Hello and welcome to our latest SEC newsletter.
Read on to learn how you can enter our first competition by simply registering for CodeWorks! You will also find out about several upcoming events, including our Introduction to the SEC, news about SEC releases and Modification Proposals, and a range of publications.
We invite you to our Introduction to the SEC event
Are you new to Smart Metering or have colleagues who are? If so, you will find our Introduction to the Smart Energy Code event very useful to get to grips with the basics of the SEC. Take a look at the draft agenda to see which stakeholders you will hear from and the topics that will be covered.
The event takes place on 10 March 2020 at the Gemserv offices. Places are limited to two per SEC Party. Reserve your place by emailing the SECAS Helpdesk by close on Friday 28 February 2020. Please include attendee name(s), email address(es) and any dietary requirements. We look forward to seeing you there!
Register for CodeWorks – win an Echo Dot!
SEC Parties are invited to register for CodeWorks by 6 March, to be entered into a prize draw where one lucky winner will win an Echo Dot, or an equivalent cash donation to a nominated charity of your choice.
We want to make your compliance and regulatory lives simpler, and we believe that CodeWorks holds the answer. If you haven’t already registered for CodeWorks, click here to discover the functionality it offers, and enter the prize draw. Good luck!
Updated Security Controls Framework
We have published version 1.20 of the Security Controls Framework. The main changes are:
- making clearer the options for satisfying the SEC G4.2(b) obligation when User Personnel have access to Customer Relationship Management systems, and
- Removal of G10.4 and G10.8 from the scope of the User CIO assessments for Shared Resource Providers.
You can find the clean and tracked versions on our website here.
Your chance to engage with the United Kingdom Revenue Protection Association (UKRPA)
The UKRPA has two events that SEC Parties may be interested in attending:
- UKRPA Seminar on Compliance and Assurance on 11 March 2020 in London. You will find out how Revenue Protection Units can meet quality management standards and achieve excellence.
- The National Revenue Protection Conference 2020 on 24 – 25 June 2020 in Northampton. You will have a fantastic opportunity to network and discuss a wide range of exciting topics relevant to Revenue Protection, presented by key industry stakeholders.
Simply email UKRPA to secure your place.
Operational Metrics Review Update
Thank you to all those who have contributed to the Operational Metrics Review so far. Your input has been very useful and helped us focus on improving the metrics that are important to Users and their businesses. Having reviewed the DCC Operational Metrics, that are issued monthly to all SEC Parties, we are now updating the report to be reviewed by the Operations Group.
Following their feedback we will revise the report and share the final draft with all SEC Parties on 6 March inviting your review and feedback.
SEC Parties are invited to join a teleconference on 5 March at 10am, where SECAS will give an overview of the report and you will have an opportunity to ask questions. Please click here for further information.
New SEC Versions
There have been two designations of the SEC since our last newsletter:
- SEC v6.24 on 31 January 2020, which incorporated minor amendments made by SECMP0069 ‘EU Exit Changes’; and
- SEC v6.25 on 6 February 2020 which implemented changes which were designated by the Data Communications Company (DCC) to facilitate further SMETS1 testing.
February 2020 SEC Release
Three approved Modification Proposals will be implemented in the February SEC Release, which goes live on 27 February 2020. For more details please see the February 2020 SEC Release webpage.
Changing Version Control numbering in the SEC
Each SEC Section and Subsidiary Document will have their own individual version numbers as part of the SEC Release on 27 February 2020. This means that a new version number will only be given to the parts of the SEC affected by a particular release. This will allow better identification and management of the documents that have gone through change.
Click here for more details.
New Draft Proposals
The following Draft Proposals are new issues recently raised that the Proposers believe need to be addressed. Please contact our Change Management team with any feedback.
Draft Proposal | Issue highlighted |
DP112 ‘Setting the Privacy Assessment Assurance Status’ | This proposes to change the titles of some assurance statuses to make them clearer.
|
DDP113 ‘Unintended Disclosure when using SR8.2’ | Service Request 8.2 may return personal data, which would be a breach of GDPR.
|
DP114 ‘Alt HAN P2P Charging Data’ | There are nine data items that the Alternative Home Area Network Company (Alt HAN Co) is obligated to submit to the DCC to help determine the value of charges. The DCC is not currently able to accurately complete the calculation for one of the main charges.
|
DP115 ‘Changes to the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) Good Practice Guides’ | A review of the Smart Metering Key Infrastructure (SMKI) Document Set has found that it contains several references to Good Practice Guides (GPGs) that have been discontinued and will not be replaced. The Smart Metering Key Infrastructure Policy Management Authority (SMKI PMA) wish to align the SEC with these changes. |
BEIS publications
BEIS has published a Consultation Response on Technical Specification changes to support proportional load control functionality. The original consultation sought views on changes to the Great Britain Companion Specification (GBCS) and the Communications Hub Technical Specifications (CHTS). BEIS has decided to go ahead with the proposal. See the consultation response letter and associated annexes here.
Ofgem publications
Ofgem has published several reports and updates including:
- Ofgem’s Decarbonisation Action Plan which sets out what Ofgem will do to contribute to help achieve the UK Net Zero target;
- An Update and response to the Consultation on Reviewing Smart Metering Costs in the Default Tariff Cap – a statutory consultation will be issued in mid-May and a confirmed methodology will be in place for tariff cap period five (1 October 2020 to 31 March 2021);
- An Update on timing and next steps on the Supplier Licence Review. Ofgem will go ahead with most of the original plans but will phase in cost mutualisation proposals; and
- Details of the Default Tariff Cap for the period 1 April to 30 September 2020.
Finally, a reminder that that the Ofgem Forward Work Programme 2020-22 consultation issued in December closes on 21 February 2020.
DCC publications
The DCC has published its Conclusions on the Further Testing Consultation. It has made changes to the SMETS1 SEC Variation Testing Approach Document (SVTAD) and Migration testing Approach Document (MTAD) for SMETS1, which have been designated in Version 6.25 of the SEC.
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).