Hello,
It’s been a busy financial year for SECAS and a lot of transformation has taken place within our Change Management team.
We recently launched the SEC Modcasts which summarise the recent developments of modifications in the last week, and we’re pleased to say that the feedback received has been very positive. If you haven’t already, you can listen here.
We also introduced the new Development Stage of the Modifications Process which will be supported by the newly established Change Sub-Committee to assess modification problem statements and ensure they are fit for purpose. This newsletter contains details of the first two Draft Proposals that have been raised – we welcome your comments on the issues raised and whether, or how, they impact you.
Look out for the SECCo End of Regulatory Report which will be published in May and many more exciting developments to come!
Before you read on, please note a date for your diary – Thursday 11 July. Look out for an invitation to our Engagement day where you will have the chance to meet with the SEC Panel members, and ask any questions you may have, before the formal general meeting. More information to come…
And that just leaves us to say, Happy Easter!
Call for Nominations for Large Supplier Member of TABASC by 2 May
There is currently a vacancy on the Technical Architecture and Business Architecture Sub-Committee (TABASC) for a Large Supplier Member. If you are interested, more information about the role and nomination process is available here. Nominations must be received by secas@gemserv.com by 2 May.
Certified / Central Products List (CPL) Quality Data
Are you involved in CPL Submissions? If your answer is yes, please read the Latest News where we are urging SEC Parties and any other persons who are submitting CPL – New Entry Forms, to provide quality data when requesting to add a new Device Model to the CPL.
SMETS1 Services Release Business Architecture Document (BAD) & Technical Architecture Document (TAD) issued for Industry Review
If you are interested in reviewing the BAD and TAD, please visit the Latest News for a summary of changes made to each document and a feedback form to provide any comments.
Please submit your comments to SECAS@gemserv.com by 20 May.
SEC Modcasts
We hope that you are enjoying our SEC Modcasts that we issue each Friday! The aim is to provide you with a snapshot of the key activities taking place regarding SEC modifications, and what you should look out for in the next week or so. Previous episodes are still available to listen to here, in case you missed out.
Due to the Easter break, this week’s episode has been published today. We announce the agenda for the next monthly Working Group meeting, preview next week’s Change Sub-Committee and Change Board meetings, look at the next steps for upcoming SEC Releases, and more – click here to listen.
If you have any questions, comments or feedback on our Modcasts, please email sec.change@gemserv.com.
Two new Draft Proposals raised
As part of our ongoing improvements, we have started using the new Development Stage of the process. The first step is for a SEC Party to email their issue to sec.change@gemserv.com. We will then investigate the root cause and impacts, which will be used to help draft a problem statement for comment.
Since the last newsletter, we have raised two new Draft Proposals:
- DP071 ‘Second-Comer Charging’ highlights an area of inefficiency in the SEC around rebates for subsequent users of specific services. However, the practicalities of High Volume and Low Volume Gateway connections mean that sharing is not possible. The DCC are required to assess and gain agreement for these costs, leading to delays and inefficiencies in the onboarding service.
- DP072 ‘Change of Supplier process’ has been raised to look at failures in this process whereby the losing Supplier may still receive information about customer reads and alerts relating to this.
Please contact us with your views on any of the issues raised in the open Draft Proposals, including whether, or how, they are affecting you. Any comments provided at this early stage help to ensure we fully understand the scale of the issue, and what the case for change is, before we spend time investigating solutions. Please email your comments to sec.change@gemserv.com or call our Lead Analyst for the proposal.
Next monthly Working Group meeting – Wednesday 1 May
At our next monthly Working Group meeting we are planning to discuss the following modifications:
- SECMP0007 ‘Firmware updates to IHDs and PPMIDs’
- SECMP0024 ‘Enduring Approach to Communication Hub Firmware Management’
- SECMP0053 ‘Amend Target Response Times for Service Requests Critical to Installation and Commissioning Processes’
- SECMP0056 ‘IHD/PPMID Zigbee Attributes Available on the HAN’
Please email sec.change@gemserv.com if you would like to attend. You can find further details here.
Ofgem Supplier Licencing Review
As part of its ongoing Supplier Licencing Review, Ofgem has issued a consultation on new Regulations and application process for licences. The process for all licensable activities is covered whereby all applicants will need to provide greater information. The consultation closes on 13 May.
Ofgem Consultation on the DCC’s baseline margins
Ofgem has published a statutory consultation on the DCCs calculation of baseline margins under the DCC licence. You can view the consultation here. The consultation closes on 26 April.
DCC Consultation on Draft Business Development Plan to 2024
The DCC is seeking views on its draft 5-year Business Development Plan. It identifies the following priorities:
- Supporting the successful smart meter roll-out across Great Britain, while providing a positive experience and maintaining and improving the DCC’s secure data network;
- Enabling the intelligent transformation of the energy system;
- Delivering change and enabling innovation in a way that’s flexible, straightforward and cost-effective – and exploring opportunities to re-use the platform to reduce costs to existing customers; and
- Providing transparency and improving how we engage with customers and stakeholders
You can see the consultation on the DCC website. The consultation closes on 10 May and comments should be sent to consultations@smartdcc.co.uk or submitted online.
DCC’s consultation on some minor amendments to the Common Test Scenario Document (CTSD)
The DCC has published a response to the consultation together with updated versions of Section R of the SEC covering Common Test Scenarios.
- DCC Conclusions CTSD Alerts
- SEC Appendix R – Common Test Scenarios Document v1.5_DCC
- SEC Appendix R – Common Test Scenarios Document v1.5_DCC – showing changes.
| Date | Meeting, Event or Deadline |
| 18 April | Closing date for Gemserv Consultation on Electric Vehicles |
| 24 April | Change Board Meeting 29 |
| 24 April | Technical Advisory Group Meeting 54 |
| 24 April | Security Sub-Committee Meeting 76 |
| 26 April | Closing date for Ofgem consultation on the DCC’s baseline margins |
| 1 May | Change Monthly Working Group |
| 2 May | Deadline for Technical Architecture and Business Architecture Large Supplier Nominations |
| 6 May | Modifications Question Hour |
| 7 May | Operations Group Meeting 20 |
| 8 May | Security Sub-Committee Meeting 77 |
| 10 May | SEC Panel Meeting 68 |
| 10 May | Closing date for DCC consultation on Draft Business Development Plan |
| 16 May | Technical Architecture and Business Architecture Sub-Committee Meeting 42 |
| 11 July | SEC Engagement Day |
