Metering Systems Compliance with BSC Codes of Practice V8.0

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Metering Systems Compliance with BSC Codes of Practice

Guidance Note

This document covers:

    • The definition of a Metering System and an Asset Metering System;

    • The rules regarding compliance with the BSC Codes of Practice (CoPs); and

    • The purpose of Metering Dispensations

What is a Metering System?

A Metering System, or Asset Metering System, is made up of items of Metering Equipment including:

    • Voltage transformers

    • Current transformers

    • Meters and Outstations, or Asset Meters (as applicable)

    • The wires and connections between each item

    • Connections required to transfer metered data to the outside world (e.g. modems and communication lines).

There are three types of Metering System:

    • Those which measure and record electrical energy flow for each half hour for Settlement (Half Hourly Metering Systems);

    • Those which measure and record over longer periods of time, from which energy flows in each half hour can be estimated (Non Half Hourly Metering Systems);

    • Those which measure and record electrical energy flow for each half hour for Settlement of Secondary Balancing Mechanism Units (BMU) using Asset Metering Systems..

Metering Systems measuring flows to and from the Transmission System or between Distribution Systems, and a few Metering Systems measuring flows at particular sites embedded in Distribution Systems, are registered in the Central Meter Registration System (CMRS) and are often referred to as Central Volume Allocation (CVA) Metering Systems.

These Metering Systems record Half Hourly (HH) data. With the exception of Asset Metering Systems, all other Metering Systems measuring flows at sites embedded in Distribution Systems are registered in a Supplier Meter Registration System (SMRS) and are referred to as Supplier Volume Allocation (SVA) Metering Systems. Only those SVA Metering Systems measuring flows off a Distribution System which are less than 100kW, or flows onto a Distribution System which are less than 30kW, may be Non Half Hourly (NHH) Metering Systems provided they would not have been registered against Profile Classes 5-8 since the implementation of P272. All other SVA Metering Systems must be HH Metering Systems.

In relation to an Unmetered Supply, Equivalent Meters are the hardware and software used to calculate the HH consumption of electricity associated with such Unmetered Supply.

For Metering Systems measuring the flow of electricity to or from an Asset, these are registered in the Asset Meter Registration Service (AMRS) and are referred to as Asset Metering Systems. Asset Metering Systems must be HH Metering Systems.

What is the Purpose of a Metering System?

A Metering System accurately records the flow of electricity. For example, it may record the energy flowing into (Import), or away from (Export), a site connected to the Transmission System or a Distribution System or it may record energy flowing between two Systems or in the case of an Asset Metering System an Asset. This recorded data is submitted into the central BSC systems and used to calculate energy imbalance charges for BSC Parties who use more or less energy than they contract to buy or sell.

Suppliers, Asset Metering Virtual Lead Parties, Generators, Licensed Distribution System Operators, the National Electricity Transmission System Operator, Interconnector Administrators and Elexon also use this data for other charging purposes, both within and outside the BSC arrangements. For example: Transmission and Distribution Use of System Charges; allocation between Interconnector Users; Balancing Services delivery, monitoring and payments; Climate Change Levy calculations; and Renewables Obligation performance.

Section K1 of the BSC sets out participant responsibilities for registering both Import and Export Metering Systems or Asset Metering Systems, and those which measure flows between Systems at Systems Connection Points.

Section L2 sets out the obligations for participants (Registrants) who register Metering Systems3 in Settlement or for the purposes of balancing services using Asset Metering Systems in Secondary BMUs. It stipulates that Registrants must ensure that the Metering Systems for which they are responsible are installed, commissioned, maintained and tested in accordance with the relevant Code of Practice (CoP) at the time that Metering System is first registered in Settlement4.

These obligations on the Registrant are normally carried out by its appointed agent, a Meter Operator Agent (MOA)5.

What is a Code of Practice (CoP)?

The CoPs set out the minimum engineering and data requirements that Metering Systems must adhere to in order to be classified as compliant Metering Systems under the BSC. There are various metering CoPs (CoP1, CoP2, CoP3, CoP5, CoP6, CoP7 and CoP10 for HH Metering Systems, and CoP8 and CoP9 for NHH Metering Systems, and CoP11 for Asset Metering Systems) each of which caters for different maximum rates of electricity flow. CoP4 is different as it sets out the minimum requirements for calibrating, testing and commissioning the Metering Equipment installed in Metering Systems under all the other CoPs with the exception of CoP11.

CoP11 sets out the minimum engineering requirements for different maximum rates of electricity flow where are defined for a particular Asset Metering Type. The minimum requirements for calibrating, testing and commissioning the Metering Equipment installed in Asset Metering Systems is set out in CoP11.

Material Change to an Item of Metering Equipment

From time to time, items of Metering Equipment need replacing due to damage, failure or simply because they become obsolete and cannot be maintained. The BSC sets out rules for replacing Metering Equipment. The general principle is that when replacing Metering Equipment, the most up to date specifications are used. This means that the latest version of the relevant CoP applies.

Section L3.3 of the BSC stipulates that where any ‘material change’ to an item of Metering Equipment occurs, then that item of Metering Equipment must be compliant with the version of the relevant CoP current at the time of the change. A change is not a ‘material change’ when, if in the judgement of the MOA, a repair, modification or replacement of any component is not a substantial part of the Metering Equipment. For example, where the MOA identifies and replaces a faulty mechanical register on a CoP 1 Meter (the MOA judges that this is not a substantial part of the Meter).

An example of a material change could be if a MOA identifies a faulty Meter and replaces it with another Meter. The replacement Meter (identical or of a different type) must be compliant with the latest version of the relevant CoP.

Material Change to a Metering System

A Metering System is comprised of items of Metering Equipment. In addition to the BSC definition of a material change to an item of Metering Equipment, the current versions of CoPs 1, 2 and 11 contain a definition of what constitutes a material change to a Metering System or Asset Metering System. A material change to a Metering System or Asset Metering System would result in the need to ensure that all items of Metering Equipment comprising that Metering System or Asset Metering System are compliant with the latest version of the relevant CoP. These material changes to a Metering System or Asset Metering System are described as a change to:

1. Switchgear containing measurement transformers; and/or

2. The primary plant associated with the Metering System or Asset Metering System, i.e. measurement transformers.

In contrast, the replacement of a Meter or Outstation, or Asset Meter, would not be material to the Metering System or Asset Metering System and would only require the replacement Meter or Outstation, or Asset Meter, to be compliant with latest version of the CoP (i.e. a material change to an item of Metering Equipment).

What is a Metering Dispensation?

If, for practical and/or financial reasons, any Metering Equipment or Metering System does not meet the requirements set out in the relevant CoP, the Metering Equipment or Metering System may be the subject of an application for a Metering Dispensation from that relevant CoP.

BSC Procedure BSCP326 sets out the process to follow when applying for a Metering Dispensation.

Metering Dispensations are classified against a number of criteria. Each Metering Dispensation will have an associated term (‘temporary’ or ‘lifetime’) and location (‘site specific’ or ‘generic’). Generic Metering Dispensations apply to specific items of Metering Equipment which may be used to form any number of Metering Systems, subject to the conditions of that Metering Dispensation. Any modifications to or extensions of existing Metering Dispensations must be identified as updates.

An example of where a generic Metering Dispensation for an item of Metering Equipment might be granted would be if a MOA had purchased a number of CoP compliant Meters and before this store of Meters had been used up, a new version of a CoP became effective. If the Meters did not meet certain requirements in the new CoP then a Party could apply for a lifetime generic Metering Dispensation for that Meter type against those specific requirements of that new version of the CoP. If granted, the MOA could continue to install those specific Meter types in new or existing sites subject to the conditions of the Metering Dispensation (e.g. only for a period of one year after the new version of the CoP became effective).

BSC Parties can contact Elexon before applying for a Metering Dispensation to get further guidance. The BSC Panel has delegated responsibility for accepting or rejecting Metering Dispensation applications to the Imbalance Settlement Group (ISG) and/or the Supplier Volume Allocation Group (SVG). Applications are considered individually. A list of generic Metering Dispensations7 can be found on the Metering Dispensations page of the BSC Website.

How can you Prove Compliance with the Relevant Code of Practice?

    1. Compliance Testing8

In order to confirm that a Half Hourly Meter/Asset Meter/Outstation is compliant with the relevant issue of a CoP the item of Metering Equipment must go through compliance testing in accordance with the processes set out in BSCP6019. If an item of Half Hourly Metering Equipment passes all the relevant tests in BSCP601, it will be considered proven against the requirements of the relevant CoP. In most cases the applicant who submits the Half Hourly Meter/Asset Meter/Outstation for testing is the Half Hourly Meter/Asset Meter/Outstation manufacturer.

If all these tests are passed, Elexon issues a certificate of compliance to the applicant for the particular issue of the CoP that the item was tested against. If the item of Metering Equipment fails any tests then an applicant can either address the issue(s) and re-do the testing or seek a Metering Dispensation (through a BSC Party), which, if granted, allows its use in Settlement despite those failings. The BSC allows Metering Dispensation applications from Registrants or the BSC Panel, where Elexon would raise a Metering Dispensation on behalf of the BSC Panel. The process for applying for a Metering Dispensation is described in Section L3.4 and in further detail in BSCP32. There is a list10 of approved Meter types and Protocol Approvals on the CoP Compliance and Protocol Approvals page of the BSC Website11.

    1. Protocol Approval12

In addition to HH Meters/Asset Meters/Outstations being tested for compliance with a HH CoP, the HH Meter/Asset Meter/Outstation must be tested to ensure an approved communications protocol is used before a protocol approval certificate is issued. This ensures that the relevant metering data stored in the Outstation or Asset Meter can be collected from the Metering System by authorised parties (i.e. HH Data Collectors, the Central Data Collection Agent, and Asset Metering HH Data Collectors) and passed into the Settlement process. It is up to the Registrant (Supplier) to satisfy themselves that the protocol used for communicating with NHH Metering Equipment is suitable so that any remotely retrieved NHH data can be used in Settlements.

    1. Installation of Compliant Equipment

Once both these certificates are issued, a Registrant can then install that particular HH Meter/Asset Meter/Outstation in either:

    • any existing HH Metering System or Asset Metering System, as applicable, where there has not been a material change to the Metering System but there has been a material change to the item of Metering Equipment; or

    • any new HH Metering System or Asset Metering Systems, as applicable, installations as long as the issue of the CoP for which it is compliant is still the current issue of that CoP when that Metering System is first registered4 in Settlement.

How is On-going Compliance Measured?

The Technical Assurance Agent (TAA) is a BSC Agent who monitors compliance by Parties in respect of the requirements of Section L7 of the BSC, the Half Hourly CoPs and relevant BSCPs for their registered Half Hourly Metering Systems. Compliance is determined via site inspection visits and desktop audits where a number of sites (as determined by the Performance Assurance Board) are randomly selected in accordance with BSCP2713.

Non-compliances are reported to the Registrant (and relevant participants like the MOA and Data Collector) and Elexon. The Registrant is required to rectify all non-compliant Metering Systems. BSCP27 further splits non-compliances into six categories:

    • NC: A non-compliance has been identified through the Consumption Data Comparison Check that is deemed to be currently affecting the quality of data for Settlement purposes;

    • Category 1 Non-Compliance: A non-compliance has been identified from an Inspection Visit, which is deemed to be currently affecting the quality of data for Settlement purposes;

    • Category 2 Non-Compliance: A non-compliance has been identified from an Inspection Visit, which is deemed to have the potential to affect the quality of data for Settlement purposes;

    • Category A Non-Compliance: A non-compliance has been identified from a Desktop Audit, which is deemed to be currently affecting, or has a high likelihood of affecting, the quality of data for Settlement purposes;

    • Category B Non Compliance: A non-compliance has been identified from a Desktop Audit, which has been deemed to have a lower likelihood of affecting the quality of data for Settlement purposes, or for the non-provision of evidence; and

    • Observation: A non-compliance has been identified which is deemed neither to affect nor to have the potential to affect the quality of data for Settlement purposes.

You can find out more about Technical Assurance of Metering process on the Technical Assurance of Metering Systems page on the BSC Website.

What Happens when a Code of Practice Changes?

The CoPs are subject to change as is the BSC and its other subsidiary documents.

BSC Parties or Elexon can raise Change Proposals which are determined by the BSC Panel or a Panel Committee with delegated authority. For approved changes which materially affect requirements within a CoP, a new issue (and version) of the CoP will be released14. Therefore, the Registrant has to ensure that for any new installations all the items of Metering Equipment used to make up the new Metering System are compliant with the latest issue (and version) of the relevant CoP.

A timeline showing the previous versions of each CoP is available on the Amendment Record within the relevant Codes of Practice on the BSC Website.

Need more information?

Useful Links:

For further information please contact the BSC Service Desk at bscservicedesk@cgi.com or call 0370 0106950.

Intellectual Property Rights, Copyright and Disclaimer

The copyright and other intellectual property rights in this document are vested in Elexon or appear with the consent of the copyright owner. These materials are made available for you for the purposes of your participation in the electricity industry. If you have an interest in the electricity industry, you may view, download, copy, distribute, modify, transmit, publish, sell or create derivative works (in whatever format) from this document or in other cases use for personal academic or other non-commercial purposes. All copyright and other proprietary notices contained in the document must be retained on any copy you make.

All other rights of the copyright owner not expressly dealt with above are reserved.

No representation, warranty or guarantee is made that the information in this document is accurate or complete. While care is taken in the collection and provision of this information, Elexon Limited shall not be liable for any errors, omissions, misstatements or mistakes in any information or damages resulting from the use of this information or action taken in reliance on it.

1Classification and Registration of Metering Systems and BM Units’

2Metering’

3 For CVA, SVA or Asset Metering

4 Or in the case or those Metering Systems which were registered under the Pooling and Settlement Agreement (P&SA) or Settlement Agreement for Scotland (SAS) the versions of the Code of Practice the Metering Equipment was required to comply with just before the Go-live Date or the BETTA Effective Date, respectively.

5 In CVA this is a CVA MOA; in SVA this is a SVA MOA (referred to as a Metering Equipment Manager under the Retail Energy Code; in Asset Metering this can be either a SVA MOA or an Asset Metering MOA.

6Metering Dispensations’

8Metering Protocol Approval and Compliance Testing’

9 The list of approved Meter type compliances and Protocol Approvals provides an indication of approvals. Registrants of Metering Systems should refer to the certificate of compliance for proof of compliance.

11 Compliance Testing and Protocol Approval are not required for SMETS Meters, in accordance with CP1466 ‘Removing SMETS compliant Meters from the scope of BSCP601’ implemented on 23 February 2017.

12 A material change to a Code of Practice will result in a new issue e.g. change from Issue 2, Version 1.0 to Issue 3, Version 2.0. A non material change would result in a new version of the CoP say from Issue 2, Version 1.0 to Issue 2, Version 2.0.

13 Technical Assurance of Half Hourly Metering Systems for Settlement Purposes’

14 A material change to a Code of Practice will result in a new issue e.g. change from Issue 2, Version 1.0 to Issue 3, Version 2.0. A non material change would result in a new version of the CoP say from Issue 2, Version 1.0 to Issue 2, Version 2.0.