MP096 'DNO Power Outage Alerts'

DNOs have systems in place to ensure that in the event of a power outage, where possible, power is automatically restored within three minutes. In the case of a power outage lasting more than three minutes, the DCC is obliged under the Smart Energy Code (SEC) to provide Power Outage Alerts (POAs) to Industry, including DNOs, within 60 seconds after the initial three minutes of the outage. Once power has been restored, a Power Restoration Alert (PRA) is sent to the DNO via the DCC Data Service Provider (DSP). This must also be sent within 60 seconds.

POAs and PRAs are key enablers for DNOs to deliver the benefits of the Smart Metering Implementation Programme.
The DCC is currently unable to meet this SEC obligation. A SEC transitional variation was approved by the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) to compensate for the difference for what is stated in the SEC and the DCC’s current capability. This exception expired on 31 October 2018 and BEIS cannot offer an extension.

While the DCC fundamental Service Providers (including Communication Service Providers (CSPs) and the DSP) are compliant with the POA and PRA performance requirements specified in their contracts, the DCC does not currently meet the performance specified in the SEC.

The DCC has proposed a solution where it will carry out testing to demonstrate current baseline performance. The DCC will measure the performance over an extended period, compared to the measurement taken at a specific point in time during the Technical Study. The SEC would then be amended to match this minimum baseline performance for speed of Alerts and success rate for POAs and PRAs. The performance captured in the SEC will be the overarching performance that encompasses the North, Central and South regions. Subsequent changes would be made to align DCC Service Provider contracts with the changes made to the SEC.