MP160 'Certificate Signing Request forecasting'

Smart Energy Code (SEC) Section L ‘Smart Metering Key Infrastructure and DCC Key Infrastructure’ currently sets out the obligation whereby each Party which is an Authorised Subscriber shall provide the DCC each quarter with a forecast of the number of Certificate Signing Requests (CSRs) it expects to send in the following eight months. The forecasts contain a breakdown of the total number of CSRs for Device Certificates, including the issue of a single Device Certificate and ones that are batched together.
The DCC believes that the obligation on Users to provide these forecasts should be removed. There is sufficient capacity within the Smart Metering Key Infrastructure (SMKI) services to no longer require the CSR forecasting process except in the case when exceptional volumes of CSRs are to be sent in a given period by a SEC party.

The Proposed Solution will remove the obligation for Authorised Subscribers to have to provide quarterly eight-month CSR forecasts to the DCC. The DCC has advised there is sufficient capacity within the SMKI services and there is no requirement for the quarterly CSR forecasting process. Instead, the DCC will produce its own forecasts internally. The DCC however, does require DCC Users to notify it where the User expects exceptional demand. ‘Exceptional demand’ is considered when an Authorised Subscriber is aware future requests will be over 150% of (50% above) their average CSRs sent each month. In these instances, the DCC requests that this information be sent in the relevant month by the relevant Authorised Subscriber.