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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. The Unmetered Supplies Operator (UMSO) provides the UMS service on behalf of a distributor.
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(233Kb)
.
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.
An interested party must apply to ELEXON to gain approval for an Equivalent Meter. The application should be made to the UMSUG Secretary on 0207 380 4017 or email umsugsecretary@elexon.co.uk and should include details of the Equivalent Meter Type including the software and hardware versions.
ELEXON will provide applicants with a test specification and will agree a test schedule and give expected timescales for the approval process. The testing may be carried out either by ELEXON or by an ELEXON appointed Equivalent Meter Test Agent. This will be agreed between ELEXON and the applicant.
The test specification can be downloaded from the table below.
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Once testing of the system(s) has been completed 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.
Where a new Dynamic Equivalent Meter is to take switching times from CMS, 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 has been 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 these have been divided into those approved Equivalent Meters that include CMS (CMS Capable) and those that do not include CMS (Non-CMS Capable):
| Equivalent Meters (Non-CMS Capable) |
| Lamp |
| Laioken |
| Flare |
| Equivalent Meters (CMS Capable) |
| |
Unmetered Supplies Contacts
In response to customer feedback, we have published below contact details for the companies that fulfil Unmetered Supplies roles and functions. The details ELEXON has received to date are below.
The contact details are for use primarily by electricity Suppliers, but also customers, to provide a starting point for UMS enquiries. The list doesn’t indicate a view from ELEXON on the operational capabilities of the companies, and ELEXON can’t be responsible for the outcome of any enquiries. The organisations are responsible for maintaining the contact list should any changes occur. Queries regarding administration of the list can be directed to the ELEXON helpdesk on 020 7380 4222.
To obtain the email addresses, click the checkboxes next to the contacts you want, click the ‘Submit’ button under the table and type your email address in the small form that appears. You will not be required to provide your email address if you are a registered myELEXON user. The email address(es) will then be emailed to you.
This method of providing the email addresses is part of an initiative to help reduce SPAM emails sent to our agents and customers
Unmetered Supplies Contacts
Unmetered Supply Contact Details for Suppliers and Data Collectors by Market Participant ID
The list below is of market participants for Unmetered Supplies for operational data flows and operational enquiries. The participants are organised by Market Role and Market Participant ID (MPID). Click the checkboxes next to the MPID contacts you want, click the ‘Submit’ button under the table and type your email address in the small form that appears. The email address(es) will be emailed to you. They
are for use by Market Participants only and should not be used for general enquiries.
This method of providing email addresses helps reduce SPAM emails sent to our agents.
Suppliers
Non Half Hourly Data Collectors
Half Hourly Data Collectors
Unmetered Supplies Operators
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 PSL170) 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 2007 and 2008 and the contact details for the UMSUG members are also available from the table below.
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To download the minutes from previous meetings go to the
UMSUG Minutes 2001- 2005 page.
Operational Information
The Operational Information document was formed 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 currently 7 digit numbers assigned to items of apparatus that UMS customers wish to add to their inventories. From 26 June 2008 all charge codes will be issued in the new 13 digit format as set out in CP1204 ‘New charging code structure for Unmetered Supplies’. 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.
Switch Regimes detail the on/off times of apparatus. The application procedure for
a switch regime is the same as that for Charge Codes.
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The UMSUG Chairman has the authority to agree interim provisional Charging Codes
until these are formally approved by the Supplier Volume Allocation Group (SVG)
and included within the Charging Codes 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 Charging 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 Charging Codes and Switching Regimes in XLS format.
Downloads
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Should you experience any difficulty in viewing the data displayed on this page
please contact the ELEXON Help Desk on 020 7380 4222 or by emailing
helpdesk@elexon.co.uk. All queries regarding Unmetered Supplies may be directed to the
UMSUG Technical Secretary