SEC Newsletter 28 October 2021

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

In this edition you will learn about how you can build your SEC knowledge by joining our upcoming Smart Energy GB webinar, how to view the Alternative Home Area Network (Alt HAN) webinar recordings, and how Suppliers can easily provide their Operational Contact information. You will also find out about the new Draft Proposals and Modification Consultations on which you are invited to provide feedback. We hope you enjoy this edition.

 

Build your SEC knowledge, join our topic-focused webinar

SEC Parties are invited to join the following upcoming webinar:

  • Smart Energy GB: Engaging everyone on a journey to a Smarter Future: 11 November 2021 from 11:30am to 12:30pm. Smart Energy GB will share insights into consumer attitudes towards Smart Meters and smart future research, which examines the possibilities of an upgraded energy system – it’s one not to miss. To register, please click here. If you have any questions, please contact the SECAS Helpdesk.

 

SECAS held the ‘Intro to the SEC: Back to Basics’ webinar in October 2021, and SEC Parties can view the presentation slides and recordings here. If you have any questions for SECAS, the DCC or Alt HAN, please contact the SECAS Helpdesk.

 

If you are unable to join the live webinar, we invite you to access the webinar videos and presentation slides on our webinars page. If you have any questions, please contact the SECAS Helpdesk.

 

Suppliers: Easily add your details to the Operations Contact List

SEC Modification MP121 ‘Commissioning non-commissioned Devices after CoS’ will be implemented as part of the February 2022 SEC Release. The proposed solution includes an obligation on reactive ‘install and leave’ installing Suppliers to respond to a request for an install code within 10 working days.

 

SECAS hosts the Operations Contact List securely on the SEC website which Parties can only access once logged in. To help Suppliers comply with MP121, and to allow Suppliers to fulfil their obligations regarding Critical Alerts, you can use the online Change in Party Details form to easily inform SECAS of your updated Operational Contacts, as well as changes to your SEC Party contacts and mailing list subscribers. If you have any questions, please contact the SECAS Helpdesk.

 

Represent your Party type by joining the TABASC

The Technical Architecture and Business Architecture Sub-Committee (TABASC) provides advice and guidance to the SEC Panel regarding Technical Code Specifications, End-to-End Technical Architecture, and Business Architecture. The TABASC meets once a month, and occasionally meets a second time as required.

 

November 2021 is the end of term for several members, opening up the opportunity for you to be kept informed of industry developments and influence key decisions. We are calling nominations for 3 Large Suppliers, 1 Small Supplier, 1 Electricity Network, and 1 Other SEC Party representative.

 

Would you like to play a vital role managing the policy surrounding the Technical and Business Architecture? If so, you can nominate yourself or an individual using our online form by 5pm on Friday 29 October 2021. Please note, SEC Parties need to be logged in to the website to use this form. If you have any questions, please contact the SECAS Helpdesk.

 

DCC CH&N Device Selection Methodology Workshop and Quarterly Finance Forum

Read below to find out more about the Data Communications Company’s (DCC’s) upcoming engagement sessions:

 

CH&N Device Selection Methodology Workshop – 16 November 2021

To ensure that the DCC uses manageable volumes of devices in testing, the DCC are producing a Device Selection Methodology, initially for use in Network Evolution Communications Hub & Network (CH&N).

 

The DCC is proposing a two-hour workshop to record customer and stakeholder views. The workshop will take place on 16 November 2021 and is open to all SEC Parties, with the following aims:

  • Overview of the Device Selection Methodology criteria, covering source data and rules;
  • Overview and discussion of additional rules to apply to the methodology, with the aim of ensuring a manageable but appropriate set of devices for testing;
  • Discussion on additional considerations for Device Selection; and
  • Discussion on the aims of the Network Evolution Communications Hub & Network programme in respect to 2G/3G sunsetting and implementing a Device Selection Methodology appropriate to the expected use of the Network Evolution Communications Hub.

 

It is not a prerequisite to have attended the initial session on 11 October 2021. To register to join the workshop, or if you have any questions, please contact customer.engagement@smartdcc.co.uk.

 

Quarterly Finance Forum – 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.

 

Smart Meter Device Assurance (SMDA) Scope Review Consultation Results and Full Assurance

The SMDA Scheme would like to thank all those who participated in the SMDA Scope Review Consultation, issued on 16 August 2021. 18 responses were received, and the majority of Parties were in support of the additional testing scenarios proposed by Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) and Pre-User Integration Testing (UIT) SMDA Communications Hub testing.

 

The next steps are for these results to be reviewed at the SMDA Management Panel Sub-Group meeting on 2 November 2021. Any recommendations will then be considered by the SMDA Sub-Committee at their meeting on 22 November 2021 before final approval by the SEC Panel.

 

Full Assurance is a key goal for the SMDA Scheme and a milestone that SMDA hopes is achieved towards the end of this year. In order to aid this process, a new Full Assurance Baseline (accessed once logged in) and an infographic have been created, which SMDA hopes will encourage device manufacturers to submit their devices for Full Assurance testing.

 

The Full Assurance Baseline refers to SMDA-252 SMDA Tolerated Issues for Full Assurance which outlines the accepted common issues (issues outside of the device manufacturers’ remit to resolve). When a common issue is resolved, this document will be updated to reflect the change and a new Full Assurance Baseline will be issued to reference the updated accepted common issues.

 

Devices with Full Assurance will not be affected by a change in baseline and can be uplifted using the exemption process. If you have any questions, please contact smdaenquiries@gemserv.com.

 

New Draft Proposals

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.

 

DP186 ‘Section D Review (2020): further enhancements’

 

 

 

In October 2020, the SEC Panel agreed to SECAS carrying out an end-to-end review of the SEC modification framework. Several areas were investigated to identify any improvements that could be made.

 

Most of the recommendations from this SEC Section D Review could be implemented within the current wording of SEC Section D. However, a few of its recommendations will require changes to SEC Section D ‘Modifications Process’ to deliver. This Draft Proposal has been raised to progress these changes further.

 

Modification consultations – your opportunity to input to SEC change

Modification consultations are your opportunity to feed into and comment on SEC Modifications as they are developed. Your views are essential to help the Proposer, the Working Group and the Change Board to fully assess and understand the issue, solution(s) business case for a modification and how the change may affect you.

We issue three types of consultation on modifications:

  • Requests for information (RFIs) offer you a chance to provide information to help refine the issue, solution, or case for change as these are being developed;

 

  • Refinement Consultations allow you to comment on the solution(s) developed and the case for change before these are finalised, and tell us whether and how these will impact you; and

 

  • Modification Report Consultations allow you to give your view on whether a modification should be approved before the Change Board votes, and is your final chance to input on a modification before the decision is made

 

You can find all our open modification consultations on our Open Industry Consultations webpage.

 

Request for Information

There is currently one open RFI. You are invited to provide feedback to the Change Team to help us understand your views on whether the modification should be approved. Please send your comments to sec.change@gemserv.com by email with the title ‘DP173 legal text views’.

 

DP173 ‘SMKI & DCCKI Document Set reviews’

 

Download the Modification ReportRecommendations and draft legal text.

 

Closing Date:

12 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.

 

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 October 2021 WHITE SEC Panel Meeting 97 Documentation. SEC Parties can also view the Transitional Governance Update (TGU) Paper in the October 2021 GREEN SEC Panel Meeting 97 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
2 November Operations Group Meeting 60
3 November Monthly Working Group Meeting – November 2021
4 November Technical Architecture and Business Architecture Sub-Committee Meeting 71
10 November Smart Metering Key Infrastructure Policy Management Authority Meeting 87
10 November Security Sub-Committee Meeting 135
10 November Other SEC Parties Engagement Call
11 November Smart Energy GB Engagement webinar
12 November SEC Panel Meeting 98
17 November Small Suppliers Engagement Call
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