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Change Process
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.
Refer to the table below to download the BSCP40 forms.
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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, available
in the table above.
Click here to go to the
issues section.
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 Appendices form which
is available from the table above.
Click here to
go to the Draft Change Proposal section.
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 Appendices form which is
available from the table above.
Click here to go to
the Change Proposal section.
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 section of our
website. Download the latest
Baseline Statement (61Kb)
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, available from the table above.
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
Planning team at ELEXON to 020 7380 4360 or 020 7380 0407.
BCA/PACA – BSCP40/05 and BSCP40/06 Forms are part of the BSCP40 Appendices form
which are available from the table above.
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
Click here to view the Change Proposal Circular Batching Timetable (42Kb)
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.
Click here to go to the Assessment
and Timetables section.
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;
- 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 have 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:
- in an efficient, economical and expeditious manner, taking account of the complexity,
importance and urgency of particular Modification Proposals; and
- 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 on the
BSC Panel section of the ELEXON website.
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 Modification Group 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 Modification Group for a detailed assessment and evaluation of the proposal,
during which an alternative proposal may also be developed by the Modification Group
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.
Modification Groups
The Panel establishes Modification Groups, 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. Modification Group meeting details,
along with their terms of reference, are published on the ELEXON website. Modification
Group meetings are held in open session.
In setting the terms of reference for Modification Groups, 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
change_delivery_admin@elexon.co.uk. Consultation documents and responses
are published on the Consultations section
of our website.
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 direct 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.
Further Information
If you have any queries on any aspect of the procedures described above, please
e-mail modifications@elexon.co.uk
or contact the BSC Service Desk on
0870 010 6950.
Implementation Process Overview
This section of the website gives you information on planned and implemented BSC
Systems Releases. ’BSC Systems’ include changes to Code Subsidiary Documents (CSDs),
Software systems and associated documentation.
You will find information required to amend your systems, detail project scopes,
impact and timing of changes, together with the detailed draft changes to CSDs in
this section.
Strategies
The documents below outline the requirements for testing and communication.
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