Remote communication obligations for electricity Advanced Meters
Summary
This Proposal seeks to introduce an explicit obligation under the REC regarding the provision of active remote communications for electricity Advanced Meters. This supports an effective transition for the Advanced Meter segment, ahead of the Market-wide Half Hourly Settlement (MHHS) Programme migration deadlines.
Latest update and next planned activity
Date of latest update
Latest Update
30/06/2023 - This change was implemented on 30 June 2023 as part of the June 2023 REC Release
Impacts Overview
Impacted Consumers
Electricity
Domestic
Non-Domestic
Impacted REC Parties and Market Participants
Energy Supplier
Impacted REC Documents
Schedule 14 - Metering Operations
Priority and rationale
High
Priority last updated on 29 May 2026
Solution development
Problem Statement
The Balancing and Settlement Code (BSC) is seeking to mandate the Half-Hourly Settlement of Advanced Meters ahead of the transition to Market-wide Half Hourly Settlement. In order to support this transition, these meters will need to support remote communications to allow half hourly consumption data to be collected. There is currently no explicit requirement for Energy Suppliers and/or Metering Equipment Managers to ensure these meters have working remote communications, which could impact the successful migration of these meters to the new arrangements.
Proposed solution summary
- As an electricity consumer with an Advanced Meter, I want my usage data to be accessed remotely from my meter, to reduce the need for on-site visits and ensure that I receive timely and accurate bills.
- As the Market-wide Half Hourly Settlement (MHHS) Programme I want to see an effective, early migration of NHH settled Advanced Meters to HH settled, to reduce the risk of missed migration deadlines and ensuring sufficient time to resolve ‘problem’ sites ahead of the MHHS migration deadline.
- As an Energy Supplier I want to obtain usage remotely, reducing the need for on-site metering reading activity, enabling me to settle and bill accurately. As a Metering Equipment Manager (MEM), I need to understand any changes to obligations that may impact my business, so I can engage in the change process and plan any required changes to my systems, processes and organisation.
No documents available.
Change Plan
Initial Assessment Report published
Completed
Start:
17 Nov 2021Due:
21 Dec 2021Completion:
21 Dec 2021Analysis and Solution development activity
Completed
Start:
21 Dec 2021Due:
27 Feb 2022Completion:
25 Feb 2022Party Impact Assessment completion
Completed
Start:
27 Feb 2022Due:
21 Mar 2022Completion:
21 Mar 2022Preliminary Change Report issued
Completed
Start:
07 Apr 2022Due:
27 May 2022Completion:
27 May 2022Consultation starts
Completed
Start:
27 May 2022Due:
10 Jun 2022Completion:
10 Jun 2022Consultation ends
Completed
Start:
10 Jun 2022Due:
01 Jul 2022Completion:
01 Jul 2022Final Change Report issued
Completed
Start:
01 Jul 2022Due:
29 Jul 2022Completion:
28 Jul 2022Metering Expert Panel decision
Completed
Start:
29 Jul 2022Due:
10 Aug 2022Completion:
10 Aug 2022Service Provider Impact Assessment issued
Completed
Start:
21 Mar 2022Due:
07 Apr 2022Completion:
07 Apr 2022Send back solution refinement completed
Completed
Start:
10 Aug 2022Due:
13 Jan 2023Completion:
13 Jan 2023Consultation issued
Completed
Start:
13 Jan 2023Due:
20 Jan 2023Completion:
20 Jan 2023Update provided to Change Panel
Completed
Start:
20 Jan 2023Due:
07 Feb 2023Completion:
07 Feb 2023Final Change Report issued
Completed
Start:
07 Feb 2023Due:
14 Feb 2023Completion:
14 Feb 2023Responsible Committee decision
Completed
Start:
14 Feb 2023Due:
21 Feb 2023Completion:
21 Feb 2023Authority Determination requested
Completed
Start:
21 Feb 2023Due:
28 Feb 2023Completion:
24 Mar 2023Original submission
Change details
Tom Chevalier - Association of Meter Operators
17 Nov 2021
Change details
Remote communication obligations for Advanced Meters
This Modification seeks to place an obligation on electricity Meter Equipment Managers (MEMs) to take all reasonable steps to ensure that remote communications are fitted and working for all CT Advanced Meters by March 2023 and for all Advanced Meters by October 2024.
It supports Recommendation 3 by the Code Change and Development Group (CCDG) as set out in its Consultation on the Transition Approach For Market Wide Half Hourly Settlement (MHHS) https://www.elexon.co.uk/documents/industry-consultations/2021-industry-consultations/code-change-and-development-group-transition-consultation-on-market-wide-half-hourly-settlement/
It supports Recommendation 3 by the Code Change and Development Group (CCDG) as set out in its Consultation on the Transition Approach For Market Wide Half Hourly Settlement (MHHS) https://www.elexon.co.uk/documents/industry-consultations/2021-industry-consultations/code-change-and-development-group-transition-consultation-on-market-wide-half-hourly-settlement/
Obligations on Meter Equipment Managers (MEMs) under the REC, and previously on Meter Operator Agents (MOAs) under the BSC, do not directly align with the Supplier Standard Licence Conditions requirement (standard condition 12 ) that all Advanced Meters should have remote communications equipment.
This Modification seeks to require all Advanced Meters to align with the SLC requirements for remote communications equipment before the Change of Measurement Class activities for CT Metering Systems set out in recommendation 3 begin in October 2022.
The inability to perform site visits during the Covid-19 lockdown has highlighted the reliance by Parties on site visits to meet code obligations on HH and NHH data collection, with the industry failing to achieve the required level of performance under the BSC and anecdotal evidence of customer dissatisfaction through estimated accounts.
In preparation for the MHHS obligations to settle all Advanced Meters on a HH basis it is therefore opportune to review existing obligations on provision of remote communications equipment to reduce the risk of large consuming sites having detrimental impact on customer billing and settlement.
This Modification seeks to require all Advanced Meters to align with the SLC requirements for remote communications equipment before the Change of Measurement Class activities for CT Metering Systems set out in recommendation 3 begin in October 2022.
The inability to perform site visits during the Covid-19 lockdown has highlighted the reliance by Parties on site visits to meet code obligations on HH and NHH data collection, with the industry failing to achieve the required level of performance under the BSC and anecdotal evidence of customer dissatisfaction through estimated accounts.
In preparation for the MHHS obligations to settle all Advanced Meters on a HH basis it is therefore opportune to review existing obligations on provision of remote communications equipment to reduce the risk of large consuming sites having detrimental impact on customer billing and settlement.
The CCDG has made the following recommendations in respect of Advanced Meters:
• For CT Advanced Meters settling NHH, a period of mandatory CoMC activity running from October 2022 to October 2023; and
• Where possible, whole current Advanced Meters settling NHH are moved to settle HH via CoMC by October 2024. This will simplify the migration process but should not be mandated.
This Modification seeks to introduce an explicit requirement under the REC to require all CT Metering Systems to have remote communications fitted and working by March 2023 and for all Advanced Meters to have them by October 2024.
From January 2022, all newly installed Advanced Metering systems (CT and whole current) are required under SLC 12 to have communications fitted. Note: the deadline for compliance with the requirement was changed to 31 December 2021 by letter from BEIS dated 8 June 2021
• For CT Advanced Meters settling NHH, a period of mandatory CoMC activity running from October 2022 to October 2023; and
• Where possible, whole current Advanced Meters settling NHH are moved to settle HH via CoMC by October 2024. This will simplify the migration process but should not be mandated.
This Modification seeks to introduce an explicit requirement under the REC to require all CT Metering Systems to have remote communications fitted and working by March 2023 and for all Advanced Meters to have them by October 2024.
From January 2022, all newly installed Advanced Metering systems (CT and whole current) are required under SLC 12 to have communications fitted. Note: the deadline for compliance with the requirement was changed to 31 December 2021 by letter from BEIS dated 8 June 2021
The Electricity Supply Licence requires all CT operated Metering Systems to be Advanced Meters by the end of 2021. The SLC definition of an Advanced Meter is:
12.19 For the purposes of this condition, an advanced meter is an Electricity Meter that, either on its own or with an ancillary device, and in compliance with the requirements of any relevant Industry Code:
(a) provides measured electricity consumption data for multiple time periods, and is able to provide such data for at least half-hourly time periods; and
(b) is able to provide the licensee with remote access to such data.
As a result of the SLC all Advanced Meters should have remote communications, subject to a ‘reasonable steps’ condition 12.19. This Modification proposes to reflect and formalise this obligation under the REC.
Currently, neither the BSC not the REC explicitly requires the provision of remote communications to any Half Hourly settled SVA Metering Systems in alignment with the SLC. The provision of communications is a commercial issue between the Supplier, Meter Equipment Manager (MEM), Data Collector and Customer.
The BSC places an obligation on the Supplier to achieve 99% actual data at the Initial Settlement (SF) run, in practice, the only way to achieve this obligation is by the installation of working communications at the majority of Half Hourly settled sites. Therefore, the provision of remote communications is an implicit, rather than explicit, BSC requirement.
It is the view of the CCDG that this lack of explicit obligations in either the REC or BSC is one of the underlying issues under the extended debate by the P332 Modification Group discussions and there is a benefit to align the SLC obligation with an explicit obligation on MEMs in the REC.
In drafting the REC obligations consideration will need to be given to how the obligation is placed on a Supplier and/or MEM. This may need to reflect the contractual relationships between the Supplier, Customer and MEM. In the Advance Meter market many of the customers have contracted directly with the MEM for provision of metering and communications equipment.
12.19 For the purposes of this condition, an advanced meter is an Electricity Meter that, either on its own or with an ancillary device, and in compliance with the requirements of any relevant Industry Code:
(a) provides measured electricity consumption data for multiple time periods, and is able to provide such data for at least half-hourly time periods; and
(b) is able to provide the licensee with remote access to such data.
As a result of the SLC all Advanced Meters should have remote communications, subject to a ‘reasonable steps’ condition 12.19. This Modification proposes to reflect and formalise this obligation under the REC.
Currently, neither the BSC not the REC explicitly requires the provision of remote communications to any Half Hourly settled SVA Metering Systems in alignment with the SLC. The provision of communications is a commercial issue between the Supplier, Meter Equipment Manager (MEM), Data Collector and Customer.
The BSC places an obligation on the Supplier to achieve 99% actual data at the Initial Settlement (SF) run, in practice, the only way to achieve this obligation is by the installation of working communications at the majority of Half Hourly settled sites. Therefore, the provision of remote communications is an implicit, rather than explicit, BSC requirement.
It is the view of the CCDG that this lack of explicit obligations in either the REC or BSC is one of the underlying issues under the extended debate by the P332 Modification Group discussions and there is a benefit to align the SLC obligation with an explicit obligation on MEMs in the REC.
In drafting the REC obligations consideration will need to be given to how the obligation is placed on a Supplier and/or MEM. This may need to reflect the contractual relationships between the Supplier, Customer and MEM. In the Advance Meter market many of the customers have contracted directly with the MEM for provision of metering and communications equipment.
Impacts
Electricity, Domestic Credit, Microbusiness, Small and Medium Enterprise (SME), Industrial and Commercial (I&C)
Switching experience, Billing accuracy, Other (please provide details in Additional information box below)
As the result of the Electricity Act the Supplier has the ability to ensure that the metering for any customer is “an appropriate meter”. For example, a prepayment customer requires an appropriate meter to allow for prepayment capability, a CT connection customer needs an appropriate meter for a CT connection.
In this context, from the end of 2021, an “appropriate meter” for a CT operated Metering System is an Advanced Meter to enable the Supplier to comply with the SLC, subject to the reasonable steps clause. An Advanced Meter is defined in the SLC as requiring “…remote access to such data”.
Therefore, aligning the REC requirements to require remote communications equipment for all CT operated Metering Systems, should incur no additional cost, other than that already incurred through compliance with the SLC. Making a change to reflect this obligation on MEMs under the REC will have the benefit of making the obligations more explicit to customers and all industry stakeholders.
Comprehensive provision of working remote communications for all Half Hourly settled Metering Systems ensures robust collection of actual Half Hourly data. This has become particularly apparent during the Covid-19 lockdown where reliance on site visits to collect Half Hourly data has resulted in a detrimental impact on Suppliers being able to achieve the 99% actual data obligations. This will also become even more important under MHHS which proposes reducing the timing of the Initial Settlement Run (SF), and the Final Reconciliation Run (RF).
Ensuring compliance with 99% actual data at Initial Settlement by Suppliers through site visits involves considerable resource by stakeholders and customers, and remote communications are part of that solution.
The REC has objectives in respect of billing accuracy and the customer’s switching experience, so a clear industry requirement on MEMs to ensure remote communications are installed and maintained for Advanced Meters will be beneficial.
In this context, from the end of 2021, an “appropriate meter” for a CT operated Metering System is an Advanced Meter to enable the Supplier to comply with the SLC, subject to the reasonable steps clause. An Advanced Meter is defined in the SLC as requiring “…remote access to such data”.
Therefore, aligning the REC requirements to require remote communications equipment for all CT operated Metering Systems, should incur no additional cost, other than that already incurred through compliance with the SLC. Making a change to reflect this obligation on MEMs under the REC will have the benefit of making the obligations more explicit to customers and all industry stakeholders.
Comprehensive provision of working remote communications for all Half Hourly settled Metering Systems ensures robust collection of actual Half Hourly data. This has become particularly apparent during the Covid-19 lockdown where reliance on site visits to collect Half Hourly data has resulted in a detrimental impact on Suppliers being able to achieve the 99% actual data obligations. This will also become even more important under MHHS which proposes reducing the timing of the Initial Settlement Run (SF), and the Final Reconciliation Run (RF).
Ensuring compliance with 99% actual data at Initial Settlement by Suppliers through site visits involves considerable resource by stakeholders and customers, and remote communications are part of that solution.
The REC has objectives in respect of billing accuracy and the customer’s switching experience, so a clear industry requirement on MEMs to ensure remote communications are installed and maintained for Advanced Meters will be beneficial.
Schedule 14 - Metering Operations
Consideration should be given to how the obligation is monitored, reported and potentially enforced.
As part of the MHHS programme separate changes are being raised to explicitly identify CT sites in the Registration Service by Feb 2023. Meter Type (HH) is already identified. The knowledge of whether the comms is actually working will be known by the MEM.
As part of the MHHS programme separate changes are being raised to explicitly identify CT sites in the Registration Service by Feb 2023. Meter Type (HH) is already identified. The knowledge of whether the comms is actually working will be known by the MEM.
No details provided
-
No details provided
-
No details provided
No changes to existing message flows are required.
No details provided
-
No details provided
No changes envisaged
Energy Suppliers
Primary impact will be on electricity MEMs.
No details provided
The MHHS transition arrangements are progressing BSC changes which are complimentary, but not dependent, changes to record CT in the registration service, migrate CT meters to HH and whole current advanced meters to HH
Yes
No details provided
Priority & timing
No
-
The proposer would welcome the earliest possible implementation of this obligation to allow electricity MEMs the maximum amount of time to comply by the recommended deadline dates.
The MHHS transitional plan has a series of steps set out in the plan to achieve the MHHS plan set out by Ofgem https://mhhsprogramme-production-cdn.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/06142420/mhhs_transition_timetable_final_version_for_publication_20.04.21-plan.pdf
No details provided
-
Activity
Proposed solution summary changed to As an electricity consumer with an Advanced Meter, I want my usage data to be accessed remotely from my meter, to reduce the need for on-site visits and ensure that I receive timely and accurate bills.As the Mark…
Proposed solution summary changed to As an electricity consumer with an Advanced Meter, I want my usage data to be accessed remotely from my meter, to reduce the need for on-site visits and ensure that I receive timely and accurate bills.As the Market-wide Half Hourly Settlement (MHHS) Programme I want to see an effective, early migration of NHH settled Advanced Meters to HH settled, to reduce the risk of missed migration deadlines and ensuring sufficient time to resolve ‘problem’ sites ahead of the MHHS migration deadline.As an Energy Supplier I want to obtain usage remotely, reducing the need for on-site metering reading activity, enabling me to settle and bill accurately. As a Metering Equipment Manager (MEM), I need to understand any changes to obligations that may impact my business, so I can engage in the change process and plan any required changes to my systems, processes and organisation..
Show moreImplementation Date has been updated to 30 Jun 2023.
harriet.truss has been allocated as Lead Analyst.
Orphaned SME: Lead Technical Analyst has been allocated as SME.