SEC Newsletter 30 April 2020

Hello and welcome to the latest edition of the SECAS newsletter.

This edition is jam packed, so read on to find out about how you can join the SMKI PMA Sub-Committee, say goodbye to a long-standing Large Supplier representative, and learn about our brand new Open Industry Consultations webpage.

Please contact our SECAS Helpdesk with any suggestions about how SECAS could further support you with maintaining business as usual during the Covid-19 situation or if you have any questions.

Represent your Party type by joining the SMKI PMA

The Smart Metering Key Infrastructure (SMKI) is the public key infrastructure established by the DCC. It provides secure communications between Devices and Users.

The SMKI Policy Management Authority (PMA) meets once a month and governs the SMKI Document Set and aims to gain assurance of the DCC’s operation of SMKI Services.

July 2020 marks the end of term for several Members, opening up the opportunity for you to keep informed of industry developments and influence key decisions.

We are calling nominations for Large Suppliers, Small Suppliers, Gas Networks and a Security Sub-Committee representatives.

Would you like to play a vital role managing the policy surrounding the Smart Metering Key Infrastructure? If so, nominate yourself or an individual by submitting your SMKI PMA Nomination Form to the SECAS Helpdesk by close on 25 May 2020.

SEC End of Regulatory Year Report 2019-2020

SEC Parties can now view the End of Regulatory Year Report along with the End of Budgetary Year Report on the SECAS website. The report includes activities that underpin the strategic aims of the SEC Panel to manage the operation of the SEC and support the Smart Metering Implementation Programme (SMIP) Transition phase and the Joint Industry Plan.

Update on Sub-Committee membership

We would like to thank Ashley Pocock for his significant and impactful contribution over the past eight years and wish him a happy retirement. Ash held a Large Supplier seat on the SEC Panel, Smart Metering Key Infrastructure Policy Management Authority (SMKI PMA), the Security Sub-Committee (SSC), and the Technical Architecture and Business Architecture Sub-Committee (TABASC).

We are delighted to welcome his alternates: Ralph Baxter on the SEC Panel, Nicholas Wright on SMKI PMA and Cavus Batki on the SSC.

Ash’s Large Supplier seat on these Sub-Committees will be up for full term re-election later this year, if you would like to know more please contact the SECAS Helpdesk.

Modification Consultations

SEC Parties are invited to share their views on the Modification Consultations listed below. Please contact our SEC Change team with your feedback, which is invaluable in shaping the outcome of Modifications.

Tell us how SMETS2 no-WAN scenarios impact you

Are you and your customers affected by SMETS2 no Wide Area Network (WAN) scenarios? The Proposer of DP094 ‘Supporting prepayment customers in no Smart Meter Wide Area Network scenarios’ seeks to find a resolution to ensure Pre-payment customers can continue to be fully served when there is no WAN. We particularly want to hear how often you and your customers are impacted by no Wide Area Network (WAN), intermittent WAN and DCC outage scenarios.

We welcome your comments to the SEC Change team by 5 May 2020.

Read the Latest CACoP Newsletter

You can read the April 2020 Code Administration Code of Practice (CACoP) Newsletter, which is available to download here or from the CACoP webpage.

Keep up to date with our new Open Industry Consultations Webpage!

You can now view consultations that may be of interest on our new Open Industry Consultations webpage. We know it can be tricky keeping up to date with consultations so we hope that this will be a useful way to keep track of what is important to your SEC Party.

If you are aware of a consultation to be published on the webpage, please contact the SECAS Helpdesk.

DCC Publications

The DCC has published the following:

• Consultation on the changes to the SMETS1 Supporting Requirements Document – the proposed changes to the SMETS1 Supporting Requirements Document relate to the Middle Operating Capability Secure cohort. This consultation closes on 1 May 2020.

• Error Handling Strategy (EHS) Consultation – Amendments to the Error Handling Strategy (EHS) document are proposed, focusing on additions of EHS procedures for SMETS1 Response Codes. This consultation closes on 7 May 2020.

• Changes to the DCC Performance Measurement Methodology – SMETS1 measures – The DCC proposes to add the SMETS1 performance measures to the Performance Measurement Methodology (PMM). This consultation closes on 11 May 2020.

• Proposed changes to the Self-Service Interface required by SECMP0062 ‘Northbound Application Traffic Management – Alert Storm Protection’ – Consults on the new dashboard in the Self-Service interface that is being developed as part of SECMP0062. This consultation closes on 18 May 2020.

BEIS Publications

BEIS has published the following:

• Heat networks: Building a Market Framework – BEIS has set out proposals to drive forward low-carbon heat networks’ growth in a regulatory framework that protects consumers and ensures fair pricing. This consultation closes on 1 May 2020.

• Reforming Regulation Initiative – BEIS invites businesses to complete a survey to identify areas of UK regulation for improvement, to ensure regulation is proportionate. This consultation closes on 11 June 2020.

Ofgem Publications

Ofgem has published the following:

• Letter to code and central systems bodies regarding priorities and our views on code activities during the Covid crisis – Ofgem has provided a letter to code and central system bodies, detailing its views and priorities in regards to Covid-19 to help ensure that code-level discussions on priorities are aligned.

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).