic engagement with the UK Government and Ofgem on the transformations needed to decarbonise the power, heat and transport sectors. This included representing the UK energy retailers at European Market Design Working Groups.
In 2018, Rosie set up her own renewable energy consultancy business Mentone Energy Consultancy Ltd to drive forward smart local energy system projects, examples include Smart Fintry, Perth & Kinross Council Smart Energy Network and the BEIS/Canada Power Forward Challenge.
In 2021 Uswitch appointed Rosie to become a member of the inaugural Green Tariff Panel.
Matt is Head of Policy and Public Affairs at National Energy Action, where he works to ensure the policy, regulation and the energy market delivers affordable energy for low-income households.
His work includes shaping the response to the energy crisis and influencing major schemes such as the Warm Home Discount. He played an active role in electricity and gas price control processes, working closely with Ofgem to ensure the best outcomes for fuel poor households. He now brings this experience to the SGN Independent Stakeholder Group.
Before joining NEA, Matt worked at E.ON across a wide range of policy areas including retail regulation, renewables and network price controls. He holds a Natural Sciences degree from Durham University.
Matt brings a clear, grounded perspective on consumer needs and affordability.
Martin is an independent consultant specialising in regulation, strategy and utilities with extensive recent experience in the UK energy and water sectors.
In particular he has advised to water and electricity distribution in relation to their recent price controls and other regulatory matters. He spent 10 years with Anglian Water, as Head of Regulatory Strategy leading two price control submissions. Before that, he worked as a consultant specialising in business strategy, policy and regulation across utility sectors, including electricity, gas, water and transport.
He has particular expertise on regulatory finance, customer engagement and incentives. He has also worked with the water regulator Ofwat, supporting its work on financial resilience, governance and strategy.
Between 2014 and 2017 Martin oversaw implementation of the new non-household retail water market, establishing the new market operating company and was director responsible for market codes, market implementation and industry readiness.
Martin was a member of the Customer Engagement Group for Cadent Gas until December 2021. He is a Chartered accountant with a background in economics.
Syed has over 20 years’ experience in the sustainable energy sector, with a strong focus on decentralised energy and the role of cities in tackling climate change.
He has worked in a diverse range of organisations, from environmental NGOs and industry trade associations to the Greater London Authority and central government, giving him a broad and practical understanding of the challenges and opportunities in the sector.
Syed is the CEO of Community Energy London, which he helped co‑found in 2017, and he is also a Director of Energy for London, established in 2012. He holds several roles across the energy and environmental landscape, including Director of the All‑Party Parliamentary Group on Renewable and Sustainable Energy (PRASEG), Chair of Repowering London, Trustee of the Poverty and Environment Trust, and Policy Advisor for the Green Gas Certification Scheme (GGCS).
He was recently appointed by the Mayor of London as a Commissioner of the London Climate and Sustainability Commission and was awarded an OBE in 2022 for his work on climate change and cities.
Simon is an independent energy consultant with nearly 15 years of experience working with regulated energy network companies, academia and government. He champions a whole-system approach to net zero, helping to ensure that we consider the implications of change across all parts of the energy system, economy and society.
He spent five years with the Scottish Government providing detailed analysis and advice on a range of energy system challenges including the development of electricity and gas networks, decarbonisation of heat and transport, and the role of carbon capture and storage in reaching net zero.
He worked closely with Ministers to support delivery of Scotland’s stretching greenhouse gas emissions targets and other ambitions for the energy system and he helped develop strong collaborations with regulators and the private sector. He was part of the team who wrote the 2017 Scottish Energy Strategy, the 2019 Vision for Scotland’s gas and electricity networks, and the 2020 update to the Scottish Climate Change Plan.
Prior to that Simon spent ten years with the University of Strathclyde. During this time, he gained a PhD in electrical engineering and worked on some of the key electricity network innovation projects in Scotland included the development of Smart Grids on Shetland and Orkney through the NINES project with Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks, the introduction of Active Network Management in southern Scotland through the Accelerating Renewable Connections (ARC) project with SP Energy Networks, and a detailed study into Scotland’s Security of Electricity Supply.