Copyright: Licence to use BMRS APIs
This page details the Licence to use the BMRS APIs
1. Introduction – Licence
1.1 Thank you for using the Balancing Mechanism Reporting Service (“BMRS”) APIs. By using the BMRS Data via API and/or the Data Push Service, you accept and agree to be bound by the terms of use set out in this document (“Terms”). Please note that the Terms cover the use of the API, the Data Push Service as well as BMRS Data for interactive use on the BMRS website.
1.2 Elexon hereby grants you a revocable, non-transferable non-sublicense able, terminable, limited license to use the BMRS APIs and the Data Push Service solely in accordance with the Terms.
1.3 Your licence to use the BMRS APIs, the Data Push Service and BMRS data for interactive use on the BMRS website is conditional upon your agreement to the Terms.
1.4 Elexon reserves the right to update and otherwise amend the Terms at any time. For the latest version of the terms, please check the licence to use BMRS API webpage.
1.5 You understand and agree that if you use the API after the date on which the terms have changed, we will treat your use as acceptance of the changed Terms of Use. If a change is unacceptable to you, you may terminate this agreement by ceasing use of the APIs and the Data Push Service.
1.6 The BMRS APIs and Data Push service are available to market participants free of charge to improve the service and ensure access to all users across the market.
1.7 Participants who are not BSC Parties are also subject to the BMRS licence terms should they wish to use the BMRS data. The BMRS licence terms for participants who are not BSC Parties are available on the Elexon website.
1.8 For the avoidance of doubt, if you are a BSC Party you are entitled to use the BMRS data under the terms of the BSC and you do not need to accept the BMRS licence terms.
1.9 The terms set out are relevant to retrieval of data via the BMRS REST API, the Data Push Service and data from BMRS website. It does not apply to the submission of REMIT data via the Elexon Portal.
2. Registration and Access to API
2.1 Once you have accepted the Terms and, if applicable, the data licence as per paragraph 1.7, you will be required to create an account on the Elexon Portal (www.elexonportal.co.uk). Once the account is authorised, an API Key will be created which will be required to access the API. You may only access the API with the key provided to you by Elexon.
2.2 You will not disclose the API Key to any person and will be responsible for ensuring the API key is kept secure. If you become aware of any unauthorized use of your key, you agree to notify Elexon immediately via the BSC Service Desk.
2.3 Elexon reserves the right to revoke your API key should any aspect of the Terms of Use Policy be breached.
3. Changes to API
3.1 All APIs which will be made available will be versioned. Elexon may introduce additional APIs and will endeavour to provide reasonable notice of any new API URL. Where Industry Changes (Modifications or Change Proposals) result in modification of an existing API URL, Elexon may cease to support older versions. In such cases, this will be managed and communicated under the governance set out with the Change Proposal/Modification process. Generally older versions of the APIs will remain functional, but
invoking the older version of the API will not bring back any data that has been added or altered in the new version.
4. Monitoring and Management of API Use
4.1 By using the API, you agree that Elexon has the right to monitor your usage and ensuring the API is being used appropriately; examples of misuse include, but are not limited to:
- An API is not being used as intended – for example a RESTful web service being invoked continuously for the same data set, i.e. invoking the API more than once in a half hour period for data that is only updated on a half hourly basis
- Unauthorised use of an API key (e.g. using another user’s key)
4.2 For the Data Push Service you agree to limit connection for up to 5 clients from your organisation to Elexon’s Data Push broker and should you require additional clients, Elexon recommends setting up a Broker to Broker connection where possible.
4.3 Elexon reserves the right to take actions necessary to ensure performance of the BMRS is not impacted by limiting the access for persistent misuse of the API and/or Data Push service. Extreme cases may result in revoking the key for that user.
4.4 Additionally, API requests may be capped as Elexon deems appropriate, for example limiting the number of rows of data returned. The limit for capping will be configurable as part of the API design.
4.5 Note that a valid API key is also required to submit REMIT messages to the Elexon Portal. This requires an additional privilege to ensure that only suitable authorised users are able to submit such messages for publication. In order to ensure that any breach of these Terms of use do not affect your ability to submit REMIT messages, Elexon advises against using the same API key for both submitting and receiving data.
5. Support
5.1 Elexon will provide a guidance document, API and Data Push User Guide, that will provide you with details on how to use the API/Data Push services and the process required to access the service.
5.2 Elexon has no obligation to provide support beyond providing the API Key, registration and access. Any technical assistance as a result of the API integration within your business processes will be your responsibility.
6. Other Data Access Mechanisms
6.1 The data provided on the BMRS draws from BMRS databases which are scaled to be able to handle normal interactive use by human users or automated data access via the APIs and/or Data Push Service.
6.2 Scripting (sometimes referred to as scraping data from the website) in this document refers to the process by which users run automated programs which simulate interactive access by searching for and downloading data from displayed web pages sometimes several times a minute.
6.3 Besides the API (and Data Push), Elexon prohibits users from retrieving the BMRS data via scripting or any other method of screen scraping. Users who frequently script large volume of data do so at their own risk and Elexon reserves the right to block those users without notice.
7. Liability
7.1 No warranty is made as to the availability of the API (and Data Push Service), or that the functions used or materials accessible or downloaded from it will be accurate, uninterrupted or free of errors, viruses or other harmful components.
7.2 Without limitation to the foregoing, to the extent permitted by law, we, other members of our group of companies and third parties connected to us hereby expressly exclude:
- All conditions, warranties and other terms which might otherwise be implied by statute, common law or the law of equity
- Any liability for any direct, indirect or consequential loss or damage of any kind, however arising incurred by any user in connection with our API or in connection with the use, inability to use, or results of the use of our API even if such loss is foreseeable
7.3 The above exclusion does not affect our liability for death or personal injury arising from our negligence, our liability for fraudulent misrepresentation or any other liability which cannot be excluded or limited under applicable law.
8. Termination
8.1 Elexon reserves the right to terminate the usage of the API or Data Push Service without notice or recompense.
9. Applicable Law
9.1 These Terms, its subject matter and its formation (and any non-contractual disputes or claims) are governed by English law. We both agree to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.