Hello and welcome to the latest edition of the SEC Newsletter.
In this edition you will find out how to join your SEC Panel representatives for a monthly engagement call, learn about vacancies within SECAS, and who has recently joined the Technical Architecture and Business Architecture Sub-Committee (TABASC). Read on to learn about Draft Proposals, Modcasts, and more. We hope that you enjoy this newsletter.
Calling Small Suppliers and Other Parties – Join your monthly Engagement Call
All Small Suppliers and Other SEC Parties are encouraged to join your SEC Panel representatives for a monthly SEC Panel engagement call. This is your opportunity to raise questions, share views, and hear about important updates that impact your SEC Party type. The next calls take place on:
- Other SEC Parties – 9 December 2020 at 15.00.
- Small Suppliers – 16 December 2020 at 15.00.
If you don’t yet have the invitation in your calendar, please contact the SECAS Helpdesk.
We welcome a new TABASC Member
Thank you to those who participated in the recent Technical Architecture and Business Architecture Sub-Committee (TABASC) elections, either by nominating a candidate or voting. As a result, we welcome one new member and five returning members from 30 November 2020.
Alastair Cobb from Landis+Gyr joins the TABASC as a new member, to represent Other SEC Parties. Those returning for consecutive terms are; Rochelle Harrison from British Gas, Martin Christie from EON and Alex Hurcombe from EDF Energy as Large Supplier representatives, Terry Underwood from Utiligroup as a Small Supplier representative, and Alan Creighton as an Electricity Network representative.
Thank you to all outgoing TABASC Members for their support. The first meeting of the new membership is on 3 December 2020. If you have any questions, please contact the SECAS Helpdesk.
Would you like to join the SECAS Team?
We are currently recruiting for the following positions to join the SECAS team:
- Senior Operations Analyst – Do you have strong stakeholder management, organisational and analytical skills? Would you like an opportunity to work in a dedicated team whose responsibility is to assure the security of Smart Meter Devices? Click here for more information about this role.
- Smart Energy Consultant – Do you have a sound understanding of the Smart Metering infrastructure? Do you also have the skills, knowledge and technical confidence to work with industry stakeholders and SEC Sub-Committees? Click here for more information about this role.
Please visit the recruitment page here for more information.
New Draft Proposal
The following Draft Proposal has been raised since our last Newsletter:
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The SEC sets out the Smart Metering Technical Specifications. To ensure interoperability, the dates that these Technical Specifications can be used are set out within SEC Schedule 11 ‘Technical Specification Applicability Tables’ (TSAT).
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. |
Newly Released Consultations
Following the SEC Panel meeting on 13 November 2020, two consultations have been issued. One is a Modification Report Consultation to help provide a decision at the Change Board, and the other is a Refinement Consultation. Both consultations will close on 4 December 2020.
Additionally, read on to find out about the Request For Information (RFI) for a Modification Proposal which you are encouraged to respond to.
SECMP0015 ‘GPF timestamp for reading instantaneous Gas values’ |
Instantaneous Gas Smart Metering Equipment (GSME) register values can be read from the Gas Proxy Function (GPF). These aren’t normally in-line with the readings on the GSME, since the GSME only provides intermittent updates to the GPF, typically once every 30 minutes. The Supplier will not know how up-to-date the information is without a timestamp for when the GSME last updated the GPF.
This has been issued for Refinement Consultation which you can find here.
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MP111 ‘SMDA Budget Amendments’
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Following the National Audit Office’s (NAO) report in November 2018 “Rolling Out Smart Meters”, the Government Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) commissioned an independent review into Device interoperability on Change of Supplier (CoS).
The outcome of the review was published in October 2019, and one recommendation was for “Energy Suppliers and the Smart Metering Device Assurance (SMDA) Board to review the SMDA funding model which would ensure SMDA can provide long-term test assurance”. Following this recommendation, amendments have been suggested to the SMDA funding model. This has been issued for Modification Report Consultation which you can find here.
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MP085 ‘Synchronisation of Smart Meter voltage measurement periods’
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Electricity Network Parties believed that during the development of the Smart Meter Technical Specification, the average Root Mean Square (RMS) voltage readings from Smart Meters would be measured across a consistent period. For example, an average would be made across a 30-minute period starting on the hour and on the half hour.
This is not currently codified in the Smart Metering Equipment Technical Specifications (SMETS) or the Great Britain Companion Specification (GBCS). A RFI has been issued to seek feedback on this which can be found here.
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Modcasts
You are invited to listen to our Modcasts to hear about the latest updates from SEC Change. You can listen to our latest Modcast here, where we talk through a new Draft Proposal, the Change Sub-Committee and Change Board outcomes, plus a new version of the SEC coming into effect. Keep a look out on the Change Reporting webpage next week for a Modcast about the November 2020 SEC Release.
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.
Ofgem Publications
Ofgem has published the following:
- Increasing the DCC’s revenue at risk against the Operational Performance Regime (OPR) – Ofgem is proposing to increase the DCC’s revenue at risk against the OPR. This consultation closes on 27 November 2020.
- COVID-19 Costs in the Energy Price Cap – Ofgem has issued three consultations related to the default tariff price cap. Proposals are to amend the ‘Adjustment Allowance’, the Smart Metering allowance and to set the Pre-Payment Meter (PPM) Smart Meter cost allowance. These consultations close on 21 December 2020.
- DCC Price Control: Regulatory Year 2019/20 – Ofgem is reviewing whether the DCC costs reported for Regulatory Year 2019/20 are economic and efficient. This consultation closes on 23 December 2020.
- Switching Programme and Retail Code Consolidation: Proposed licence modifications – Ofgem is proposing changes to the standard licence conditions required for the Faster Switching Programme and Retail Code Consolidation. This consultation closes on 15 January 2021.
BEIS Publications
BEIS has published the following:
- Smart Meter policy framework post 2020: minimum annual targets – BEIS is seeking views on annual tolerance levels associated with Smart Meter installation targets for Energy Suppliers in Great Britain. This consultation closes on 11 January 2021.
- BEIS consultation on exemptions from the requirement for an electricity licence: call for evidence – BEIS wants to understand how the exemptions regime currently operates, and whether changes are needed to reflect government aims and objectives. This consultation closes on 1 March 2021.
- Smart Meter coordinated consumer engagement – This closed consultation sets out BEIS’ decision to strengthen Smart Energy GB’s governance framework, revise its funding threshold, and update its objectives for the next phase of the Smart Meter rollout.
- Response to consultations on Code and Licence Changes – BEIS has published its responses to consultations on changes following confirmation of the new post-2020 policy framework and an additional DCC licence condition relating to the DCC’s plans for Network Evolution.
- Smart Meter installation in domestic new build premises – BEIS has published guidance to facilitate successful Smart Meter installations in domestic new build premises.
DCC Publications
The DCC has published the following:
- Further SMETS1 Transition and Migration Approach Document (TMAD) Consultation for Final Operating Capability (FOC) – The DCC is proposing two further changes to the TMAD which are required for FOC Go-Live. This consultation closes on 27 November 2020.
- Extra SMETS1 Transition and Migration Approach Document (TMAD) Change for Final Operating Capability (FOC) – The DCC is proposing an extra change to the TMAD that is required for FOC Go-Live. This consultation closes on 27 November 2020.
- Further changes to the Migration Reporting Regime (MRR) v4.1 – In the context of SMETS1, the DCC is proposing a few minor changes to the MMR document. This consultation closes on 1 December 2020.
- SMETS1 Conclusions on the date for re-designation of SMETS1 Supporting Requirements (S1SR) for Middle Operating Capability (MOC) (Secure) – On 13 November 2020, the DCC concluded this consultation and provided the DCC’s prior conclusion report to BEIS recommending the revised S1SR as fit for purpose.
Business Standards Institution (BSI) Publications
BSI has published the following:
- PAS 1879, Energy smart appliances – Demand Side Response Operation – Code of Practice – This publicly available specification sets out a common definition of Demand Side Response (DSR) services for actors operating within the consumer energy supply chain and recommendations to support the operation of energy smart appliances (ESAs). To access the consultation documents and to respond to the consultation, please register here. This consultation closes on 9 December 2020.
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 |
1 December | Operations Group Meeting 39 |
2 December | Monthly Working Group meeting – December 2020 |
3 December | Technical Architecture and Business Architecture Sub-Committee Meeting 60 |
9 December | Security Sub-Committee Meeting 114 |
9 December | Testing Advisory Group Meeting 74 |
11 December | SEC Panel Meeting 87 |
15 December | Smart Metering Key Infrastructure Policy Management Authority Meeting 76 |
18 December | Change Board Meeting 49 |