Hello and welcome to the latest edition of the SEC newsletter.
In this edition you will find out how you can attend our upcoming series of ‘Spotlight on the SEC’ webinars, including ‘Alt HAN Co – Maintaining Progress in 2020’, ‘Validating your Security Assessment in 2020 and Beyond’ and ‘Introduction to the SEC – back to basics’.
Read on to learn about the upcoming vacancies within the Operations Group, modifications, Modcasts and publications. We hope that you enjoy this newsletter.
September 2020 Webinars
Thank you to those who attended the webinar ‘CodeWorks: The SEC at your Fingertips’ on 8 September. Attendees provided excellent feedback, noting that CodeWorks is a great tool to use and offers many benefits including easily finding related document content and understanding Party obligations.
SEC Parties can watch the webinar, including a demonstration of the platform, and view the presentation slides here. All SEC Parties and their colleagues can register to access CodeWorks free of charge here.
SEC Parties are also invited to the following webinars, simply click on the link to register:
- Alt HAN Co – Maintaining Progress in 2020: 17 September at 2:00pm. You will hear an update from the Alternative Home Area Network Company’s Managing Director, Paul Cooper, and learn how Alt HAN Co has maintained progress in 2020 in light of Covid-19.
- Validating your Security Assessment in 2020 and Beyond: 22 September at 2:00pm. Security expert Kwadwo Anim-Appiah will provide you with a useful insight into the Validation Process for Security Assessments. You will learn about the key obligations that often trip up users, and what to look out for in Management Responses to Observations raised.
- Introduction to the SEC – back to basics: 14 October at 2:00pm. Are you new to your role? Has your Party recently acceded to the SEC? This webinar offers you the opportunity to build your knowledge of the SEC and get to grips with the basics, hearing from both SECAS and the DCC.
We will be announcing future webinar dates soon, including ‘Making Smart New Again’ and ‘Operational Metrics Review: What gets Measured gets Managed.’
If you have a question for the presenters, or a topic that you would like to learn about, please contact the SECAS Helpdesk.
OPSG Elections – Call for nominations closes 11 September
There is still a chance for you to have a direct say on industry matters and help steer the future of Smart Energy in the SEC Operations Group (OPSG).
The OPSG meets twice a month and manages the operational matters of the services provided under the SEC, including DCC Services. It plays an important role in enabling close co-operation between the DCC and DCC Users by focusing on cross-industry matters that affect, or have the potential to affect, multiple SEC Parties.
There are five Large Supplier seats, one Small Supplier seat and one Gas Network Seat open for nomination. The call for OPSG nominations closes on 5pm Friday 11 September 2020.
To learn about the duties, powers and functions of the group, please read the Operations Group Terms of Reference v1.2. For more information on the elections process, please view the Operations Group Elections Fact sheet. To nominate yourself, or an individual, please submit your completed Nomination Form for Operations Group Members to the SECAS Helpdesk by 5pm 11 September 2020.
Change Board
Three SEC Modifications are due to be taken to the Change Board meeting on 23 September 2020. At this meeting, the following Modification Proposals will be considered for approval under Self-Governance or approval to the Authority.
- SECMP0007 “Firmware updates to IHDs and PPMIDs” – This modification seeks to address the lack of capability to update firmware Over-The-Air (OTA) for mandated Home Area Network (HAN) Devices via the Data Communications Company’s (DCC’s) infrastructure. The solution is to introduce a combination of two OTA firmware update methods; one for Prepayment Meter Interface Devices (PPMIDs) and another for HAN Connected Auxiliary Load Control Switches (HCALCS).
- MP102A “Power Outage Alerts triggered by an OTA firmware upgrade” – Feedback from SEC Parties has shown that implementing an Over-The-Air (OTA) firmware update on some Electricity Smart Metering Equipment (ESMEs) generates a Power Outage Alert (POA). The solution is to make a change to the Smart Metering Equipment Technical Specifications (SMETS) 2 and Technical Specifications Applicability Table documents for meter Manufacturers to abide by for ESMEs produced after the proposal is implemented.
- MP122 “Operational Metrics” – The Operations Group commissioned the Operational Metrics Review (OMR) to better understand the DCC’s Performance Measurement Report (PMR) measures, to consider amendments and recommend new reporting metrics. The Proposed solution is for the DCC to facilitate the necessary changes to the DCC System to implement and report on the metrics outlined in the MP122 business requirements.
Modcasts are back!
We have resumed our popular Modcasts; where you can listen to the latest updates on SEC Change. New Modcasts will be released regularly, and will be available on the Change Reporting page of our website. You can listen to our latest Modcast here, where we talk through our closing consultations and the Change items being taken to the SEC Panel meeting on 11 September 2020.
Open Industry Consultations Webpage
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.
DCC Publications
The DCC has published the following:
- On 7 September 2020, the DCC stated on LinkedIn that five million SMETS2 meters have been installed on their network.
- SMETS1 Transition and Migration Approach Document for Final Operating Capability – The DCC has issued a document that provides a conclusion on some changes to the SMETS1 Transition and Migration Approach Document (TMAD) for Final Operating Capability (FOC). This consultation closes on 11 September 2020.
- Changes to the SMETS1 SVTAD and ETAD – Consequential changes to the SMETS1 SEC Variation Testing Approach Document, User Testing Services Approach Document, and Enduring Test Approach Document have been proposed. This consultation closes on 15 September 2020.
- Proposed Changes to the Self-Service Interface (SSI) – Recent engagement with the Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and Industry working groups has identified changes required to DCC Systems which have been scheduled for inclusion in the November 2020 release. As part of this release amendments to the SSI have been proposed. This consultation closes on 28 September 2020.
- DCC consultation response to the PKI consultation – The DCC has concluded the consultation and has provided their response.
- SMETS1 DCC Conclusions on changes to the TMAD for Early Firmware Updates – The DCC has concluded this consultation and provided the document to BEIS.
SECAS Helpdesk
Please contact the SECAS Helpdesk with any questions and a member of the team will be happy to help. Helpdesk hours are Monday-Friday 9-5pm (excluding bank holidays).
| Date | Meeting, Event or Deadline |
| 15 September | Smart Metering Key Infrastructure Policy Management Authority Meeting 73 |
| 15 September | Testing Advisory Group Meeting 70X |
| 17 September | Technical Architecture and Business Architecture Sub-Committee Meeting 57X |
| 23 September | Change Board Meeting 46 |
| 23 September | Security Sub-Committee Meeting 109 |
| 28 September | Operations Group Meeting 36x |
| 29 September | Change Sub-Committee 19 |
| 30 September | Testing Advisory Group Meeting 71 |
| 1 October | Technical Architecture and Business Architecture Sub-Committee Meeting 58 |
| 6 October | Operations Group Meeting 37 |
| 7 October | Monthly Working Group meeting – October 2020 |
| 14 October | Security Sub-Committee Meeting 110 |
