Hello and welcome to the latest edition of the SEC newsletter.
In this edition you will find out how you can attend our webinars, including ‘Introduction to the SEC – back to basics’ and ‘Operational Metrics Review: what gets measured gets managed, plus how you can view the previous webinars and presentations, if you missed them. Read on to learn about the upcoming vacancies within the TABASC, Security updates, Modcasts and recent publications. We hope that you enjoy this newsletter.
Join our upcoming webinars
Thank you to those who have joined our webinars this month. Attendees have provided great feedback, with over 90% saying their expectations had been met.
Our previous webinars have enabled attendees to learn and ask questions about CodeWorks, Alt HAN Co, and the Security Validation process. If you missed any of these, please view our new SECAS webinars webpage, where you can log in to download the video recordings and presentation slides. Please click on the following links to register:
Introduction to the SEC – back to basics on 14 October at 2:00pm.
Are you new to your role? Has your 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, hearing from SECAS, the DCC and Smart Energy GB.
Operational Metrics Review: What gets measured gets managed on 20 October at 2:00pm .
Join this webinar to learn how the performance of the Services is measured and monitored, and how this process has helped identify and resolve performance issues. It will also outline key changes to the performance metrics identified during a recent review carried out by the SEC Panel’s Operations Group Sub-Committee.
Represent your Party type by joining the TABASC
Would you like to play a vital role in managing the policy surrounding the Technical and Business Architecture of the Smart Metering industry? You are invited to nominate yourself or an individual to join the Technical Architecture and Business Architecture Sub-Committee (TABASC) if you are a Large or Small Supplier, Electricity Network, Gas Network or Other SEC Party.
The TABASC meets once a month to provide advice and guidance to the SEC Panel regarding Technical Code Specifications, End-to-End Technical Architecture, and Business Architecture.
November 2020 marks the end of term for several Members, opening the opportunity for you to keep informed of industry developments and influence key decisions.
To nominate yourself or an individual please submit your TABASC Nomination Form (Annex B) to the SECAS Helpdesk by close on 14 October 2020.
Helping Suppliers comply with G3.20 – what you need to know
SEC Parties are now able to rely on arrangements between certain Meter Manufacturers and the SSC, to aid in complying with G3.20 – Duty to Notify and be Notified. The list of Manufacturers who have signed up to this arrangement can be found here.
If you have an assessment where inherited Devices are covered by the direct arrangement between SSC and Manufacturers, SECAS will notify the User CIO in advance of your assessment. Provided your meter portfolio is covered by this arrangement this will be accepted as suitable evidence of meeting your G3.20 Obligation. If there are any meters not covered by an arrangement between the SSC and the Manufacturer, the User CIO and SECAS Validation Team will still expect to see a signed contract or Letter of Intent as per the Security Controls Framework (SCF) guidance.
The SSC will therefore only notify the SEC Panel of a non-compliance where Suppliers have no arrangement with the Manufacturer (via SSC or MAP) and are making no efforts to do so. Please find out more here. If you have any questions please contact the SECAS Security Team.
View the updated Security Controls Framework
You are invited to view Version 2.1 of the Security Controls Framework and Agreed Interpretations.
Section 12 of the Agreed Interpretations has been amended to expand on new arrangements that the Security Sub-Committee have developed with Manufacturers to facilitate Suppliers meeting SEC obligations G3.17 – G3.21. These are also reflected in the amended Frequently Asked Questions Section.
Find out more here. If you have any questions you are welcome to contact the SECAS Security Team.
We welcome three new SEC Panel Members to the SEC Panel
Thank you to those who participated in the recent SEC Panel elections, either by nominating a candidate or voting. As a result, we welcomed three new members to the SEC Panel on 23 September 2020.
Thank you to all outgoing Panel Members for their support. Those joining the Panel are; Alex Travell from BU UK who will be taking over the Electricity Networks Parties seat, Sarah Hayes from Utility Point will represent Small Suppliers, and Ash Pocock from MetaEnergy is returning as an Other SEC Party representative. Plus, Simon Trivella from British Gas is taking on a consecutive term as a Large Supplier.
You can find out more about the new SEC Panel Members here. The first meeting of the new membership will be on 16 October 2020. If you have any questions, please contact the SECAS Helpdesk.
New Draft Proposals
There have been two Draft Proposals raised since the last newsletter. These will be taken to the Change Sub-Committee meeting on 29 September 2020 to decide whether they will be progressed to a Modification Proposal.
| DP142 ’Clarification to the MMC’ | A clarification is required to a table in the Message Mapping Catalogue (MMC) for the November 2020 SEC Release. This will mean that the entry in the table will match what Users expect and will prevent avoidable discrepancies.
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| DP143 ‘Incorporating IRPs into GBCS v3 series’ | MP098 will incorporate several non-Data Communication Company (DCC) system impacting Issue Resolution Proposals (IRPs) into the SEC. It was agreed at the time that they would not enter the Great Britain Companion Specification (GBCS) v3 as there was no material benefit at the time. Industry input has since shown Users would want these changes included in GBCS v3 when other material changes are likely to take place in the November 2021 SEC Release. |
Change Sub-Committee
Four Draft Proposals are due to be taken to the Change Sub Committee meeting on 29 September 2020. At this meeting, the following Draft Proposals will be considered for conversion to a Modification Proposal, which will then be recommended for a Panel decision.
- DP136 “Enduring ICHIS Compliance Related to RF” – The Data Communication Company’s (DCC’s) derogation period for Intimate Communications Hub Interface Specification (ICHIS) Radio Frequency (RF) levels ended in March 2020. A number of electricity meters remain in the supply chain which are not installed. These are no longer complaint following the end of the derogation, which would make them unusable.
- DP141 “SRV Visibility for Devices on SSI” – Supplier Parties are currently unable to view Service Request Variants (SRVs) or Service Responses from other Service Users that they receive on their Devices. This therefore leads to Users receiving SRVs and Service Responses which lack visibility or information. This is causing issues where they may be high priority or have security implications.
Modcasts
You are invited to listen to our Modcasts to hear about the latest updates on SEC Change. You can listen to our latest Modcast here, where we talk through our new Draft Proposals, the items going to the Change Sub-Committee, the Change Board outcomes and information on a BEIS Consultation. New Modcasts are released regularly 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.
BEIS Publications
BEIS has published the following:
- BEIS Consultation on consequential changes following confirmation of the new post-2020 policy framework – On 17 September 2020, BEIS published a consultation on proposed amendments to Energy Suppliers’ licence conditions and the SEC. This is to account for SMETS1 meters installed after the SMETS1 end-date, and proposed amendments to Energy Network Operators’ licence conditions relating to provision of information to the Secretary of State. This consultation closes on 19 October 2020.
DCC Publications
The DCC has published the following:
- Energy industry celebrates another Smart Metering milestone – The DCC provides more information about installing the five millionth SMETS2 Smart Meter.
- Proposed Changes to the Self-Service Interface – Recent engagement with BEIS and industry working groups has identified changes required to DCC Systems, which are scheduled for inclusion in the November 2020 Release. This consultation closes on 28 September 2020.
- SMETS1 DCC Conclusions on changes to the SMETS1 SVTAD for DMCT Process Improvement – The DCC published a consultation on changes to the SEC Variation Testing Approach Document for SMETS1 Services (SMETS1 SVTAD) covering a limited number of improvements in the DMCT Process. On 18 September 2020, the DCC concluded on this consultation and provided the document to BEIS.
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 |
| 28 September | Operations Group Meeting 36x |
| 29 September | Change Sub-Committee 19 |
| 30 September | Testing Advisory Group Meeting 71 |
| 1 October | Technical Architecture and Business Architecture Sub-Committee Meeting 58 |
| 6 October | Operations Group Meeting 37 |
| 7 October | Monthly Working Group meeting – October 2020 |
| 14 October | Security Sub-Committee Meeting 110 |
| 14 October | Testing Advisory Group Meeting 71X |
| 16 October | SEC Panel Meeting 85 |
| 20 October | Smart Metering Key Infrastructure Policy Management Authority Meeting 74 |
| 21 October | Change Board Meeting 47 |
| 26 October | Operations Group Meeting 37x |
| 27 October | Change Sub-Committee Meeting 20 |
| 28 October | Security Sub-Committee Meeting 111 |
| 28 October | Testing Advisory Group Meeting 72 |
