Hello and welcome to the final edition of the SEC Newsletter in 2020, and what a year it has been!
In this edition you will find out how to join the Change Board and keep your Party contacts up-to-date, plus learn about the new Smart Metering Key Infrastructure Policy Management Authority (SMKI PMA) guidance to help ensure your Party remains compliant and more.
Thank you for your engagement throughout the year, and on behalf of SECAS, the SEC Panel and all the Sub-Committees, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
Share your views with your SEC Panel representatives
Attendance at our engagement calls and webinars has been growing steadily since lockdown started, with more of us working remotely and using video calls and webinars to stay connected. It’s great to see so many SEC Parties taking the opportunity to share feedback with your Panel representatives and grow your knowledge of SEC-related matters.
On 9 December 2020, Other SEC Parties joined the call with Ashley Pocock and Terry Jefferson. Agenda items for discussion at the next SEC Panel meeting were discussed, and welcomed the introduction of the monthly engagement call.
On 16 December 2020, Small Suppliers will provide their feedback and hear updates from the DCC, the Alternative Home Area Network Company, the Change Board and their SEC Panel representatives, Karen Lee and Sarah Hayes. The next calls are on:
- Small Suppliers – 16 December 2020 at 15.00.
- Other SEC Parties – 13 January 2021 at 15.00.
If you don’t yet have the invitation in your calendar, please contact the SECAS Helpdesk.
Change Board nominations open – help shape the future of Smart Energy!
Would you like to have a direct say on industry matters and steer the future of Smart Energy? You can play an integral role in doing just that, by joining the SEC Change Board. Nominations are open until 18 December 2020 for the seats of several Members whose terms conclude in January 2021.
The Change Board decides whether to approve or reject Modification Proposals and has a positive impact in shaping the SEC. There are currently vacancies for Large Suppliers, Small Suppliers, Electricity and Gas Network Parties, Other SEC Parties and a Consumer Member.
If you would like to nominate an individual or yourself, please submit your completed nominations form to the SEC Change team by 18 December 2020.
Are your SEC Party details up to date?
SEC Parties are obligated keep their Party details up to date. To check your SEC Party name and the registered company details held by SECAS, please see the SEC Party Details List.
If your SEC Party name has changed, a previous named contact has moved on, or if you would like to be added to our email distribution lists, simply complete our Change in Party Details webform. If you have any questions, please contact the SECAS Helpdesk.
Would you like to join the SECAS Team?
We are currently recruiting for the following positions to join the SECAS team:
- Senior Operations Analyst – Do you have strong stakeholder management, organisational and analytical skills? Would you like an opportunity to work in a dedicated team whose responsibility is to assure the security of Smart Meter Devices? Click here for more information about this role.
- Smart Energy Consultant – Do you have a sound understanding of the Smart Metering infrastructure? Do you also have the skills, knowledge and technical confidence to work with industry stakeholders and SEC Sub-Committees? Click here for more information about this role.
- Operational Process Lead – Do you have strong relationship management and written skills, the flexibility to manage changing and competing priorities, and a keen eye for detail? Click here for more information about this role.
Please visit the recruitment page here for more information.
New Security Guidance Published
SEC Parties can view new guidance which replaces the discontinued National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) Good Practice Guides (GPGs) relating to security, Smart Metering Key Infrastructure (SMKI) Policy Management Authority (PMA) and DCC Key Infrastructure (DCCKI).
The NCSC GPGs were standards referenced throughout the SEC, aiming to ensure that the DCC and Users could abide by relevant and essential guidelines. This would help maintain the integrity of Smart Metering security and SMKI and DCCKI operations.
The new guidance, found here, has been developed to ensure there is no material change between the discontinued NCSC GPGs and the SMKI PMA and Security Sub-Committee (SSC) proposed guidance. Please contact the Security Team with any questions.
Outcome of Ofgem’s Supplier Licencing Review
SEC Parties may be interested to read the outcome of Ofgem’s Supplier Licensing Review here. It introduces several measures aimed to improve the financial resilience and customer service of Suppliers. It also includes its decision on Customer Supply Continuity Plans (CSCPs) which is needed to make sure that the Supplier of Last Resort (SoLR) process works.
Change items for SEC Panel decision
At the SEC Panel meeting on 11 December 2020, the following Draft Proposal will be considered for conversion to a Modification Proposal, and the Modification Proposals will be taken for decision to proceed to the Report Phase. If you have any questions or comments, please contact the Change Team.
MP92 ‘New Planned Maintenance methodology’
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In February 2019, the DCC noted to the SEC Panel that the method for delivering Planned Maintenance releases was sub-optimum. The Panel agreed to a derogation of existing SEC conditions to allow the DCC to trial a new approach. The results of the trial were presented to the Operations Group (OPSG) in November 2019 where it agreed the changes were an improvement. From February 2020, the SEC Panel subsequently granted an extension of the derogation for the Planned Maintenance trial to allow for the changes to be made to the SEC.
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MP106 ‘CHISM update for Unknown WAN Variant’
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When a User sends Service Request 12.1 ‘Request WAN Matrix’ to receive Smart Metering Wide Area Network (SM WAN) Coverage, in most cases they will receive an Availability Date and WAN Variant. However, in some cases, the Communications Service Provider (CSP) for the South and Central regions, Telefonica, may respond to a SM WAN Coverage request with an Availability Date for coverage, but unable to confirm the WAN Variant that needs to be used. This results in “ “ (space) returning as a WAN variant, which may cause confusion. A change in the wording has been requested. |
MP139 ‘MVP and IVP dates for CHTS’
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There are three issues present: 1. Where Communication Hub (CH) stock compliant to Communications Hub Technical Specifications (CHTS) v1.0 and Great Britain Companion Specification (GBCS) v1.0 and GBCS v1.1 is being held in volume and unlikely to be installed before the Installation Validity Period end date 31 January 2021.
2. The requirement to upgrade or replace installed CHTS v1.1 / GBCS v2.0 CHs to CHTS v1.1 / GBCS v2.1 CHs by 28 February 2021, the GBCS v2.0 Applicability Period End Date.
3. The need to upgrade / replace installed CHTS v1.1 / GBCS v2.1 CHs (to CHTS v1.3 / GBCS v3.2 CHs) by 31 May 2021, the CHTS v1.1 Maintenance Validity Period End Date.
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DP144 ‘Charging of Random Sample Privacy Assessments’
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A Random Sample Privacy Assessment is an assessment carried out by an Independent Privacy Auditor (IPA) to identify the extent to which an “Other User” is compliant with each of its obligations. Any costs which are incurred in the completion of Random Sample Privacy Assessments are then socialised across all Users. This results in the industry as a whole paying for assessments which only Other Users undertake. |
Modcasts
You can listen to our latest 5 minute Modcast here where we talk through the November 2020 SEC Release, covering the changes made and where you can find further information. New Modcasts are released regularly on the Change Reporting webpage.
Industry Consultations
Please visit our Open Industry Consultations webpage for details of consultations that may be of interest to SEC Parties. If you are aware of a consultation that should be added, please contact the SECAS Helpdesk.
SEC Parties can also view the Transitional Governance Update (TGU) paper designed to provide the SEC Panel and SEC Parties with a plain English summary of the activities occurring in the Smart Metering Implementation Programme (SMIP). The update covers a high-level overview of industry publications and Transitional Work Groups meetings attended by the SECAS and on behalf of the Panel Chair in the last month.
SEC Parties can access the paper in the folder here (you must be logged into the SEC website to download). If you have any comments, or feedback please contact the SECAS Helpdesk.
Date | Meeting, Event or Deadline |
11 December | SEC Panel Meeting 87 |
15 December | Smart Metering Key Infrastructure Policy Management Authority Meeting 76 |
18 December | Change Board Meeting 49 |
5 January | Operations Group Meeting 40 |
7 January | Technical Architecture and Business Architecture Sub-Committee Meeting 61 |
13 January | Security Sub-Committee Meeting 115 |
15 January | SEC Panel Meeting 88 |
19 January | Smart Metering Key Infrastructure Policy Management Authority Meeting 77 |
20 January | Change Board Meeting 50 |
25 January | Operations Group Meeting 41 |
27 January | Testing Advisory Group Meeting 75 |
27 January | Security Sub-Committee Meeting 116 |