BSC Changes impacting a Supplier
This page shows which Modifications and Change Proposals have been identified as impacting a Supplier. Please note that the assessment of where impacts may affect certain roles within the electricity market may be amended during the course of the Change process.
P471 ‘Amendment to BSC Section E to allow more flexibility in procurement of BSC Agents’
To allow more flexibility in the requirements for procurement of BSC Agents, to allow the option of having these systems operated by the service provider who developed them (at least for the duration of the transition period), while the currently-appointed Supplier Volume Allocation Agent (SVAA) continues to operate legacy processes.
If you are interested in joining the P471 Workgroup, please sign up via the Modification and Issue Workgroup sign-up webpage.
CP1595 ‘Correcting the D0148 flow in BSCP520 – CP1590 fix’
CP1595 will remove D0148 from 3.1.12 in BSCP520: Unmetered Supplies Registered in SMRS. The change will ensure references to the Data Transfer Network flows (D0148 in this case) is inputted for its correct use.
P472 ‘Amendment to provisions for Parties to bring claims against BSC Agents in BSC Section E’
This Modification proposes to amend BSC Section E to remove the requirement for Parties to be able to bring claims against BSC Agents. An industry Workgroup will be formed to consider what other measures (if any) might be appropriate to mitigate the impact of this on Parties.
P467 ‘Enduring Solution in an event of a Gas Deficit Emergency (GDE)’
This is a follow on Modification from Issue 105 and provides an enduring solution in an event of a Gas Deficit Emergency (GDE).
P412 ‘Ensuring non-BM Balancing Services providers pay for non-delivery imbalances at a price that reflects the real-time value of energy’
This Modification will introduce imbalance charges for non-Balancing Mechanism (BM) Balancing Services providers, where their delivery does not match instructed volumes. This will mean the GB market more effectively meets the requirements of the Clean Energy Package.
P455 ‘On-Site Aggregation as a method to facilitate Third Party Access’
This Modification seeks to establish a more cost effective and efficient method for delivering Third Party Access on private networks that include domestic and small business customers. It does so by enabling aggregated meter data from sub meters on private networks to be submitted into Settlement in lieu of data from Settlement meters installed at the Boundary Point.
CP1594 ‘Creating an Approval Process for New and Legacy Communication Types’
Older metering communication types are quickly becoming redundant and are being replaced by newer communication types. Elexon are proposing to create an approvals process to allow for the managed end dating of older technologies, such as Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), Circuit Switched Data (CSD) and subsequently 2G.
P470 ‘Protecting the Imbalance Price from IOLC related distortions’
P470 seeks to reprice Offer prices in the Imbalance Settlement Price calculation where those Offers were impacted by price restrictions introduced by the Inflexible Offers Licence Condition (IOLC).
CP1591 ‘New Site Visit Check Code Valid Set value’
The implementation of Distribution Connection and Use of System Agreement (DCUSA) Modification DCP411 ‘Charging De-energised sites’ involves updating the J0024 data set by adding a new Enumeration Value.
P451 ‘Updating BSC Black Start provisions and compensation arrangements’
P451 seeks to facilitate the implementation of NGESO’s new approach to Black Start, termed System Restoration. In doing so, it proposes to update all BSC references to “Black Start” to “System Restoration”, and enable contracted Restoration Service Providers who are non-BSC parties to claim BSC Black Start compensation.
P463 ‘Introduce a Standard Change Process’
To introduce a new change process – a ‘Standard Change’ process – into the BSC arrangements that would allow for certain, low risk, predictable and repeatable pre-authorised changes to be implemented without following the existing Change Proposal or Modification procedures.
If you are interested in joining the P463 Workgroup, please sign up via the Modification and Issue Workgroup sign-up webpage.
P454 ‘Removal of BSC obligations to provide BMRS Data via TIBCO and the High Grade Service’
This Modification would remove the existing requirement within BSC Section V ‘Reporting’ for the Balancing Mechanism Reporting Agent (BMRA) to provide BMR Service (BMRS) data via the legacy High Grade Service, otherwise referred to as the TIBCO service.
P454 is a recommendation from BSC Issue 95, which considered the impacts associated with maintaining the legacy TIBCO service.
P469 ‘Credit Default Refusal and Rejection Period’
P469 proposal seeks to delay the Credit Default Refusal and Rejection Periods. This change would give parties a two-hour window from the Level 2 Credit Default notification until the time when any Energy Contract Volume Notifications (ECVN) related to a defaulting party are rejected.
To implement the proposed Solution, this Modification aims to change BSC Section M, 3.3.3 a (i) and (ii).
P466 ‘BSC Section N Modernisation’
This Modification seeks to update BSC Section N ‘Clearing Invoicing and Payment’ to support the effective running of the Funds Administration Agent (FAA). The Modification will align the BSC with Elexon’s updated financial systems and modern banking practices to increase the efficiency of service provided to industry.
P459 ‘Allowing different Supplier Agents to be appointed to Import and Export MSIDs’
This Modification would allow Suppliers to appoint different Supplier Volume Allocation (SVA), Meter Operator Agents (MOAs) and Data Collectors (DCs) for the Import and Export Metering System Identifiers (MSIDs) where Data Communications Company (DCC) adopted smart meters are installed. Being able to appoint different Supplier Agents across Import/Export MSIDs will remove a barrier preventing the use of Export MSIDs for small-scale micro-generation, which currently disbenefits Suppliers, sales and operators of micro-generation, and electricity consumers.
P442 ‘Reporting chargeable volumes for exempt and licensed supply’
This Modification seeks to allow correct reporting of chargeable volumes to the EMRS company for SVA Metering Systems that record both exempt supply and licensed supply through the addition of a new third party role, the “Exempt Supply Notification Agent”.
CP1590 ‘Enabling use of DTN agent appointments process for P434’
Enabling suppliers who may be considering the use of DTN derived Dataflows to meet the requirements to migrate their Unmetered Supply (UMS) portfolios over the 12 months up to the UMS mandate go live date.
CP1587 ‘Obsolete Metering Equipment’
Providing a process and transition period to remove unsupported assets and mitigate the risk to Settlement.
P461 ‘Accurate Reporting of Customers Delivered Volumes to Suppliers’
The details reported to Suppliers when a customer delivers a Bid Offer Acceptance (BOA) through a Virtual Lead Party (VLP) do not reflect any adjustments made to that data in Settlement. This Modification proposes to address this issue by amending the values reported to Suppliers.
P432 ‘Half Hourly Settlement for CT Advanced Metering Systems’
This Modification proposes to align the BSC definition of an Advanced Meter with that in the Standard License Conditions (SLC) and to set explicit Half Hourly (HH) Settlement obligations for Current Transformer (CT) Advanced Meters ahead of the migration to Market-wide Half-Hourly Settlement (MHHS).
P453 ‘Metering Dispensation process improvements and clarification to the CoPs’
This Modification seeks to progress two recommendations from Issue 93 ‘Review of the BSC metering Codes of Practice’. The first recommendation clarifies the relevant Code of Practice (CoP) for circuits embedded behind the Boundary Point Metering System or Defined Metering Point (DMP). The second recommendation eliminates the need for Metering Dispensations when the Actual Metering Point (AMP) does not coincide with the DMP, but there is no impact on Settlement accuracy.
P460 ‘Amend the responsibility to propose and consult on a MHHS Migration Plan’
P460 aims to change responsibility for proposing, consulting on and obtaining approval of the Market-wide Half Hourly Settlement (MHHS) Migration Plan from BSCCo to the Market-wide Half Hourly Settlement Programme (MHHSP).
P457 ‘Replace the Electricity Arbitration Association with the London Court of International Arbitration’
P457 proposes to remove the Electricity Arbitration Association (EAA) from the BSC and replace with the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) to deliver better value for money and service.
CP1574 ‘Improving the use of the D0215 data flow in the relevant industry processes’
This CP seeks to implement the recommendation from the Issue 99 Workgroup, which involves updating Balancing and Settlement Code Procedure (BSCP) 515 ‘Licensed Distribution’ and the Retail Energy Code (REC) Meter Operator Schedule 14 documents to streamline the use of the D0215 flow in its associated processes.
P443 ‘To Cap NGESO Interconnector Trades’
At the current time National Grid Electricity System Operator (NGESO) can trade at prices above the Value of Lost Load (VoLL – as defined in BSC Section T 1.12, currently set at £6,000/MWh). The Proposer’s view is that this adds to customers’ costs and sends a signal to the markets that customers are willing to buy power at any price. In a cost of living crisis the Proposer does not believe that the British public are prepared to buy energy at any price.
P458 ‘Introducing Data Controller and Processor Obligations in the BSC for MHHS Testing’
The purpose of this Modification is to address the need for personal information sharing in the Balancing and Settlement Code (BSC), specifically in the context of the Market-wide Half Hourly Settlement (MHHS) testing. The current BSC General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and data protection provisions were not designed to allow the sharing of personal information, which has now become necessary for the planned MHHS testing.
P415 ‘Facilitating access to wholesale markets for flexibility dispatched by Virtual Lead Parties’
P415 seeks to amend the BSC to allow Virtual Lead Parties (VLPs) to participate in the GB wholesale market.
P444 ‘Compensation for Virtual Lead Party actions in the Balancing Mechanism’
P441 ‘Creation of Complex Site Classes’
This Modification looks to progress a recommendation of the Issue 88 Workgroup to introduce Complex Site classes. These classes would categorise the types of Complex Site, each having clearly defined criteria within the BSC. A new “type” of Complex Site (referred to as a Class 6 Complex Site) to allow approval of ”non-standard” complex sites would also be introduced.
P441 would also clarify when the netting of Imports from Exports for multiple Metering Systems registered in Supplier Volume Allocation (SVA) is permitted.
This change would facilitate consistency across the market and as so called “Local Energy Schemes” become more popular, rules for when netting are permitted would be clearly defined going forward.
CP1577 ‘To clarify the sending of a D0151 is required for all COS NHH loss processes’
BSCP504 requires the outgoing supplier to send a D0151 to terminate their NHHDC appointment on Change of Supply. The positioning of clause 3.2.6.4(a) implies this is only required for non DCC serviced metering systems, whereas this should be a requirement for all metering systems. This CP amend BSCP504 to clarify that 3.2.6.4(a) applies to all Metering Systems.
P452 ‘Replacement of the Energy Bill Relief Scheme for non-domestic customers with the Energy Bill Discount Scheme’
This Modification seeks to enable Elexon as the Balancing and Settlement Code Company (BSCCo) to act as the payment provider for the Government’s Energy Bill Discount (EBD) Scheme for non-domestic electricity customers. This scheme will replace the existing Energy Bill Relief (EBR) Scheme.
P419 ‘Extension of P383 to include non-final Demand’
This Modification seeks to enable BSC Systems to aggregate the Import data of all non-Final Demand sites for exclusion from Balancing Services and Use of System (BSUoS) charges.
P427: Publication of Performance Assurance Parties’ impact on Settlement Risk
This Modification seeks to amend BSC Section Z to allow the Performance Assurance Board (PAB) to recommend that the Panel publish notices to industry in respect of Performance Assurance Parties’ (PAPs’) contribution to Settlement Risk along with relevant risk data.
P440 ‘Enabling Elexon to administer the Capacity Market Advisory Group’
The BSC does not currently allow Elexon to undertake administrative activities that would support the Capacity Market Advisory Group (CMAG). This does not align to Ofgem’s decision to appoint Elexon to undertake the CMAG administrative activities on its behalf.
CP1567 ‘New BSC Procedure (BSCP) for Assurance Information Requests (AIRs)’
The AIR is a Performance Assurance Technique (PAT) which was introduced in May 2022. Currently there is no related BSCP for an AIR, therefore when issuing an AIR, there is no written obligation on Parties to adhere to the request.
P426 ‘Combining related BSC Parties’ Energy Indebtedness positions for the Credit Cover Percentage calculation’
This Modification proposes to remove inefficiencies with the Credit Cover calculation by allowing related BSC Parties to combine their Energy Indebtedness prior to calculating the Credit Cover Percentage.
P434 ‘Half Hourly Settlement for UMS Metering Systems’
This Modification will require a period of mandatory Change of Measurement Class (CoMC) activity for all Non-Half Hourly (NHH) Unmetered Supplies (UMS) Metering Systems to complete before the Market Wide Half Hourly Settlement (MHHS) migration to the Target Operating Model (Milestone 11 (M11) in the MHHS Timetable). At the time of writing, this would need to complete by October 2024. It will also require all new UMS connections to be settled Half Hourly (HH) from 12 months prior to M11, currently October 2023.
P448 ‘Mitigating Gas Supply Emergency Risks’
The war in Ukraine and resultant gas shortages in Europe significantly increases the risk of Generators in GB being prevented from generating this winter (due to Firm Load Shedding during a Gas Supply Emergency). If that happens Generators are likely to incur massive Imbalance Charges and credit cover requirements, potentially causing them to become insolvent. Even if such an Emergency does not occur, the risk that it could occur is likely to force Generators to reduce their forward and Day Ahead trading, reducing liquidity in electricity markets, and raising costs for electricity consumers.
P449 ‘Non-domestic Energy Bill Relief Scheme’
This Modification seeks to enable Elexon (BSCCo) to act as the payment provider for the Government’s Energy Bill Relief Scheme for non-domestic electricity customers. The intention of the subsidy would be to reduce non-domestic consumer tariffs in light of the recent rises in energy costs.
P437 ‘Allowing non-BSC Parties to request Metering Dispensations’
This Modification proposes to introduce a provision in Section L ‘Metering’ to allow the relevant Meter Operator Agent to apply for Metering Dispensations on behalf of a non-BSC Party.
P445 ‘Improving efficiency of Default Funding Share process and Energy Supply Company Administration’
This Modification seeks to allow the Funds Administration Agent (FAA) to process a Default Funding Share for unpaid Trading Charges earlier to reduce the cost of the borrowing facility and reduce the risk of shortfall. The Modification will also allow the Panel to instruct the FAA to release Trading Charges where the default relates to an Energy Supply Company Administration (ESCA).
CP1565 ‘Updates to address Central Management System issues’
This CP seeks to update BSCP520 to contain clearly outlined processes for approval and fault reporting of Central Management Systems.
P446 ‘Domestic Energy Price Guarantee Scheme’
This Modification seeks to enable Elexon (BSCCo) to implement and administer the payment scheme for Suppliers as part of the Government’s Energy Price Guarantee scheme for domestic electricity customers. The intention of the subsidy would be to reduce consumer tariffs in light of the recent rises in energy costs.
CP1559 ‘Complex Sites Process Improvements’
This Change Proposal will deliver improvements to the Complex Sites process.
P425 ‘Single Supplier Shared SVA Meter Arrangements’
This Modification aims to reduce the requirement from two or more Suppliers, to one or more Suppliers, to be involved in a Shared Supplier Volume Allocation (SVA) Metering Arrangement.
P447 ‘Avoiding impact of Winter Contingency actions on cash-out prices’
This Modification would prevent negative impacts to the cash-out price if NGESO’s Winter Contingency service is used.
P438 ‘Amending the BSC to address sanction orders’
This Modification would allow Elexon to seamlessly give effect to sanctions orders.
P436 ‘Consequential BSC changes for Switching SCR (REC 3.0)’
Ofgem’s Switching Significant Code Review (SCR) will introduce the new Central Switching Service (CSS) and version 3.0 of the Retail Energy Code (REC 3.0). P436 progresses the consequential BSC changes needed to align with REC 3.0.
P430 ‘Extension of P375 to include Suppliers’
P430 seeks to extend the solution to Approved Modification P375 ‘Settlement of Secondary BM Units using metering behind the site Boundary Point’ to allow Suppliers to register Asset Meters and allocate Asset Metering System Identifier (AMSID) Pairs to Secondary Balancing Mechanism Units (SBMUs).
CP1532 ‘Reduce Half Hourly Change of Supplier timelines to meet the Initial Settlement Run’
CP1556 ‘Improving the CVA Qualification Testing experience for VLPs and AMVLPs’
CP1556 looks to update BSCP70 ‘CVA Qualification Testing for Parties and Party Agents’ and the Communication Requirements Document to include a test request process and a list of P-flows for VLPs and AMVLPs.
CP1552 ‘Reflecting BSCP501 timeframes in BSCP520 processes’
CP1552 seeks to provide clarity to market participants about the timeframes for various processes in BSCP520 ‘Unmetered Supplies Registered in SMRS’.
CP1554 ‘Future proofing the measurement transformer standards’
CP1554 looks to future proof the measurement transformer standards in Code of Practices 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 10
P375 ‘Settlement of Secondary BM Units using metering behind the site Boundary Point’
P375 will allow Metering Equipment situated ‘behind’ the defined Boundary Point to be used for Settlement purposes in place of the Boundary Point Meter. Primarily, this will allow balancing-related services on-site from smaller assets to be separated from current imbalance-related activities, more accurately reflecting the balancing-energy volumes provided by the Balancing Service Provider (BSP).
P429 ‘Switching off Participant-Reported PARMS Serials’
P429 will permanently cease the operation of, and remove the obligations associated with, participant-reported Performance Assurance Reporting and Monitoring System (PARMS) Serials and associated Supplier Charges.
P439 ‘Enabling EDA-based Data Integration Platform Development’
This Modification makes changes to the Balancing and Settlement Code (BSC) to enable Elexon, in its capacity as the Market-wide Half Hourly Settlement (MHHS) Implementation Manager, to develop the Event Driven Architecture (EDA) based system for MHHS, which will be known as the Data Integration Platform (DIP).
P421 ‘Align BSC with Grid Code for TERRE Market Suspension’
This Modification aligns the BSC with the provisions introduced into the Grid Code under GC0144 ‘Alignment of Market Suspension Rights to the EU Emergency and Restoration Code Article 35.1(b)’.
CP1549 ‘Amendment of BSCP516 to clarify the criteria for Non-Domestic SVA Metering Systems’
CP1549 seeks to remove the text from BSCP516 ‘Allocation of Profile Classes and SSC’s for Non Half Hourly SVA Metering Systems Registered in SMRS’ that suggests a Change of Measurement Class from HH to NHH Profile Classes 3 or 4 is not possible so that it aligns with the correct interpretation of the rules set out in the BSC.
P410 ‘Changing imbalance price calculations to comply with the Imbalance Settlement Harmonisation regulations’
P410 sought to introduce changes to the imbalance price calculations to ensure BSC compliance with the European Imbalance Settlement Harmonisation regulations.
P416 Introducing a route of appeal for the Annual Budget in line with the proposals for the Retail Energy Code
P416 seeks to amend the BSC to include an appeals mechanism that BSC Parties could use to challenge items in the Annual Budget.
CP1544 ‘BSCCo Approved EFR Representative sign-off required for any EFR plan following escalation’
CP1541 ‘Use of D0004 in BSCP502’
P424 ‘Re-insert correct definition of Settlement Error’
P423 ‘Market-wide Half Hourly Settlement (MHHS) Implementation and Governance Arrangements’
CP1537 ‘Extending the Timescales for agreeing Technical Assurance of Performance Assurance Parties (TAPAP) Findings Reports’
CP1543 ‘Use of DTC dataflow D0051 in the Half Hourly sector’
CP1530 ‘Introduction of a formalised process for the validation of measurement transformer ratios by Elexon’
CP1542 ‘Transfer the obligation to visit de-energised sites annually from Data Collector to Supplier’
P413 ‘Market-wide Half Hourly Settlement Programme Manager’
P417 ‘Move the Letter of Credit templates and Approved Insurance Product requirements to the BSC Website’
P379 ‘Multiple Suppliers through Meter Splitting’
CP1534 ‘Introduce Change of Supplier (CoS) – No Meter Process’
CP1533 ‘Mandatory Sending of D0052 for DCC serviced SVA NHH Metering Systems’
CP1533 intends to update clause 3.2.6.50 in BSCP504 to remove instances of the word “new” in order to make it clear that D0052s shall be sent in all instances.