See below for more information on the Change Process Overview and Modification Process Overview.

Visit the Release and Implementation Process page for information on how these processes lead into planned and implemented BSC Systems Releases.

Want to raise a change? See the How to Raise a Change page for guidance.

Change Process Overview

The Change Process maintains the integrity and robustness of the Code Subsidiary Documents (CSDs), BSC Systems and other Configurable Items, and ensures that changes are introduced in a controlled and auditable manner.

This is achieved by:

• Implementing the Change Management Procedures within the BSC;
• Assessing all proposed changes and assisting the Panel Committees in making informed decisions;
• Implementing new, or revisions to existing products; and
• Producing Baseline Statements.

Explanation of the Overview of the Change Process Diagram

When a change to a CSD, BSC System or Configurable Item is identified, a Change Proposal (CP) is required. Participants may also raise Draft CPs (DCPs) and issues to develop concerns or solutions through consultation and analysis, so that a potential change can be refined before it enters the CP phase of the process.

These separate elements of the change process are detailed in BSCP40, and highlighted in the following sections.

Issues

Where a Party feels they have encountered a problem, but are unsure of if, or how to progress a potential change, it may present an issue to the Panel Committees to seek guidance. The Panel Committees advise on possible solutions and how best to resolve the problem, e.g. raise a Draft CP or discussion by a Working Group. Issues can be raised by participants and ELEXON using Issue Form – BSCP40/04.

BSCP40 Issues can be found here.

Draft Change Proposals

A Draft Change Proposal (DCP) is a proposal to amend a Code Subsidiary Document, a Configurable Item or an associated product. DCPs may contain one or more proposed solutions and provide an opportunity to consult on concerns and solutions by submitting change for review. This enables the originator of the change to understand Industry opinion and indicative support for their concerns/solutions before a CP is raised. ELEXON, a BSC Agent, a BSC Party, the National Consumer Council, the BSC Panel, or one of its Committees can raise a DCP.

Party Agents cannot raise DCPs. Any potential changes identified by Party Agents should be notified to their Party.

Draft Change Proposal – BSCP40/01 form is part of the BSCP40_Issue_Form.

Draft Change Proposals can be found here.

Change Proposal

A Change Proposal (CP) is a proposal to amend a Code Subsidiary Document, a Configurable Item or an associated product. A CP must have a single, fully defined solution and must contain redlined text where they impact Category 1 Configurable items, such as Balancing and Settlement Code Procedures (BSCPs) and Party Service Lines (PSLs). ELEXON, a BSC Agent, a BSC Party, the National Consumer Council, the BSC Panel, or one of its Committees can raise a CP.

Party Agents cannot raise CPs. Any potential changes identified by Party Agents should be notified to their Party.

Change Proposal – BSCP40/02 form is part of the BSCP40_Issue_Form.

Change Proposals can be found here.

Baseline Statements

The Baseline Statement lists the complete set of Code Subsidiary Documents and Configurable Items that require a Modification or a Change Proposal before they can be amended. For each item it details the live version number, the effective date and the CP or Modification that last affected the product.

The Baseline Statement is updated following each BSC Systems Release, and is published on the BSC & Related Documents page.

BCA/PACA Registration

A BSC Change Administrator (BCA) and a Party Agent Change Administrator (PACA) is a nominated contact within an organisation that receives all communications relating to Change issues.

If you would like to change your BCA or PACA, or if you are a new BSC Party/Party Agent registering your first BCA/PACA, please complete a Registration Form from BSCP40.

When changing or registering a BCA or PACA, please provide a generic email address which can be accessed by a number of people within your organisation, as well as the named BCA or PACA. This allows details of changes and consultations to be accessed by your organisation in situations when the BCA or PACA is unavailable.

Please send your completed forms, by fax, marked for the attention of the Change Management team at ELEXON to 020 7380 4360

BCA/PACA – BSCP40/05 and BSCP40/06 Forms are part of the BSCP40_Issue_Form.

Assessment and Timetables

We issue Participant Impact Assessments in pre-agreed monthly batches via a Change Proposal Circular (CPC). The Batching Timetable provides the dates that CPCs will be issued. It also contains information on the submission cut-off dates of changes for the relevant Releases.

We also provide an Impact Matrix which allows you track the progress of CPs and DCPs that impact your organisation through the Change Process. The Participant Impact Matrix can also be used to cross reference to the Release Plan to identify any relevant changes in future releases.

Batching Timetable 2011-12 Final v2.0

Modifications Process Overview

The Legal Framework

Condition C3 of National Grid’s licence establishes the framework for modification of the BSC. It states that only National Grid can modify the BSC, and that National Grid can only exercise that power if the Authority directs it. The Authority’s power is limited to changes proposed under the BSC procedures and only where the Authority believes that the change would better facilitate achievement of the applicable BSC objectives (set out in National Grid’s licence).

The applicable BSC objectives are:

• The efficient discharge by the Transmission Company of the obligations imposed under the Transmission Licence;
• The efficient, economic and co-ordinated operation by the Transmission Company of the National Electricity Transmission System;
• The promotion of effective competition in the generation and supply of electricity, and (so far as consistent therewith) promoting such competition in the sale and purchase of electricity; and
• The promotion of efficiency in the implementation and administration of the balancing and settlement arrangements.

The detailed legal requirements governing Modifications are set out primarily in Section F ‘Modification Procedures’ of the BSC.

National Grid has no power to modify the BSC without going through the Modification Procedures. However, the procedures for urgent BSC Modifications allow the Modification Procedures to be avoided subject to public law requirements, in the case of an emergency.

National Grid’s licence also sets out requirements which the BSC Modification Procedures must meet. It therefore lays the foundations of BSC Section F. These requirements include:

• Who can propose a Modification;
• Consultation with interested parties;
• Evaluation of the proposed Modification against the applicable BSC objectives;
• Preparation of a Modification Report; and
• Submission of the Modification Report to the Authority as soon after the Modification Proposal is made as is appropriate and as consistent with the proper completion of the above steps.

In order to provide assurance to the industry and third parties that their views will be considered, and to ensure that the objectives of the Code are met, the Modification steps are described in detail in Section F of the BSC.

Objectives

The BSC Panel implement and supervise the implementation of the procedures for modification of the Code, and of ELEXON to support the process. Section F of the Code states that the Panel must endeavour to operate the Modification Procedures at all times:

1. in an efficient, economical and expeditious manner, taking account of the complexity, importance and urgency of particular Modification Proposals; and
2. with a view to ensuring that the Code facilitates achievement of the applicable BSC objectives.

BSC Modification Proposals can be submitted by the following:

• Any BSC Party (other than ELEXON and ELEXON CLEAR);
• The National Consumer Council;
• The BSC Panel, in limited circumstances, and upon the recommendation of ELEXON, the Trading Disputes Committee or the Performance Assurance Board; and
• Any interested third party designated for these purposes by the Authority.

New Modification Proposals are submitted to the next Panel meeting with an accompanying Initial Written Assessment containing our recommendations on the Modification’s progression. Both these documents are published on the ELEXON website. We invite the Proposer’s representative to introduce their Modification Proposal at the Panel meeting. Panel meetings are held in open session whilst Modifications and other non-confidential business are discussed. Panel agendas, papers and headline reports are published in the Committees and Meetings section.

We will refuse a new Modification if the mandatory sections of the proposal form are incomplete.

Definition and Assessment Procedures

When a new Modification Proposal is raised, the Panel has three main options for progression:

• The proposal may be submitted to a Workgroup for clarification and definition where there is insufficient detail in the proposal to enable the BSC Panel to decide whether to proceed with a detailed evaluation the ‘Definition Procedure’);
• The proposal may (either following a Definition Procedure or otherwise) be submitted to a Workgroup for a detailed assessment and evaluation of the proposal, during which an alternative proposal may also be developed by the Workgroup if it thinks that the alternative would better facilitate the achievement of the applicable BSC objectives (the ‘Assessment Procedure’);
• The BSC Panel may decide to proceed directly to a Modification Report if the solution is felt to be sufficiently detailed and does not require further clarification.

The BSC lays down a default maximum timetable for the Definition Procedure (two months) and Assessment Procedure (three months). The Panel may deviate from this maximum timetable where necessary, but the Authority can overrule the Panel’s decision. The Definition and Assessment Reports are published on the ELEXON website.

Workgroups

The Panel establishes Workgroups, drawing from a list of industry experts, and defining their terms of reference. The Modification proposer, and National Grid both have the right to appoint one member each. Workgroup meeting details, along with their terms of reference, are published on the ELEXON website. Workgroup meetings are held in open session.

In setting the terms of reference for Workgroups, the Panel specify the scope and timetable for assessment of Modifications, together with the expected level of consultation with a broad range of interested parties. We hold a list of contacts who we notify by email when new Modification Proposals, consultations and other information relating to Modifications are raised. If you would like to be added to this list, please email modifications@elexon.co.uk. Consultation documents and responses are published under Consultations.

Modification Report

The Modification Procedures result in a Modification Report to the Authority, containing the Panel’s recommendation as to whether the Modification should be made, and their views on an appropriate implementation date. The Report also summarises the consultations or impact assessment responses. This information will enable the Authority to decide, in line with public law requirements, whether or not to approve the Modification.

Modification Register

To help you track the progress and status of Modification Proposals though to implementation, we publish a Modification Register on our website. This tells you the current status, and brief details of each Modification Proposal. This Register is updated with every change in status.

Implementation of Approved Modifications

The Authority publishes a decision letter for each Modification Proposal which we publish on our website.

If a Modification is approved, we are responsible for overseeing the implementation of the change, in alignment with a project brief submitted to the Authority as part of the Modification Report.

The Panel must provide a monthly update to the Authority on the progress of Modification Proposals and on implementation of approved Modifications. This gives the Authority the opportunity to intervene if it believes that the timetable or priority set by the Panel for a particular Modification is inappropriate. This Progress Report is updated monthly and is published on our website.

Urgent Modification Procedures

Section F of the BSC contains provisions to circumvent the normal Modification Procedures to fit with the urgency of a particular matter. An urgent Modification Proposal may be progressed by a different process and timetable. If we and/or National Grid recommend that a proposal should be treated as urgent, the BSC Panel Chairman seeks the views of Panel members and consults with the Authority. A Modification Proposal can only be treated as urgent with the approval of the Authority, who directs the process and timetable. To decide whether a change could have been made in an alternative way that would have better facilitated the achievement of the applicable BSC objectives, we can carry out an ex-post review of implemented urgent Modifications.