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MRASCo Newsletter Issue 108
With Spring, Brings the Wind of Change
Headlines
CREG made
progress with its
review of the MDB
Constitution
The Code Review Expect Group (CREG) discussed the MRA
Development Board (MDB) Constitution and agreed that
Distribution Businesses could represent their own businesses rather
than on a consistency basis, and subject to MDB approval, will see
the introduction of a further three seats at MDB.
SEG issued an RFI
for the ECOES
Monthly Report
CREG further agreed that another seat for Smaller Suppliers would
enable both non-domestic and domestic smaller Suppliers to
engage and provide views within the MRA Change Process.
IREG drafted a
“Statement of
Operation” Working Practice
In other news, the Issue Resolution Expert Group (IREG) drafted a
Working Practice which detailed the information Distribution
Businesses require to allocate additional MPANs and the information that should be sent within the D0168 and D0169 Data
Flows. A change is to be raised for April’s MDB meeting.
Inside this issue
- Security Expert
Group (SEG)
1
- MRA Code
2
Governance Review
- Business Process
Model
2
- Issue Resolution Ex- 3
pert Group (IREG)
- Change Proposals
4
- Prepayment
Allocation Expert
Group
5
- Smart Meter Imple- 6
mentation Programme (SMIP)
- The Green Deal
Update
6
- Assurance
7
Page 1
The Pre-Payment Allocation Process Expert Group (PAPEG)
reviewed a number of options regarding the future of XREF, as well
as three options to reduce the reliance on the database, which
are due to be further investigated.
Security Expert Group (SEG)
SEG has been tasked with reviewing,
investigating and developing potential
system and process enhancements to
ensure adequate security of the personal
data held within the MRASCo systems is
maintained.
Source: www.pcworld.com
SEG last met on 3rd March 2015 and reviewed the initial findings of an Information Security Risk Assessment and proposals in relation to Information Security measures in
the MRA and its subsidiary documents.
The ECOES monthly report was also considered which resulted in a
Request For Information (RFI) being issued to MRA parties. The
deadline for responses to this RFI is 22nd April 2015.
SEG will next convene on 5th May 2015, for further details please
contact the MRA helpdesk.
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MRASCo Newsletter Issue 108
Business Process
Model
The MRASCo Business
Process Model has not
been updated since
2007 so the Business
Process Model Review
Group (BPMRG) aims to
update the process
diagrams to include any
implemented changes
that affect the diagrams
until May 2014.
BPMRG met on the 23rd
March 2015 and agreed
the Gap Analysis Report
as final, following party
feedback. The report is
due to be re-circulated
with a request for any
further comments as
Casewise testing is due
to commence from the
beginning of May 2015.
At the BPMRG Meeting, it
was also noted that an
internal workshop had
been organised to
review MAP17 - Change
Management Procedure
and that the process was
currently being modelled
in Casewise for the
purpose of identifying
any potential improvements within the
procedure and to make
any consequential
recommendations. It was
noted that this work
would be running in
parallel with the project
schedule.
Page 2
MRA Code Governance Review
The Code Governance Review Expert Group (CREG) last met on
26th March 2015 and discussed the following:
Post Implementation Review - CREG Stage 2
The concept of materiality was introduced in to the MRA Change
Process in June 2014. Since its introduction Gemserv has discussed
possible areas of improvements with Ofgem leading to two options
for CREG to consider. The first option would extend the scope of the
materiality criteria e.g. reviewing whether material obligations
existed within MRA Agreed Procedures (MAPs) and should be better
placed in the MRA document itself. The second option for
consideration looks at whether rejected material changes should be
sent to the Authority for decision, aligning to other industry code
processes.
The Expert Group expressed concerns in making changes when the
rational and benefits for amending existing processes was not clear.
As a result, a paper will be taken to the MRA Executive Committee
(MEC) in April, with a view to provide CREG with a steer as to
how to progress with the workstream.
MDB Constitution Review
The MDB Constitution has been subject to review and consultation
since November 2014. The review has been broken down into two
areas, a review of Distribution Business representation and secondly
a review of Supplier representation, following market developments.
In February 2015, the MEC Distribution Business representative was
recommended by CREG to liaise with Distribution Business Contract
Managers to gauge whether representation at MDB was fit for
purpose. At the March CREG meeting, consensus across Distribution
Businesses to represent their own businesses rather than on a
consistency basis was acknowledged which, subject to MDB
approval, will see the introduction of a further three seats at MDB.
CREG further discussed changes to Supplier representation. CREG
agreed that a further seat for Smaller Suppliers would enable both
non-domestic and domestic smaller Suppliers to engage and
provide views within the MRA Change Process. Gemserv are to
draft the necessary changes and enter them into the MRA Change
Process.
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MRASCo Newsletter Issue 108
Dates for the
Diary
13th April 2015
-PAPEG_15_0413
28th April 2015
- MEC_115_0428
28th April 2015
-Board_15_0428
30th April 2015
-MDB_15_0430
30th April 2015
-CREG_15_0430
5th May 2015
-SEG_15_0505
8th May 2015
-PAPEG_15_0508
12th May 2015
-SAFEG_15_0512
13TH May 2015
-IREG_15_0513
14th May 2015
-GDEG_15_0514
26th May 2015
-MEC_15_0526
26th May 2015
-Board_15_0526
28th May 2015
-MDB_15_0528
28th May 2015
-CREG_15_0528
Page 4
Issue Resolution Expert Group (IREG)
An update from the IREG meeting on the 11th March 2015 is
provided below:
MPRS Validation for P272
St Clements presented options for MPRS validation following the
changes due to be implemented as a result of P272. IREG discussed
the options presented and established that validation requirements
within MPRS would not be necessary owing to a number of factors
including a number of Profile Class 5 to 8 sites which will not be able
to be settled Half Hourly. IREG noted that the creation of a report
would benefit parties as to the status of changing sites over to be
settled Half Hourly although this report would best sit under the Balancing and Settlement Code (BSC).
MIF165 - D0168 Process Governance
Gemserv presented a draft Working Practice detailing the
information Distribution Businesses require to allocate MPANs and the
information that should be sent within the D0168 and D0169 Data
Flows. Following feedback from an IREG member a “Statement of
Operation” Working Practice matrix was also presented highlighting
additional information each Distribution Business required for certain
logical scenarios. IREG reviewed the Working Practice drafting,
recommending minor amendments and agreed for the final
drafting to be provided at the April meeting.
MIF169 - Adding a While Current, CT and VT flag on ECOES
IREG reviewed a proposed solution to add a Whole Current, CT and
VT flag on ECOES which would be maintained by the D0312 Data
Flow. Costs had been gained from the ECOES Technical Service
Provider however due to the significance of costs IREG agreed that
the cost of the implementation outweighed the benefit of the
solution. IREG discussed the addition of the Measurement Class Data
Item into the ECOES monthly consolidated report as this may
provide a work around to the solution. Gemserv agreed to gain
costing for this change and feed this back to IREG ahead of the
next meeting.
An update from the IREG meeting on 8th April will be provided in the
next issue. If you have any questions please contact the team at
[email protected].
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MRASCo Newsletter Issue 108
£47bn Deal for
Shell to buy UK’s
BG Group
Energy giant Shell has
agreed to buy oil and
gas exploration firm BG
Group in a deal worth
around £47 billion.
If approved by shareholders and regulators,
the deal will be one of
the biggest transactions
of 2015 and the first
major merger between
energy firms in at least a
decade.
The agreement will add
around 25% to Shell’s oil
and gas reserves and
20% to production as well
as provide it with
“enhanced positions” in
competitive new oil and
gas projects, particularly
in Australia LNG and
Brazil deep water, the
company said.
It also expects to make
annual savings of around
$2.5 billion (£1.7bn)
following the deal, leading to further investments
of £4 billion between
2016 and 2018.
For further information,
please go to:
www.energylivenews.co
m
Page 5
Change Proposals
Forthcoming Change Proposals
This month’s MDB on 30th April 2015 will look at the following
Change Proposals:

MAP CP 0228 - Escalation Responses - Erroneous Transfers

MAP CP 0221 - Amending MAP15 to mandate resolving D0312
rejections

MAP CP 0222 - Amending MAP15 to introduce a report detailing the number of D0312 rejections

MAP CP 0223 - Amending MAP15 to implement Algorithm 5

MAP CP 0224 - Amending MAP15 to introduce an Algorithm 5
report

MAP CP 0225 – Amend MAP 18 to Improve Exception Handling in the GDCC (Option 1)

MAP CP 0226 - Amend MAP 18 to Improve Exception Handling
in the GDCC (Option 2)

MAP CP 0220 - Amendments to MAP17 to introduce the concept of Materiality to GD Changes

MRA CP 0227 - Amendments to the MRA to introduce the
concept of Materiality to GD Changes

WPPS CP 0122 - Amendments to WP124

DTC CP 3458 - Reporting of Excluded Energy Volumes in the
CFD Supplier Invoice Backing Data Flow D0362

DTC CP 3459 - Changes to facilitate implementation of BSC
Modification Proposal P305

DTC CP 3459A- Changes to facilitate P305

DTC CP 3465 - SVAA reporting changes to facilitate P305

DTC CP 3460 - Reporting of Additional EMR Backing Data to
Suppliers (D0362 and D0364)
Recently agreed Change Proposals can be viewed on the
Change Register, found on the MRASCo website.
If you need help please or information, please contact the MRA
Change Admin team at [email protected].
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MRASCo Newsletter Issue 108
Our Team
Continuing with our new
feature, we are
providing you with an
opportunity to get to
know a MRA Team
member:
Lauren Nicholls
Part of the MRA you are
involved in: Supporting
PAPEG and the newly
formed SEG, as well as
the MRA Executive
Committee and Board.
Interesting fact: For my
21st, I went to South
Africa and took far too
many selfies with
animals.
Home town: Croydon
What are you looking
forward to in the next 12
months: The return of
summer.
Who is your Role Model:
Warren Buffett.
Page 6
Prepayment Allocation Process Expert
Group (PAPEG)
PAPEG has been developing solutions for the redistribution of
unallocated prepayment transactions and solutions to enhance
the current allocation process, outlined in MAP14.
PAPEG last met on the 16th March 2015 to discuss the following:
XREF Database
PAPEG reviewed a number of options regarding the future of XREF
as well as four options to reduce the reliance on the database.
One of the options to reduce the reliance on XREF, the ‘look up
function’, was discounted as the associated benefits could be
achieved by the redirected reports detailing the routing
mechanism or the implementation of a centralised view of XREF.
PAPEG agreed that the remaining three options should be further
investigated and that XREF should be removed from the allocation
process with a long-lead time.
Disconnected MPANs
A report was generated to establish the impacts and scale of
disconnected prepayment MPANs in ECOES. The report highlighted
that a small proportion of prepayment meters were associated to
disconnected MPANs but were accruing large sums of
unallocatable transactions. Gemserv will be developing options to
resolve the issues being caused by disconnected MPANs, which will
be considered at the next meeting.
Transaction Routing Flag
PAPEG reviewed the Transaction Routing Flag (TRF) in ECOES, in
order to determine whether the flag’s functionality could be
improved to enhance the allocation process. A number of options
were presented to the Group, with the concluding thought being
that further information was required regarding central processing
of the TRF and the ability to set the TRF for a set timeframe rather
than a whole registration period. Both solutions will be developed
and reviewed at the next meeting.
Key Distribution CP
PAPEG reviewed the final Key Distribution Change Proposal (CP),
and agreed for the drafting to be progressed via the MRA Change
Process. A sponsor for the CP was found and the due diligence is
being carried out prior to the CP being issued for Impact
Assessment.
The next PAPEG meeting will convene on 13th April 2015, if you
have any questions please contact the team at
[email protected].
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MRASCo Newsletter Issue 108
The Green Deal
Update
The GDCC Release 9.0 is
due to be implemented on
26th June 2015.
There are currently a n
umber of Green Deal
related Change Packs
issued for Impact
Assessment.
Two CPs that were raise
following the February
GDEG meeting were MAP
CP 0225 and the MAP CP
0226. The accepted
changes are proposed to
be included in the June
release of the GDCC.
Two other Green Deal related CPs are also currently
out for Impact Assessment,
following February’s CREG
meeting. These CPs are
MAP CP 0220 and MRA CP
0227, which concern the
materiality of GD changes.
All MRA Parties have been
invited to comments on the
CPs by the IA response
deadline, on the 14th April
2015.
The GDEG meeting was
held on the 9th April 2015.
The meeting discussed a
number of potential
changes that could be
raised to the GDCC.
If you have any Green deal
related questions please
contact us via
[email protected] or
020 7090 1068.
Page 3
Smart Metering Implementation
Programme (SMIP)
Smart Metering Implementation Programme (SMIP)
DECC have been issuing a range of consultations and responses in
advance of purdah. An overview of the key documents has been
provided below:
Non-Domestic Smart Metering which seeks views on two issues
relating to the roll-out of smart and advanced meters to the nondomestic sector. The consultation is in two parts with part A covering
the existing policy position in relation to non-domestic suppliers
accessing smart meters outside of the DCC and whether the
position should be revised or removed. Part B seeks views on the
policy position on the installation of advanced meters until 2016 to
meet roll-out obligations. The closing date for responses is 15th June
2015.
Home Area Network Solutions sets out options for the provision of
the HAN in premises where the 2.4GHz HAN is unlikely to operate.
The consultation offers 2 options: an 868MHz solution and an
alternative HAN solution. The closing date for responses is 19th May
2015.
Smart Metering Rollout Strategy sets out the Government’s positions
and key regulatory proposals to assist organisations in making robust
commercial and investment decisions for the rollout of smart meters.
The consultation covers SMETS2 installation commencement, the
timescales for SMETS1 deployment and the enrolment and adoption
strategy. The closing date for responses is 19th May 2015.
A consultation on New Smart Energy Code Content and Related
Licence Amendments – March 2015. This consultation covers
performance reporting, scope of risk management obligations for
users, confidentiality, security licence condition covering DCC
enrolled smart meters, implementation performance regime and
other SEC amendments. The closing date for responses is 29th May
2015.
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MRASCo Newsletter Issue 108
Smart Metering Implementation
Programme (SMIP)
Who to
Contact
Don’t forget there is a
dedicated team
available to help with all
your MRA related
queries:
MRASCo Helpdesk:
- T: 020 7090 1029
- E: MRAhelpdesk@Gemserv.
com
ECOES queries:
- T: 020 7090 1024
- E: [email protected]
Any industry issues
regarding the MRA or its
associated products:
- T: 020 7090 1029
- E: [email protected]
GDCC Helpdesk:
- T: 020 7090 1068
- E: GDCC@Gemserv.
com
For all other general MRA
queries:
- T: 020 7090 1029
- E: MRAhelpdesk@Gemserv.
March 2015 Smart Energy Code government response covers the
decisions from the previous SEC consultations in June, November
2014 and January 2015. It covers a range of areas including
technical aspects such as alerts, schedules, security requirements
and testing conclusions.
From a regulatory perspective it concludes on proposals to move
technical arrangements into subsidiary
documents and consequential changes to supply licence conditions.
All documents can be found on the DECC website and a more
detailed update will be provided in the next Smarter Markets
Update for MEC.
Assurance
The Market Assurance team continues to provide a wide range of
services. In March we;

Monitored weekly CME reports to ensure compliance with
agreed operating conditions.

Conducted one CME exit audit

Booked in one CME Exit Audit to take place in April

Held planning meetings with three new applicants

Visited a supplier to view their systems prior to ITA
com
Let us know your
thoughts on the
Newsletter
Please send your
comments through to:
Stephanie Catwell.
Page 7
MRA Assessment Service
March 2015 Statistics
In Entry Assessment
Pending Entry Assessment
In Controlled Market Entry
Pending Controlled Market Entry
Re-Qualification
9
20
14
12
0
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