Technical Assurance of Metering Desktop Audits – FAQs V1.0
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Technical Assurance of Metering Desktop Audits – FAQs |
Guidance Note |
Supplier Questions
0.1 I have been unable to locate a Single Line Diagram (SLD), what should I do?
The obligation for the submission of a SLD originally sat with the Supplier. However, Suppliers receive non-compliances from Technical Assurance Agent (TAA) audits for non-receipt of SLDs in almost 100% of occasions. This is consistent with the feedback received from Suppliers that noted that SLDs were not typically held.
At its October 2020 meeting, Elexon proposed to the Technical Assurance of Metering Expert Group (TAMEG) that the obligation for submission of SLDs should be with the Licensed Distributor System Operator (LDSO). As such, Elexon has amended the obligation to submit a SLD to the LDSO.
0.2 On the Supplier commitment page, what is meant by pre-P283 and how do I find out if a Metering System is pre-P283?
Modification P2831 placed Commissioning obligations on the equipment owner, where that owner is a BSC Party. In practice this means that in Supplier Volume Allocation (SVA), in most cases, the LDSO is responsible for the Commissioning of current transformers (CT) and voltage transformers (VT), and the Meter Operator Agent (MOA) for the Commissioning of the Meter and the Overall Accuracy of the Metering System. The change was made because in many cases the Registrant and MOA are not well placed to complete Metering Equipment Commissioning for which they are not the owner or do not install themselves.
Modification P283 was implemented in November 2014, as such any Meter Point Reference Number (MPAN) with an effective from trading date that is 6 November 2014, or later would be considered post-P283.
The Desktop Audit sample selection process currently focuses on post-P283 sites, as it is expected that there is a higher level of record retention than with historic sites.
0.3 Where can I find the number of circuits assigned to the MPAN?
For SVA Metering Systems in almost all cases, the number of circuits can found on the Meter Technical Details (MTDs) (D02682 ), by counting the number of main Meters. If you are in doubt of the number of circuits assigned to an MPAN, you can use the contact information on the Technical Assurance Agent Management Tool (TAAMT) to contact your MOA to confirm the number of circuits.
For Central Volume Allocation (CVA) Metering Systems, Registrants can interrogate the BSCP203 4.3 form to find the number of circuits registered under a Metering System Identifier (MSID). The Metering Subsystem ID (MSSID) will be different for each circuit registered under the MSID. The BSCP20 4.3 recognises which of the Meters registered under each MSSID are main or check.
0.4 When are new audits added to the Technical Assurance Agent Management Tool (TAAMT)?
The TAA schedule new audits on the TAAMT on a weekly basis, and typically update the management tool on a Friday. However, this may not always be the case, as such it would be advisable to check the TAAMT tool regularly for new audits. Furthermore, you will receive an email notification once an audit has been added.
Half Hourly Meter Operating Agent (HHMOA) Questions
0.1 Which days and what format should the ‘Three days Settlement Data’ evidence be in?
Elexon has recommended that Parties submit Settlement data for the first three days following the initial Desktop Audit notification from the Technical Assurance Agent (TAA). However, Parties may submit Settlement data for an alternative three days, if otherwise agreed by the HHMOA and Half Hourly Data Collector (HHDC).
For Supplier Volume Allocation (SVA) registered Metering Systems the data should be in kWh. For Central Volume Allocation (CVA) Metering System the data should be in MWh.
Parties are encouraged to use the contact information on the Technical Assurance Agent Management Tool (TAAMT) to communicate with other Participants where required.
0.2 I am unable to download ‘Three days of Settlement Data’ as the asset is adopted and I do not have the appropriate software
A number of HHMOA have noted that they have been unable to retrieve ‘Three days of Settlement Data’ for adopted assets, as they do not have the appropriate software for the Meter. In order to meet the requirements for Meter maintenance in Section L4 of the code, the HHMOA must have complete access to the Metering Equipment.
However, if you are unable to retrieve Metered data, please attach a .txt file noting the situation, as evidence to the auditor.
For the avoidance of doubt, the absence of Meter manufacturer software will not be accepted as an appropriate reason as to why three days Settlement data has not been submitted.
0.3 What is Overall Accuracy?
Overall Accuracy of the Metering System is calculated as the sum of the errors of the Meter, current transformers (CT) and voltage transformers (VT) at a certain load point and burden. The Overall Accuracy of the Metering System must not exceed the limits defined in the relevant Codes of Practice (CoP).
For more information, please refer to the relevant CoP, or the Desktop Audit Local Working Instruction (LWI) document, on the Elexon website.
0.4 What supporting evidence is required to justify my Overall Accuracy calculation?
In order for the TAA auditor to assess whether the Overall Accuracy calculation is correct and the Metering System is within the CoP limits, the HHMOA must submit supporting evidence.
The following is a list of acceptable evidence that the MOA can provide to justify an actual error for an item of Metering Equipment:
Calibration Certificate for the item of Metering Equipment comprised within the Metering System being audited;
Calibration Certificate of a similar manufacturer, class, ratio and burden of the item of Metering Equipment comprised within the Metering System being audited; or
An error value taken from the National Measurement Transformer Error Statement (NMTES).
The following is a list of acceptable evidence that the MOA can provide to justify the class accuracy of the item of:
The HHMOA should submit as much supporting evidence as possible. If a photo is submitted, it should clearly show the Meter serial number and must be supported by at least one other piece of evidence that can link the serial number to the Metering System Identifier (MSID) being audited.
0.5 I am unable to obtain ‘Three Days Settlement Data’ as the Meter is currently on hand held reads
Where a site is on hand held reads, Participants are not required to submit ‘Three Days of Settlement Data’. As such, no non-compliance will be raised for non-submission of Settlement data, providing the communication method in the D0268 is set to ‘HP’, or ‘HT’.
Half Hourly Data Collector (HHDC)
0.1 Which days and what format should the ‘Three days Settlement Data’ evidence be in?
Elexon has recommended that Parties submit Settlement data for the first three days following the initial Desktop Audit notification from the Technical Assurance Agent (TAA). However, Parties may submit Settlement data for an alternative three days, if otherwise agreed by the Half Hourly Meter Operator Agent (HHMOA) and HHDC.
Supplier Volume Allocation (SVA) registered Metering Systems the data should be in kWh. For Central Volume Allocation (CVA) Metering System the data should be in MWh.
Parties are encouraged to use the contact information on the Technical Assurance Agent Management Tool (TAAMT) tool to communicate with other Participants if required.
0.2 Getting the Cumulative reads for the exact dates that are submitted in the ‘Three days Settlement Data’
Participants have noted that it can be difficult to extract the exact cumulative read evidence for the exact time period which ‘Three days Settlement data’. Where you are unable to submit the exact time period for the cumulative reads, please submit the closest available data.
0.3 I am required to submit an Allocation Schedule as evidence, however the site is not shared SVA
The first stage of a Desktop Audit requires the Supplier to answer a number of questions which dictate which evidence is required for submission from all Participants. If the Supplier has incorrectly stated that the Meter Point Reference Number (MPAN) shared is SVA, you will may not have the appropriate evidence submission options available on the TAAMT.
In the above situation, please contact the TAA administrator as soon as possible, so that the Supplier Commitment can be corrected and the appropriate evidence submission options made available.
0.4 I am unable to obtain ‘Three Days Settlement Data’ as the Meter is currently on hand held reads
Where a site is on hand held reads, Participants are not required to submit ‘Three Days of Settlement Data’. As such, no non-compliance will be raised for non-submission of Settlement data, providing the communication method in the D02687 is set to ‘HP’, or ‘HT’.
Licensed Distributor System Operator (LDSO)
0.1 What are my obligations for the submission of Single Line Diagrams?
The obligation to submit a Single Line Diagram (SLD) had originally sat with the Supplier. However, following high rates of non-compliances associated with the non-submission of SLD, as well as feedback from the Technical Assurance of Metering Expert Group (TAMEG), the obligation was moved to the LDSO.
Furthermore, initial feedback indicated that site specific SLDs are not held for Low Voltage (LV) sites. As such, generic SLDs will be accepted for LV sites, whilst site specific SLDs will still be expected for High Voltage (HV) sites from 01 January 2021.
For further detail on what the SLD must contain please see the Technical Assurance Agent (TAA) Local Working Instruction (LWI) document for Desktop Audits.
0.2 Our Single Line Diagrams only show the network as owned by the Distributor, not the customer, is this acceptable?
The purpose of the SLD is to show the Defined Metering Point and any site specific information, such as measurement transformer ratios, where appropriate. The SLDs are to provide an additional data source for the TAA auditor to cross reference available evidence to ensure that the highest level of assurance is provided.
Where the SLD does not contain the level of detail described above, it is still advisable to submit it as evidence.
0.3 Why I have received a non-compliance for failure to submit a D02158 , when I submitted a D0215?
There is currently no non-compliance for D0215 key-fields missing, which has resulted in the TAA auditor assigning B.20.R9 non-compliances where fields are missing. Elexon will be introducing a non-compliance for D0215 missing key-field, prior to widening the Desktop Audit scope to Measurement Class C in January 2021.
Need more information?
For other information please contact the BSC Service Desk at bscservicedesk@cgi.com or call 0370 010 6950.
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8 D0215 - Provision of Site Technical Details
9 B.20.R – D0215 flow missing fields