SEC Newsletter 18 February 2021

Hello and welcome to this edition of the SEC Newsletter.

Read on to learn about how SEC Parties can join our upcoming Introduction to the SEC ‘back to basics’ webinar, find out about the new functionality on CodeWorks, and how you can provide your feedback about SECAS services so that we can further listen, learn and improve. You can also find out about new Draft Proposals and SEC consultations, Modcasts, and more. We hope that you enjoy this newsletter.

 

Join our upcoming webinar: Introduction to the SEC – ‘back to basics’

SEC Parties are invited to join our upcoming webinar on 11 March 2021 from 11am – 1pm. Are you new to your role? Has your SEC 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, with speakers from SECAS, the DCC, BEIS and Ofgem.

If you would like to attend, please use either Google Chrome or Firefox and register here. If you have any questions, please contact the SECAS Helpdesk.

 

Helping Suppliers comply with SEC Section G3.20

In September 2020, the Security Sub-Committee (SSC) sought an agreement for all Manufacturers to notify the SSC of any material security vulnerabilities found on SMETS2+ and Enrolled SMETS1 Devices. This was to assist Small and Large Suppliers to comply with SEC Section G3.20.

SECAS is happy to announce that all Device Manufacturers have joined the agreement. For further information, please click here.

 

New CodeWorks Functionality

CodeWorks Users can now download redlined copies of changes that have been made to the SEC, following feedback from users. Any two versions of a SEC document can be compared, for example the most recent version with the oldest version, or any in between.

The new functionality is simple to use, and you can watch a short video here to help get you started.

 

If you don’t yet have access to CodeWorks, simply register by filling out the short form here. If you have any further suggestions for how we can improve the platform, please contact the SECAS Helpdesk.

 

Help SECAS Listen, Learn and Improve

Due to constraints on Parties at this time, SECAS has decided not to issue the annual Customer Satisfaction Survey. However, Parties are invited to provide any feedback, comments or raise concerns or issues about your experience with SECAS services, by contacting the SECAS Helpdesk.

Your comments and thoughts about your experience with the services that SECAS provides will help us to further listen, learn and improve.

 

Draft Proposals

There have been three new Draft Proposals raised since the last Newsletter.

 

 

DP151 ‘Amending Payment Terms for User CIO Invoices

 

 

SEC Parties must undertake a User Security Assessment to use DCC systems, which is conducted by the User Competent Independent Organisation (CIO). When completed, the DDC invoices the respective SEC Parties, giving five Working Days to pay. The invoice can range between £5,000 – £45,000 which is a significant amount for smaller SEC Parties. This Draft Proposal is seeking longer payment terms.

 

 

DP ‘152 Consumption on Smart Polyphase Electricity Meters

 

 

Polyphase meters are electrical meters used for measuring 3 phases of electricity supply. They are sometimes used in scenarios where each phase is used for a specific purpose e.g. for heating and/or Electric Vehicle charging.

Currently smart polyphase meters only provide consumption data as a combined value across the three phases. These current arrangements severely limit the opportunity to provide support to consumers around their energy efficiency choices, by providing the consumption figures at a more granular level.

 

 

DP153 ‘Follow up changes for Communications Hub Finance Charges’

 

 

MP118 ‘Communications Hub Finance Charges’ was implemented as part of the November 2020 SEC release. This modification aimed to amend the invoicing arrangements as the DCC commenced the next phase of Communications Hub financing.

 

The scope of MP118 proposed to change the drafting of SEC Sections J1.2(a) J1.2(b) and J1.7 so that the DCC is no longer obliged to bill Communications Hub Finance Charges under separate invoices. The changes required to Section J1.2(b) to facilitate the Proposed Solution were erroneously omitted from the legal drafting of MP118 during the Refinement Process.

 

Recently Published SEC Consultations

Three Modification Proposals were sent out for Modification Report Consultation on Monday 15 February 2021. This is your chance to advise whether you agree with the Modification Proposal and its Proposed Solution before it is voted on at the Change Board. To submit a response, please download the consultation from the Modification Proposal webpages and send your completed response form to the Change Team. These consultations will close on Friday 5 March 2021.

 

 

 

MP105 ‘Sending SR11.2 to Devices in Suspended State’

 

 

 

 

 

 

When firmware is successfully activated on a Device, sometimes the corresponding Service Request 11.3 ‘Activate Firmware’ does not generate a response to the Data Services Provider (DSP). Consequently, the new firmware version is not updated in the Smart Metering Inventory (SMI) and the Device remains in a ‘Suspended’ state, even though the new firmware has been successfully activated. This means the Device is not fully operational. Currently, the DSP only updates the firmware version in the SMI if the response is ‘success’.

 

 

MP148 ‘IVP Extension for pre-SMETS2 v4.2 Devices’

 

 

 

 

 

In 2020, the UK government issued social distancing guidance to reduce the transmission of COVID-19, meaning only essential meter installations took place. If the existing Installation Validity Period (IVP) end-date of 27 April 2021 remains, and the reduced speed of installations continues to take place, then thousands of Devices will be wasted. To address this, the IVP end dates laid out in the ‘Technical Specification Applicability Tables’ (TSAT) are to be changed for pre-SMETS2 v4.2 Devices.

 

 

MP150 ‘Removing Table 28c from the GBCS’

 

Great Britain Companion Specification (GBCS) Table 28c ‘Wide Area Network (WAN) Alert and Power Event Log settings to be configured prior to installation of Devices’ is a duplicate of information that exists in the GBCS under Table 16.2 ‘Event and Alert Codes’. This could lead to maintenance issues in future.

 

Modcasts

You are invited to listen to our Modcasts to hear about the latest updates in SEC Change. You can listen to our latest Modcast here, where we talk through the SEC Panel outcomes and planned Change Board items this month, the recently issued consultations above, and the items going to the Change Sub-Committee next week. New Modcasts are released monthly on the Change Reporting webpage.

 

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.

 

For other publications that may be of interest to you, please view the Operations Report in the February 2021 WHITE SEC Panel Meeting Documentation. SEC Parties can also view the Transitional Governance Update (TGU) Paper in the February 2021 GREEN SEC Panel Meeting Documentation.

 

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  
22 February  Operations Group Meeting 43 
23 February   SEC Panel Meeting 89X
24 February  Testing Advisory Group Meeting 76 
24 February  Security Sub-Committee Meeting 118 
24 February  Change Board Meeting 51 
2 March  Operations Group Meeting 44 
3 March  Monthly Working Group Meeting – March 2021 
4 March  Technical Architecture and Business Architecture Sub-Committee Meeting 63 
10 March  Security Sub-Committee Meeting 119 
12 March  SEC Panel Meeting 90 
16 March  Smart Metering Key Infrastructure Policy Management Authority Meeting 79 
22 March  Operations Group Meeting 45