SEC Newsletter 15 May 2020

Hello and welcome to the latest edition of the SECAS newsletter.

Read on to find out how we plan to keep you informed during the current Covid-19 situation, how consumers are being put at the heart of modification assessments, join our monthly Small Supplier Engagement call, and more!

Help shape our Engagement Events Programme

Following your feedback, we are expanding our engagement events programme to include a series of short webinars to help SEC Parties build their knowledge of the SEC and stay informed.

You are invited to share your thoughts to help shape a programme that meets your requirements. What questions do you have about the SEC? Is there an issue you are struggling with? What aspects of Smart Metering would you, or your colleagues, like to learn about? We also welcome your input about SECAS could further support SEC Parties with maintaining business as usual during this time.

Please submit your questions or feedback to the SECAS Helpdesk.

 

Join our monthly Small Supplier Engagement Call

All Small Suppliers are encouraged to join our monthly SEC Panel engagement call, to raise your questions, share views, and hear key updates from your SEC Panel representatives, the DCC, Smart Meter Device Assurance (SMDA) and Alt HAN Co.

Our next call takes place on 20 May at 3pm. If you don’t yet have the invitation in your calendar, please contact the SECAS Helpdesk.

 

Access the updated Network Operator Trust Anchor Cells Document

SEC Parties can now log in to view the Population of Network Operator Trust Anchor Cells document issue 1.4 which has been updated by the Energy Networks Association (ENA) to include credentials for two additional Energy Network Operators. The document allows SEC Parties to view the Distribution Network Operator (DNO) and Independent DNO credentials which Suppliers require to enrol their new electricity Smart Meters with the DCC.

If you have any questions about the document, please contact the SECAS Helpdesk.

 

Putting the consumer at the heart of modifications

Modifications to the SEC impact SEC Parties, the DCC and ultimately, consumers. We have recognised a long-standing need for greater consumer influence at the heart of energy governance and have been working with a Consumer Advocate to implement a consumer-centric approach. We have enhanced our assessment of SEC modifications to better understand how consumers are impacted by SEC modifications. Please click here to find out more.

Please contact the Change Team with any questions.

 

New Draft Proposals

The following Draft Proposals are new problems or issues recently raised that the Proposers believe need to be addressed.

Draft Proposal Issue Highlighted
DP124 ‘Consequential changes to DUIS for SMETS1 Alerts’

 

A consequential change is required in SEC Appendix AD ‘DCC User Interface Specification’ (DUIS) to ensure that the solution to SECMP0062 will include notification headers for SMETS1 Alerts.

 

DP125 ‘Correcting the ESME variant’ A gaining Supplier is unable to update the ‘ESME (Electricity Smart Metering Equipment) Variant’ field of a commissioned ESME as Service Request 12.2 was executed incorrectly by the previous installing Supplier.

 

DP126 ‘Smart Meter consumer data access and control’ When other DCC Users access consumers’ energy data, there may be privacy or security issues where the energy data is incorrectly logged or processed. Key instances of these issues could lead to data breaches or consent issues.

 

DP127 ‘SMKI RAPP Security Screening clarification’ The obligation that Authorised Responsible Officers should be subject to security screening to British Standard 7858:2019 or equivalent, is not made explicit in the Appendix D ‘Smart Metering Key Infrastructure Registration Authority Policies and Procedures’ (SMKI RAPP).

 

DP128 ‘Gas Network Operators SMKI Requirements’ Gas Network Operators are required to undertake the Smart Metering Key Infrastructure (SMKI) & Repository Entry Process Tests (SREPT). The Proposer considers this requirement provides no benefit to Gas Network Parties as they don’t receive Alerts, and could result in them incurring unnecessary costs.

 

DP129 ‘Allowing the use of CNSA variant for ECDSA’ The Smart Metering Key Infrastructure Policy Management Authority (SMKI PMA) agrees with the Data Service Providers, that the one of the Sections in the Great Britain Companion Specification wording lacks clarity and needs to be updated to permit the use of Commercial National Security Algorithm (CNSA) by Remote Parties.

Modification Consultations

The Change Team welcomes your comments on the following joint SEC and Smart Metering Device Assurance (SMDA) consultation by 22 May 2020:

  • DP111 ‘SMDA Budget Amendments’ seeks to understand the Smart Metering Device Assurance (SMDA) Scheme’s value within industry and which funding model the industry prefers, and whether the fixed costs may be funded through the SEC.

 

The following three SEC Modifications are out for Refinement Consultation. Please provide your comments to the Change Team by 1 June 2020:

  • MP102A ‘Power Outage Alerts triggered by an OTA firmware upgrade’ – Looks at amending the Technical Specifications so that under no circumstances will an Over The Air firmware upgrade result in a Power Outage Alert being sent to a Network Operator.
  • MP103 ‘DCC SOC2 Assessments’ – Current Systems Organisation Controls 2 (SOC2) is an annual assessment for operational safety of the DCC and its systems. SOC2 has proved difficult to align with the SEC security obligations and therefore changes to SEC Section G would enable the DCC to make necessary changes to replace SOC2 assessment.
  • MP118 ‘Communications Hub Finance Charges’ – The DCC provides two invoices each month for SEC Parties which can make tracking payments difficult. The DCC is implementing its next phase of financing of Communication Hubs, and as the number of monthly financing payments increase, this system will become untenable.

 

June 2020 SEC Release successfully implemented

The June 2020 SEC Release was successfully implemented on 6 May, implementing three Modification Proposals into the SEC. A BEIS designation in support of the DCC’s SMETS1 Core 1.1 Uplift was also made alongside the release. Please click here for details. 

 

Open Industry Consultations Webpage

You can now view consultations that may be of interest to SEC Parties on our new Open Industry Consultations Webpage. The purpose is to provides an overview of key consultations across the industry.
If you are aware of a consultation to be added, please email the details to the SECAS Helpdesk.

 

DCC Publications

The DCC has published the following:

 

 

 

 

BEIS Publications

BEIS has published the following:

  • Reforming Regulation Initiative – BEIS invites businesses to complete a survey to identify areas of UK regulation for improvement, to ensure regulation is proportionate. The survey closes on 11 June 2020.

 

Ofgem Publications

Ofgem has published the following:

Consultation on the DCC Operational Performance Regime (and associated Licence Modification) – Ofgem is consulting on a revised Operational Performance Review (OPR) framework. This includes proposals for incentivising the DCC’s system performance under four new outcome-based measures. This consultation closes on 12 June 2020.

 

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  
19 May  Smart Metering Key Infrastructure Policy Management Authority Meeting 69 
22 May  Operations Group Meeting 32x 
26 May  Change Sub-Committee 15 
27 May  Change Board Meeting 42 
27 May  Security Sub-Committee Meeting 101 
27 May  Testing Advisory Group Meeting 67 
2 June  Operations Group Meeting 33 
3 June  Monthly Working Group meeting – June 2020 
4 June  Technical Architecture and Business Architecture Sub-Committee Meeting 54 
10 June  Testing Advisory Group Meeting 67X 
12 June  Operations Group Meeting 33x 
16 June  Smart Metering Key Infrastructure Policy Management Authority Meeting 70 
19 June  SEC Panel Meeting 81