SEC Newsletter 2 July 2020

Hello and welcome to the latest edition of the newsletter.

Our upcoming Annual SEC Panel Q&A webinar on 17 July 2020 is not far away – read on to make sure you know how to reserve your place! Ever thought about becoming a Sub-Committee member? In this edition you can learn about the upcoming vacancies and how to be nominated. You can also find out about the revised date for UKRPA’s event, plus updates on numerous modifications and publications. We hope that you enjoy this newsletter.

 

You are invited to the Annual SEC Panel Q&A Webinar

SEC Parties are invited to our Annual SEC Panel Q&A Webinar which will take place at 9:30am on Friday 17 July 2020. You will hear about key milestones achieved in the previous year, a forward look to the year ahead from the Panel Chair, and have the opportunity to put your questions to the SEC Panel. Please submit questions for the SEC Panel to the SECAS Helpdesk before 5pm 3 July 2020.

 

Please contact the SECAS Helpdesk to reserve your place.

 

United Kingdom Revenue Protection Association (UKRPA) National Conference

Due to the Covid-19 situation, the next UKRPA National Conference has been rescheduled to Wednesday 21 – Thursday 22 April 2021. The event will be held at Highgate House, Creaton, Northampton and Laura Sandys, Independent Director at SGN and former Chair of the European Movement UK and Energy Systems Data Taskforce, will present as Keynote Speaker.

If you would like more information or would like to book your place, please contact the UKPRA team.

 

Upcoming elections – would you like to help shape the future of Smart Energy?

Would you like to have a direct say on industry matters and steer the future of Smart Energy? You can play an integral role in doing just that, with elections taking place in August 2020 for seats on the SEC Panel and Security Sub-Committee (SSC), as several Members’ terms will conclude on 8 September 2020. Please see the following information:

 

 

Number of vacancies

 

Frequency of meetings

 

Main objectives

 

SEC Panel 1 x Large Supplier

1 x Small Supplier

1 x Electricity Network

1 x Other SEC Party

 Once a month Managing and enforcing the SEC, efficiently, fairly, and does not discriminate between Parties or classes of Parties. Considers recommendations from each of its Sub-Committees as the SEC decision-making body.

 

Security Sub-Committee 2 x Large Supplier

1 x Small Supplier

1 x Electricity Network

1 x Other User

 Twice a month Oversees, reviews and advises on SEC security arrangements. Sets assurance statuses for all Users of the DCC’s Live Services and makes key decisions to safeguard the future of Smart Energy.

 

 

Please contact the SECAS Helpdesk if you would like to find out more, the deadline to provide your nomination is the 22 July 2020.

 

New Statesman and Smart Energy GB digital event: Building a green economy after Covid-19

On 8 July 2020 at 10am-11am, New Statesman and Smart Energy GB are holding a digital event. It will bring together panellists, including Dr Alan Whitehead MP and others, to discuss the role that smart energy systems and Smart Meters play in reducing our carbon footprint and working towards net zero in a post-Covid world. The panel discussion will be followed by a Q&A session with the live digital audience. Please register here to attend.

 

Refinement Consultations

There are two SEC Modifications currently out for Refinement Consultation. You are invited to respond to the Change Team by 3 July 2020. This is your chance to influence the solution.

  • MP090 ‘Incorporation of Non GBCS Non-Mandated Alerts into the SEC’ – Alerts are currently sent to DCC Users with no contextual information and no means to disable them. This modification seeks to include them in the SEC.
  • MP122 ‘Operational Metrics’ – The Operational Metrics Review (OMR) was undertaken to better understand the DCC Performance Measurement Report (PMR) measures. This modification seeks to address what Users have feedback that they want to see. This includes reporting that reflects the business processes that the DCC supports, for example, Installation and Commissioning, Billing, and Prepayment top up.

 

Modification Report Consultations

There are four SEC Modifications currently out for Modification Report Consultation. Please respond by 10 July 2020 to share your feedback with the Change Team before the Change Board vote.

  • MP103 ‘DCC SOC2 Assessments’ – Systems Organisation Controls (SOC) 2 assessments have proved difficult to align with the SEC security obligations. This modification proposes several changes that will enable the DCC to make necessary changes to replace SOC2 the assessment.
  • MP118 ‘Communications Hub Finance Charges’ – The DCC provides two invoices each month for SEC Parties which can make tracking payments difficult, as the number of monthly financing payments increase, this system will become untenable which this modification seeks to address.
  • MP124 ‘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.
  • MP127 ‘SMKI RAPP Security Screening clarification’ – Authorise Responsible Officers should be subject to security screening to British Standard (BS) 7858:2019 or equivalent. This obligation isn’t made explicit in the Appendix D ‘SMKI Registration Authority Policies and Procedures’ (SMKI RAPP). Failure to comply with the obligation will result in a non-compliance being raised during a User Security Assessment.

 

Shape how Issue Resolution Proposals are incorporated into the SEC

SEC Parties are encouraged to respond to our Process for Incorporating Issue Resolution Proposal (IRP) consultation to help shape how IRPs are implemented into the SEC.

Click here for more information. You are invited to respond to the Change Team by 10 July 2020.

 

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.

 

DCC Publications

The DCC has concluded on several of its consultations as follows:

 

BEIS Publications

BEIS has published the following:

  • Changes to Smart Energy Code Technical Specifications and Subsidiary Documents – Consults on changes to several SEC Technical Specifications and Subsidiary Documents to designate or re-designate for inclusion into the SEC in September 2020 and November 2020 Release, to align with the November SEC Release. This consultation closes on 16 July 2020.
  • Smart Meter policy framework post 2020 – The government will introduce a new approach for the next phase of the smart meter rollout which will set clear, defined outcomes for all energy suppliers to deliver a market-wide rollout of smart meters as soon as practicable. Due to Covid-19, the government has also extended the All Reasonable Steps obligation by six months, to June 2021.
  • Smart meter coordinated consumer engagement – The government confirmed that Smart Energy GB will continue to lead coordinated consumer engagement activities. BEIS are consulting on several changes to Smart Energy GB, to focus on the supporting the next phase of the smart meter rollout. This consultation closes on 13 August 2020.

 

Ofgem Publications

Ofgem has published the following:

  • Ofgem information for energy licensees on COVID 19 – Ofgem have provided a forward work programme to September 2020 for energy licensees. It has also set out a summary of the key regulation implications, and recognises that industry will likely need to rely on different working practices for some time.

 

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  
7 July  Operations Group Meeting 34 
8 July Security Sub-Committee Meeting 104
10 July  Operations Group Meeting 34x 
10 July  Testing Advisory Group Meeting 68X 
17 July  Annual SEC Engagement Day Webinar 
17 July  SEC Panel Meeting 82 
21 July  Smart Metering Key Infrastructure Policy Management Authority Meeting 71 
22 July  Change Board Meeting 44 
22 July  Security Sub-Committee Meeting 105 
23 July  Technical Architecture and Business Architecture Sub-Committee Meeting 55X 
27 July  Operations Group Meeting 34xx 
28 July  Change Sub-Committee 17 
29 July  Testing Advisory Group Meeting 69