SEC Newsletter 27 March 2020

A message from our SECAS Chair, Peter Davies:

I would like to express my personal gratitude to representatives of SEC Parties who attend and are represented on the SEC Panel, the Technical Architecture and Business Architecture Sub-Committee, Operations, Security and Policy Management Authority Committees, together with the Modifications Groups and Change Board who fulfil a vital role in the management and oversight of the SEC.

Every effort is being made to maintain core SECAS services during this period. There is no doubt that the restrictions and precautions being implemented to limit the effect of the COVID-19 outbreak are impacting all our daily lives and routines. The requirement to ‘stay at home’ has brought about the need for SECAS staff to work remotely from their Central London Offices.

With face-to-face meetings being transitioned to teleconference, there may be some amendments to the format and structure of the Panel and Sub-Committee meetings, and this will be kept under review.

The SECAS Helpdesk remains the first point of contact on 0207 090 7755.

CodeWorks welcomes 300 new users

We are pleased to announce that there are over 300 CodeWorks users! We hope you are finding the platform an efficient and improved way to locate information relevant to your SEC Party category.

Phase 3 will be released over the coming weeks, enabling SEC Parties to identify more easily which Privacy and/or Security Assessments they must undertake. You can learn more about CodeWorks and register here.

Sub-Committee Vacancies

There are currently vacancies available on a few of our Sub-Committees. We are looking for both Large and Small Suppliers to join the Testing Advisory Group, which meets twice a month and plays a major role in the System and Equipment Testing that leads up to Initial Live Operations.

If you are interested in joining, or nominating an individual, or would like to know about vacancies on other Sub-Committees, please contact the SECAS Helpdesk.

Share your views in the Customer Satisfaction Survey

Don’t miss your opportunity to tell us how we’re doing and how we can improve! The annual SECAS Customer Satisfaction Survey takes 30 minutes to complete and is open until 31 March 2020 for SEC Parties to share their feedback. Please contact the SECAS Helpdesk consenting to share your contact details and DJS Research, who record your feedback, will be in touch.

We are now conducting Virtual Security Assessments

Security and Privacy Assessments have adopted a Virtual Assessment Model, agreed with the User CIO in response to COVID-19. This is to mitigate any disruption to our services and avoid any impact on SEC compliance for Parties accessing the DCC Smart Metering Systems. This is expected to continue until at least June 2020. Click here to find out more.

New Security Standards and Best Practices Review

We have published a new version of the SEC Section G Standards and Best Practices Review (V3.2), as agreed by the Security Sub-Committee on 11 March 2020.

The following Draft Proposals are new problems or issues that have recently been raised to the Change team, that the Proposers believe need to be addressed.

BEIS Designations

Two new versions of the SEC have been released to implement two designations from BEIS; one on 13 March 2020 and one on 16 March 2020. Both were implemented to facilitate the continued enrolment of Smart Metering Equipment Technical Specifications 1 (SMETS1) meters into the DCC network.

June 2020 SEC Release

On 13 March, the SEC Panel agreed to request that the Authority directs a revised implementation date for the June 2020 SEC Release to avoid the forthcoming Middle Operating Capability (MOC) and SEC Release happening at the same time. The proposed new release date is 6 May 2020 (rather than 25 June 2020), and the Authority is expected to respond mid-April 2020.

DCC Publications

The DCC has published the following:

• Consultation on Migration Reporting Regime – The DCC has uplifted the baselined Migration Reporting Regime Methodology to reflect the migration solution changes identified for all the forthcoming Capability Releases. The closing date is 27 March 2020.

• Consultation on Transition and Migration Approach Document for Secure – The DCC has issued a consultation on several changes to the TMAD to support Secure. Please provide your comments, using the provided response template, by 4pm on 3 April 2020 to consultations@smartdcc.co.uk.

• Consultation on Migration Error Handling and Retry Strategy for MOC (MDS) – reflects the migration solution changes identified for the forthcoming MOC (MDS) Capability Release. The closing date is 14 April 2020.

BEIS Publications

BEIS has published the following:

• Future of Transport Regulatory Review: Call for Evidence – seeks views on the Future of Transport Regulatory Review. The closing date is 22 May 2020.

• CfD: Proposed amendments to the scheme 2020 – Seeking views on proposed changes to the Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme to ensure it continues to support low carbon electricity generation at the lowest possible cost to consumers. The closing date is 22 May 2020.

• Heat networks: building a market framework – a proposal to drive forward low-carbon heat networks’ growth in a regulatory framework. The closing date is 1 May 2020.

• Reforming Regulation Initiative – BEIS invites feedback to ensure that regulation is sensible and proportionate and identify areas of UK regulation for improvement. The closing date is 11 June 2020.

Ofgem Publications

Ofgem has published the following:

• Ofgem’s Work Programme Update – In light of the COVID-19 situation, from 25 March 2020, Ofgem will temporarily pause publishing new information on their website until the review has been completed. They will still publish legally required releases, some critical updates, and information relating to the Coronavirus.

• Statutory Consultation for adjusting the Electricity Market Reform Delivery Body Incentives and mechanisms to recover uncertain costs – this proposes to make changes to the National Grid Electricity System Operator’s Electricity Transmission Licence, in relation to their role as the Electricity Market Reform Delivery Body. The closing date is 17 April 2020.

• Policy consultation for protecting energy consumers with prepayment meters –consults on what level of protection is appropriate, and if further measures are required when the Pre-Payment Meter Cap expires on 31 December 2020. The closing date is 8 April 2020.

• Statutory consultation on the proposed Whole Electricity System Licence Condition [D17]~[7A] for Electricity Distributors and transmission owners –proposes to modify the standard licence conditions of onshore Electricity Distributors and transmission owners to include an obligation to undertake whole electricity system actions and processes. The closing date is 3 April 2020.

Would you like to join the SECAS Team?

We are currently recruiting and training new starters remotely! Do you have passion for delivering exceptional client service, and attention to detail? We are recruiting for a Stakeholder Support Co-ordinator to join our SECAS Party Support team.

If you would like to play a key role in asuring the security of Smart Meters, we also have a new vacancy for a Senior Security Analyst.

For more information please visit the recruitment page here.

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).