BEIS Consultation on the DCC’s provision of an enrolment service for EDMI SMETS1 meters; changes to DCC, Electricity and Gas Supply Licence Conditions; and changes to the SEC, BSC and UNC

6 April 2020

On 6 April 2020, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) issued a consultation on whether the Data Communications Company (DCC) should be required to provide an enrolment service for first generation (SMETS1) EDMI smart meters, as well as a number of matters that require amendments to the standard conditions of gas and electricity supply licences, the DCC licence and the Smart Energy Code (SEC), the Balancing and Settlement Code (BSC) and the Uniform Network Code (UNC).

The consultation letter and accompanying annexes can be found here.

 

Why is BEIS consulting?

This consultation seeks stakeholders’ views on whether the DCC should be required to provide an enrolment service for first generation (SMETS1) EDMI smart meters.

It also proposes regulatory amendments on five separate topics related to the implementation of the Smart Metering Implementation Programme. These changes relate to the electricity and gas supply licences, the DCC licence, the SEC, the BSC and the UNC. The five areas of regulatory change proposed are to:

  • amend SEC security obligations on the DCC in relation to Telefonica as a SMETS1 Communications Service Provider (CSP).
  • change the electricity and gas supply licences, DCC licence and the SEC to support standalone auxiliary proportional controllers (SAPCs) (and associated changes relating to sub-meters) within the smart metering arrangements.
  • change the SEC, the BSC, and the UNC (and the Independent Gas Transporters Uniform Network Code (IGT UNC)) to support the inclusion of registration data identifiers with XML signing certificates.
  • change the way that Explicit Charges for Alternative Home Area Network (Alt HAN) Equipment are set out in the SEC to ensure that the charging arrangements are consistent with stated BEIS policy.
  • make a minor correction to SEC Section L3.18(b).

 

Subject to consideration of consultation responses and completion of the appropriate parliamentary process, the changes to licence and code provisions will be introduced using the Secretary of State’s Section 88 Energy Act 2008 powers.

 

How can I respond to this consultation?

Please send your responses or any enquiries to smartmetering@beis.gov.uk.

The deadline for responses to this consultation is 5pm on Monday 11 May 2020