SEC Newsletter 18 November 2021

Hello and welcome to the latest edition of the SEC Newsletter.

In this edition you will learn about how you can build your Supplier of Last Resort (SoLR) knowledge using the SoLR guidance notes and learn how to communicate Central Products List (CPL) submissions using the new CPL Tool spreadsheet. You will also find a link to watch the Smart Energy GB webinar recordings and find out about approved Modifications, new Draft Proposals and Modification Consultations on which you are invited to provide feedback. We hope you enjoy this edition.

 

Supplier of Last Resort (SoLR) Guidance Notes

SEC Parties can now view the SoLR checklist for Suppliers guidance notes here once logged in. This sets out suggested activities for a Supplier exiting the market via a SoLR, the SoLR, and Shared Resource Providers (SRPs). Its objective is to achieve a smooth transition between the Suppliers, especially where Smart Meters are in prepayment mode.

 

It has been developed with support from Suppliers who have been appointed as a SoLR, the DCC, the Smart Metering Key Infrastructure Policy Management Authority (SMKI PMA), SRPs and approved by the SEC Panel to be shared with SEC Parties.

 

This document contains a checklist for the Failing Supplier (or their SRPs) and the SoLRs (or their SRPs) and they are encouraged to follow the checklists which should help to ensure this smooth transition between Suppliers. The Failing Supplier and the SoLR may wish to take further steps, but this is considered to be the minimum. If you have any questions or suggested improvements to the document, please contact the SECAS Helpdesk.

 

New Central Products List (CPL) Tool and Guidance Notes to help you

You can now view the new version of the Central Products List (CPL) spreadsheet which contains a validation macro to help you ensure that your Smart Metering Equipment Technical Specifications (SMETS) 1 (for the DCC) and SMETS2+ Device submissions are all validated before sending them to SECAS. The validation macro automates part of the CPL process, reducing the risk of manual error and the time required to both submit and process a new CPL submission.

 

The macro will help you choose the correct options for your Device and allow you to automatically check that the submitted data is valid. The latest version of the CPL spreadsheet can be downloaded from the usual link here. When downloading the spreadsheet, please save it as a .xlsm file to enable the validation macro.

 

All future SMETS1 and SMETS2+ CPL submissions should be sent to SECAS using the CPL – New Entry worksheet in the new CPL spreadsheet.

 

Please find our updated CPL Guidance notes to help you use the new CPL spreadsheet. If you have any questions, please contact the SECAS Helpdesk.

 

Watch the Smart Energy GB webinar recordings

You can now view the webinar hosted by Smart Energy GB, entitled ‘Engaging everyone on a journey to a Smarter Future’, which took place on 11 November 2021 and was a resounding success according to the feedback received. This offers the chance to gain insights into consumer attitudes towards Smart Meters and smart future research which examines the possibilities of an upgraded energy system.

 

SEC Parties can view the presentation slides and recordings here once logged in. If you have any questions for Smart Energy GB, please contact the SECAS Helpdesk.

 

DCC Quarterly Finance Forum on 1 and 2 December 2021

All DCC customers are welcome to attend the DCC’s Quarterly Finance Forum which will be held online over two days from 1 December 15.00 – 17.00 to 2 December 14:00 – 16:00. You will hear about the DCC’s key spending decisions, and an update of programmes in advance of the DCC’s charging statement.

 

The DCC has evolved these sessions to incorporate new projects and emerging areas of spending. Your feedback during these sessions is welcome, and the DCC will also encourage you to ask questions and engage with them. The DCC Programme Directors and Chief Officers will be present and available to you throughout the meeting.

 

To register to join the online forum, or if you have any questions, please contact customerengagement@smartdcc.co.uk.

 

Approval of SEC Modification MP185

Please note that MP185 ‘Additional controls to support the SoLR process’ was implemented as part of an ad-hoc Release on 17 November 2021. This urgent modification proposal looked at improving the solution provided by MP134A ‘Use of SMKI Certificates relating to a SoLR event’ which was designed to protect prepayment customers and ensure they wouldn’t lose supply if they ran out of credit in a Supplier of Last Resort (SoLR) event.

 

To find out more about the Modification Proposal, you can click the link here to see a more detailed description of the issue, solution and documents associated with it. You can click here to view the Authority Decision letter. If you have any questions regarding MP185, please email sec.change@gemserv.com.

 

New Draft Proposal

One new Draft Proposal has been raised since the last newsletter. You are invited to provide feedback to the Change Team to help us understand whether this affects your Party.

 

DP187 ‘Incorporation of Target Round Trip Times and Target Success Rates into the SEC’

 

 

 

As part of the SEC Modification MP122A ‘Operational Metrics’ solution (implemented as part of the February 2021 SEC Release), new Service Request Variant (SRV) metrics reporting has been introduced. These reports, produced by the DCC Technical Operations Centre (TOC), measure the Round-Trip Times (RTTs) of messages but, in the absence of target RTTs, are then compared to the Target Response Times (TRTs) listed within the SEC.

 

This is resulting in a misleading view of the health of the Smart Metering system and, as a minimum, the DCC is keen to correct this by gaining industry agreement to baseline RTT targets within the SEC.

 

New Refinement Consultations

There are currently four Modification Proposals undergoing Refinement Consultation. As a SEC Party, you can help influence the Proposed Solution, help determine the business case for the change, and comment on how the proposal will affect your organisation. For more information and to respond the consultation, download the consultation pack linked below and send your response to the Change Team.

 

MP162 ‘SEC changes required to deliver MHHS’

 

Download the consultation here.

 

Closing Date:

19 November 2021

 

 

As the Smart Metering rollout continues, there will be more and more premises with Electricity Smart Metering Equipment (ESME) installed capable of recording consumption in each half-hour period. Ofgem’s Electricity Settlement Reform Significant Code Review (SCR) has concluded that settling all consumers on a half-hourly basis would bring net benefits of up to £4.5bn by 2045. Ofgem has therefore concluded that Suppliers should be mandated to settle their customers on a half-hourly basis. Delivering the full solution for market-wide half-hourly settlement (MHHS) will require changes to the SEC and to the DCC Systems. Ofgem has requested that the DCC raise a SEC modification to progress and deliver these changes.

 

 

MP085A ‘Synchronisation of smart meter voltage measurement periods’

 

Download the consultation here.

 

Closing Date:

22 November 2021

 

 

The expectation of Electricity Network Parties during the development of the Smart Meter technical specification was that the average Root Mean Square (RMS) voltage readings from Smart Meters would be measured across a consistent period.

 

The Proposed Solution is to provide a consistent approach for all Electricity Smart Metering Equipment (ESME); ensuring that the Average RMS Voltage Measurement Period starts or resumes from a predictable point in time, allowing automatic realignment of a Device’s measurement periods with those of other ESMEs. This will allow Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) to make full use of the Average RMS Voltage Profile Data Logs for remote comparison across all of their ESMEs.

 

 

MP125 ‘Correcting Device Information for the ESME Variant’

 

Download the consultation here.

 

Closing Date:

22 November 2021

 

 

The purpose of this modification is to allow the Responsible Supplier to be able to correct certain Device details in the Smart Meter Inventory (SMI) after the Device has been commissioned.

 

Whilst the Device remains in the Pending state these details can be corrected by the installing Supplier. Once the Installation and Commissioning process has started and the Device leaves the Pending state then it is no longer possible to update these details in the SMI. Following a Change of Supplier (CoS), the gaining responsible Supplier would be unable to correct any errors made by the previous installing Supplier.

 

 

MP179 ‘DCC Boxed’

 

Download the consultation here.

 

Closing Date:

26 November 2021

 

 

The Smart Metering Key Infrastructure (SMKI) Policy Management Authority (PMA) has carried out a review of the SMKI and Data Communications Company (DCC) Key Infrastructure (DCCKI) Document Sets as required by Smart Energy Code (SEC) Section L ‘Smart Metering Key Infrastructure and DCC Key Infrastructure’ (paragraph 1.17). It has identified housekeeping changes and general improvements that need to be made due to updated SEC versions since 2014 that have not been fully or accurately reflected in the extensive SMKI Document Set.

 

Additionally, the review identified a number of inconsistencies, omissions and improved drafting needed between different parts of the SEC together with standards that need to be amended. This is because they have been superseded or discontinued. Lastly, the SMKI Recovery processes require greater clarity for Subscribers.

 

Central CACoP website now live

The Code Administration Code of Practice (CACoP) Forum is delighted to announce the launch of its new central CACoP website, the new home for all information related to the CACoP. Here, you will be able to find the latest versions of all CACoP documents and products in one central place, including the Central Modifications Register, along with a calendar listing all the key industry Code meetings. You can find more information here.

 

Latest copy of the CACoP Newsletter issued

You can now read the October 2021 edition of the CACoP Newsletter, which details the new CACoP website, news and developments across the different Codes, and how we are achieving CACoP Principle 9. You can download the Newsletter from the CACoP website here. You can also subscribe to receive notifications of future editions direct to your inbox each quarter.

 

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 November 2021 WHITE SEC Panel Meeting 98 Documentation. SEC Parties can also view the Transitional Governance Update (TGU) Paper in the November 2021 GREEN SEC Panel Meeting 98 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 or Event 
19 November  Testing Advisory Group Meeting 84X 
22 November  Smart Meter Device Assurance (SMDA) Sub-Committee Meeting 
22 November  Operations Group Meeting 61 
24 November  Testing Advisory Group Meeting 85 
24 November  Security Sub-Committee Meeting 136 
24 November  Change Board Meeting 60 
30 November  Change Sub-Committee Meeting 33 
1 December  Monthly Working Group Meeting – December 2021 
2 December  Technical Architecture and Business Architecture Sub-Committee Meeting 72 
7 December  Operations Group Meeting 62 
8 December  Smart Metering Key Infrastructure Policy Management Authority Meeting 88 
8 December  Security Sub-Committee Meeting 137 
13 December  Strategic Working Group 06 
15 December  Other SEC Parties Engagement Call 
17 December  SEC Panel Meeting 99