Modification and Issue Workgroups

Glossary

Elexon manages a number of Workgroups which exist to review specific subjects for a given length of time. Each group consists of industry representatives who will work with Elexon to consider the impact of key changes and associated BSC information.

Modification Workgroups

The BSC Panel will establish a Modification Workgroup whenever a Modification Proposal is submitted for an Assessment Procedure. They will carry out a detailed assessment of the Modification and produce an Assessment Report for the BSC Panel, together with its recommendations, in order to help the BSC Panel in the decision making process.

Issue Workgroups

Issue Workgroups are slightly different from Modification Workgroups. During an Issue Group, Industry discusses a problem for which there is not yet a clear solution. The idea is to develop a potential solution during the meetings.

People can participate as a non-voting attendees or voting members. However, the decisions taken during an Issue Workgroup are not binding. For the solution to be implemented, a Party (member of the Issue Workgroup or not) will need to raise a further Change (either a Modification, Change Proposal or both).

How can I volunteer?

You can volunteer to be a Modification or Issue Workgroup voting member or to attend the Workgroup as a non-voting attendee. As a non-voting attendee you will be able to contribute to discussions but just won’t be able to vote.

In order to be a voting Workgroup member, you will need to provide an Employer Release Letter from your manager and some details about your experience and expertise.

You can also use this form just to be added to a Workgroups mailing list.

Please note in order to sign up as a new voting member, we require an Agreement letter from your employer. You will be required to provide the email address of your employer, who will receive an automated email to approve digitally. You only need to do this once, following which you be on our standing list of experts and eligible to participate as a voting member in future workgroups.

 

What is involved?

A Workgroup member will need to be part of the Workgroup for the lifetime of that Modification Proposal. Issue Group members are welcome to join or leave the Issue Group at any point. During this time, members are expected to:

  • Act as independent experts
  • Attend a minimum of one half of all Workgroup meetings
  • Undertake work outside of meetings (such as reviewing documents sent by email)

Workgroup members are selected for their expertise and experience, and not as representatives of the companies they work for.

Each member is required to submit an Employer Release Letter before they can become a member, and they must then act objectively and independently in accordance with this letter whilst part of a Workgroup. 

Workgroup members are obliged to confirm their availability to attend the appropriate meetings and carry out relevant work. Although this may not always be possible, it is important for the continuity of discussions to ensure that a reasonably consistent group of people are present across the meetings.

Who can participate?

A Modification or Issue Workgroup’s membership will consist of:

  • The Proposer (or a representative appointed by them);
  • At least five industry experts who have qualified to act as independent Workgroup members; and
  • A representative from the Transmission Company (at the discretion of National Grid).

Anyone with experience or expertise in the subject matter of the Modification may be appointed a Workgroup member (see below for how to volunteer).

There will also be at least one, and usually two, Elexon employees on a Workgroup (the chairman and the Lead Analyst). Other Elexon employees may attend meetings as required (usually the Lead Lawyer and a Design Authority representative or other technical specialist).

Ofgem employees and BSC Panel Members may attend meetings as attendees, but are not entitled to be Workgroup members as they already have roles in the Modifications process. The meetings are also open to any other representatives of BSC Parties, who may attend at the discretion of the Workgroup chairman.

These participants may take part in discussions and contribute to the analysis during Workgroup meetings, but will not be able to vote when the Workgroup comes to make its recommendations.

Video explaining more about participating in a Workgroup

Video Published: August 2019
Video Length: 8 mins

 

Claiming expenses

Members are entitled to be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred in attending meetings or otherwise in conducting the business of the Workgroup. Please note that non-voting participants cannot claim expenses.

My BSC

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