MP085B Synchronisation of Smart Meter voltage measurement periods (meters currently installed)
Proposer
Alan Creighton (Northern Powergrid)
Lead Analyst
Ben Giblin
Date raised
12/09/2019
Stage
Refinement Process
Implementation date
Targeted for November 2024 SEC Release
Latest update
SECAS is working with the Proposer and SEC Parties to determine the number of ESMEs impacted by this modification. SECAS will present this modification to the TABASC and Working Group in June 2024 before returning to the Change Sub-Committee.
What is the issue?
The expectation of Electricity Network Parties during the development of the smart meter technical specification was that the average RMS voltage readings from smart meters would be measured across a consistent period. For example with the default being for an average to be made across a 30 minute period starting on the hour and again on the half hour. This is not an explicit requirement codified in Smart Metering Equipment Technical Specifications (SMETS) or Great Britain Companion Specification (GBCS).
Without voltage measurements being made in a consistent way, Electricity Network Parties must either:
i) make conservative, less efficient analysis assumptions to account for the lack of data alignment, or
ii) recreate synchronised data by downloading high granularity (for example minute resolution) data and calculating the required data.
Investigations during the Refinement Process found the issue affecting existing installed meters more complex than initially envisaged. This could result in a lengthy lead time for implementation where meter Manufacturers could potentially still produce Devices that do not commence average RMS voltage readings on the hour. Therefore, it has been agreed that there should be two separate solutions to address the issue;
• MP085A – a Technical Specifications document change for meter Manufacturers to ensure newly manufactured Devices commence average RMS Voltage Measurement Period readings on the hour or half past the hour (whichever occurs first); and
• MP085B (this modification) – a solution for meters that are currently installed.
What is the solution?
The Proposed Solution is to populate the Maintenance Validity Period (MVP) end dates for pre-ESMETS v5.2 version within the TS Applicability Tables (TSAT). This will mean that pre-ESMETS v5.2 Devices can still be installed as the Installation Validity Period (IVP) will remain undetermined. This will reduce scrappage costs as Suppliers and or their contracted meter installers are likely to have existing stock that is yet to be installed. Once the MVP end date expires, the ESME will have to be updated to ESMETS v5.2 or later.
The Proposed Solution will result in ESME Devices gaining additional functionality compared to their current ESMETS version.
The proposed end date is 2 November 2028 to allow Manufacturers enough time to design and produce ESMETS v5.2 firmware updates and for Suppliers to roll them out across their Devices.
Who is impacted?
Electricity Network Parties
Suppliers
Meter Manufacturers
This is the May 2024 SEC Modifications Working Group meeting, where we will be discussing: MP235 'Enhanced Meter Data Access for Other Users' Please see the meeting documentation here:
This meeting will be held online only. The meeting agenda will be available 5 Working Days before the meeting. If you have any questions, please call us on 020 7090
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