Industry Change

The following Impact Assessments have been published and can be accessed from the Impact Assessments Register, on the REC Portal.

I0216 – REC Changes to tie in with DCP419

Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) are currently receiving unnecessary Power Outage Event Alerts (AD1) from Smart Meters during planned works or Communications Hub replacements. This issue is anticipated to escalate with the 2G to 4G Communications Hub replacement project in 2025. To address this, DCP419 proposes that all parties working on Smart Meters or Communications Hubs must notify the DNO in advance, thereby eliminating the need for DNOs to contact consumers unnecessarily.

• 04 March 2025 – REC Change Panel
• 04 March 2025 – Performance Assurance Webinar (10:00 – 11:30)
• 06 March 2025 – Change Issues Group
• 12 March 2025 – Metering Expert Panel
• 12 March 2025 – Gas Operational Metering Forum
• 13 March 2025 – R0155 – Change of Occupier: Evidentiary Standards and Timescales Webinar (13:00 – 14:00)
• 14 March 2025 – REC Issues Group
• 20 March 2025 – Introduction to the REC Webinar (11:00 – 12:30)
• 25 March 2025 – Performance Assurance Board
• 26 March 2025 – Technical Expert Panel
• 26 March 2025 – Theft Issues Group

Within the past week, the Code Manager has published the below REC Committees documentation on the REC Portal.

• Final Minutes have been published following the Performance Assurance Board on 28 January 2025.
• Final Minutes have been published following the Technical Expert Panel on 29 January 2025.
• Headline Report has been published following the Performance Assurance Board on 25 February 2025.
• Headline Report has been published following the Technical Expert Panel on 26 February 2025.
• Headline Report has been published following the Theft Issues Group on 26 February 2025.
• Agenda and Papers have been published ahead of the REC Change Panel on 04 March 2025.
• Agenda and Papers have been published ahead of the Change Issues Group on 06 March 2025.

On 11 February 2025, the REC Code Manager published the Change Report (Proposal Plan) for the following Issues and Change Proposal ahead of being presented to the REC Change Panel on 18 February 2025:

• I0172 – End-to-End New Connections Process Review to Eliminate Issues Related to New Builds and Similar Situations
• I0234 – Introduction of an Energy Theft Referral Assessment Service Under the REC

The Code Manager has released its latest Podcast. In this episode Paul Rocke and Lydia Bentley explore how I0196 (Review of the Metering Asset Data Transferred from MAMs to the CDSP) is progressing through the REC Change Process, and how REC Parties can engage with the Code Manager as part of a collaborative solution development approach for this Issue. Listen to the episode and access the full transcript on the Podcast Page of the REC Portal.

On 11 February 2025, the REC Code Manager published the Change Report (Proposal Plan) for the following Issues and Change Proposal ahead of being presented to the REC Change Panel on 18 February 2025:

• I0172 – End-to-End New Connections Process Review to Eliminate Issues Related to New Builds and Similar Situations
• I0234 – Introduction of an Energy Theft Referral Assessment Service Under the REC
• R0238 – Performance Assurance Reporting Catalogue – Annual Review

These reports are open for comments on the REC Portal until 23:59 on 17 February 2025. 

If you have any questions on any of these Issues or Change Proposal, please contact us at enquiries@recmanager.co.uk.

Within the past week, the Code Manager has published the below REC Committees documentation on the REC Portal.

• Final Minutes have been published following the REC Change Panel Meeting on 21 January 2025.
• Headline Report has been published following the REC Change Panel on 04 February 2025.
• Agenda and Papers have been published ahead of the I0189 Working Group on 10 February 2025.
• Agenda and Papers have been published ahead of the Metering Expert Panel on 12 February 2025.
• Agenda and Papers have been published ahead of the Electricity Operational Metering Forum 12 February 2025.

The following SEC modifications are currently out for consultation:

MP252 ‘Amending the process for Communications Hub returns’

MP252 proposes to allow any SEC Party to return Communications Hubs to the DCC using the current method via the CSPs. There will be process changes to the DSP and DCC Service Management System (DSMS) with additional validation. This will provide three possible routes for the Communications Hub return records to be created in DSMS. There will be a new DUIS error code associated with SRVs 8.14.3 and 8.14.4, which will require DCC Users to move to the new version of DUIS. DCC Users not on this new version of DUIS will get an overloaded or existing error.

MP277 ‘Virtual Gateway Connection’

MP277 proposes to implement a Virtual Routing & Forwarding (VRF) component and new virtual Firewall for each cloud connected DCC Gateway Party. The Firewall will route traffic between each DCC Gateway Party’s VRF and the associated Smart Metering Equipment Technical Specifications (SMETS)2 VRF. The Firewall would only allow a DCC Gateway Party to access the DSP, Trusted Service Provider (TSP), testing environments and Service Now (SNOW). The Proposed Solution will also provide the option for prospective, new and existing DCC Users to connect to the DCC through a virtual DCC Gateway Connection by selecting a virtual connection from the DSP Service Catalogue. In addition, the DCC will likely need to make changes to the DCC Charging Statement to reflect costs associated with a virtual DCC Gateway Connection.

On 24 January 2025, the REC Code Manager published the Change Report (Proposal Plan) for the following Issues and Changes ahead of being presented to the REC Change Panel on 04 February 2025:

• R0152 – Revision to the Consolidated Metering Code of Practice (CoMCoP)
• I0227 – Domestic Elective HH Switching

These Change Reports are open for comments until 23:59 on 31 January 2025.