Print This Page
Unmetered Supplies (UMS)
The information on this page will be of interest to Data Collectors, Distributors,
Manufacturers, Meter Administrators, Suppliers, UMSOs and customers with unmetered
supplies.
Unmetered Supplies (UMS) exist in the half hourly and non-half hourly Supplier Volume
Allocation (SVA) markets. An UMS can only be provided in accordance with
BSCP520 - 'Unmetered Supplies Registered in SMRS' (256Kb)
. The Unmetered Supplies Operator
(UMSO) provides the UMS service on behalf of a distributor.
Any queries regarding Unmetered Supplies, charge codes or general queries should
be directed to the Unmetered Supplies User
Group (UMSUG) Technical Secretary.
Operational Information
The Operational Information document was created in June 2005 from the former appendices
to BSCP520. It contains technical information concerning UMS equipment and consumption
ratings (via charge codes), including the procedure for allocating charge codes
to new equipment, and annual hours to be allocated to each Switch Regime for the
purpose of calculating EACs. The document will be of use primarily to UMS Suppliers,
UMSOs, equipment manufacturers and Customers.
Charge codes are 13 digit numbers (formerly 7 digits) assigned to items of apparatus
that UMS customers wish to add to their inventories. From 26 June 2008 all charge
codes can only be issued in the new 13 digit format as set out in the
‘New Charging Code Structure for Unmetered Supplies’ Guidance Note (88Kb)
. Charge codes are used
within the UMSO systems to calculate volumes of electricity consumed. If a customer
is using a piece of equipment, it must go on the inventory with a provisional (P)
or confirmed (C) charge code. The application procedure for a charge code for a
new piece of equipment is contained within the Operational Information document
in the table below.
Switch Regimes detail the on/off times of apparatus. The application procedure for
a switch regime is the same as that for charge codes.
Notify me when a document is added/updated to this table
The UMSUG Chair has the authority to agree interim provisional charge codes until
these are formally approved by the Supplier Volume Allocation Group (SVG) and included
within the Operational Information charge code Spreadsheet. The files above identify
provisional Charging Codes distinct from those that are already approved by the
SVG. These codes should be used until formal notification is issued by the BSCCo.
Please note that the charge codes contained within the Unmetered Supplies Operational
Information document are no longer contained within a Code Subsidiary Document.
No BSCP520 appended documentation will be produced.
If the charge code you require is not listed in the document above please make an
application in accordance with the process detailed testing procedure contained
in the Unmetered Supplies Operational Information document, available from the table
above.
Refer to the table above to download the Unmetered Supplies Operational Information
document in PDF format or the charge codes and Switching Regimes in XLS format.
Equivalent Meters
An Equivalent Meter is the hardware and software that is used to calculate Half
Hourly electricity consumption values associated with Unmetered Apparatus. The specification
for an Equivalent Meter is contained within
BSCP520 ‘Unmetered Supplies Registered in SMRS (256Kb)
.
Equivalent Meters are of two types:
- Passive Meters – which allocate the Unmetered consumption across the half hourly
periods by a mathematical relationship of annual burning hours to the daily time
of sunrise and sunset; and
- Dynamic Meters – which allocate the Unmetered Consumption across the Half Hourly
periods by reference to the operation of a number of photoelectric cells (PECU Arrays)
or by making use of actual switching times reported by a Central Management System
(CMS). Where the switching times are reported by CMS the Equivalent Meter can be
defined to be two distinct parts: the CMS (i.e. the system that is used to report
switching times) and the Meter Administrator (MA) System (i.e. the system that is
used to calculate the consumption). The definition of the file that is used to transfer
data from the CMS System to the MA System is defined in BSCP520.
CMS Capable Equivalent Meters
Central Management Systems form part of the Meter Administrator’s Equivalent Meter.
Where the switching times are reported by a CMS, the Equivalent Meter can be defined
as two distinct parts: the CMS (i.e. the system that reports switching times and/or
power levels) and the Meter Administrator (MA) System (i.e. the system used to calculate
the consumption). An Equivalent Meter that can facilitate CMS is called a CMS Capable
Equivalent Meter.
We have produced some guidance for CMS manufacturers and CMS operators (customers) which you can download from the table below.
Notify me when a document is added/updated to this table
An interested party must apply to ELEXON to gain approval for an Equivalent Meter,
either for a new CMS or a new CMS Capable Equivalent Meter.
Please contact Kevin Spencer on 020 7380 4115 to discuss your application.
We will provide applicants with a test specification and will agree a test schedule
and give expected timescales for the approval process. The testing will be carried
out by an ELEXON appointed Equivalent Meter Test Agent (currently
ELEXON). This will be agreed between ELEXON and the applicant.
The test specification can be downloaded from the table below.
Notify me when a document is added/updated to this table
Once testing of the system(s) is complete, results will be presented to the
Unmetered Supply User Group (UMSUG) for recommendation for approval. The application
will then be presented to the Supplier Volume Allocation Group (SVG) for approval.
For a new CMS Capable Equivalent Meter, ELEXON
will be required to test the complete system (i.e. MA system and CMS). However,
in the case where the CMS and / or the MA system is tested and approved with
another CMS / MA system, this will be taken into account in the testing (which may
lead to a reduction in testing / no testing required by ELEXON). All new Equivalent
Meters must be presented to the SVG for approval, even in the case where the CMS
and MA System that they comprise have been approved with other CMS / MA Systems.
Listed below are the currently approved Equivalent Meters. For ease of reference, they are divided into approved Equivalent Meters that include CMS (CMS
Capable) and those that do not include CMS (Non-CMS Capable):
|
Meter Administrators |
Equivalent Meter
|
CMS Capable |
|
E.ON Energy Ltd |
FLARE |
- |
|
Npower Northern Ltd |
LAMP |
- |
|
Power Data Associates Ltd |
Lailoken (CMS Capable) |
Yes |
|
Siemens Metering Services |
LAMP |
- |
|
Southern Electric Power Distribution Plc |
LAMP |
- |
|
SP Dataserve Ltd |
LAMP |
- |
|
United Utilities Networks Limited |
LAMP |
- |
|
Western Power Distribution (South Wales) Plc |
Lailoken |
- |
|
Western Power Distribution (South West) Plc |
Lailoken |
- |
Last Updated: 7 January 2009
|
Approved CMS |
Version |
|
WiMAC |
2.0 |
Last Updated: 7 January 2009
Unmetered Supplies User Group (UMSUG)
The UMSUG are the expert forum that make proposals to the Balancing and Settlement
Code Company (BSCCo) in respect of revisions to the relevant UMS's Code Subsidiary
Documents (BSCP520 and PSL100) and the resolution of problems relating to UMS.
The UMSUG meet on a quarterly basis, minutes from the meetings are published in
the table below in PDF format. The terms of reference for the UMSUG, meeting dates
for 2008 and 2009 and the contact details for the UMSUG members are also available
from the table below.
Notify me when a document is added/updated to this table
To download the minutes from previous meetings go to the
UMSUG Minutes 2001- 2007 page.
If you have any trouble viewing the data displayed on this page, please contact
the BSC Service Desk on 0870 010 6950 or by emailing
bscservicedesk@logica.com. All queries regarding Unmetered Supplies may be directed
to the UMSUG Technical Secretary.