Details about the Balancing and Settlement Code (BSC), the ground rules for the electricity system, and the wider electricity industry in Great Britain
Elexon compares how much electricity generators and suppliers say they will produce or consume with actual volumes. We work out a price for the difference and transfer funds. This involves taking 1.25 million meter readings every day.
Elexon compares how much electricity generators and suppliers say they will produce or consume with actual volumes. We work out a price for the difference and transfer funds.
The Balancing and Settlement Code (BSC) is a legal document which defines the rules and governance for the balancing mechanism and imbalance settlement processes of electricity in Great Britain. The Balancing and Settlement Code Company (BSCCo) is administered by Elexon.
Regular training sessions are run for people involved in the electricity industry. These include an overview of the BSC and specific sessions of key parts of working in the electricity industry.
The electricity market is made up from a number of roles. Once a company has acceded to the electricity market using the Market Entry process they will want to understand more about the operational and compliance aspects of being in the market.
This page highlights these industry-wide changes and will enable companies to understand when and how the changes will become operational.
There are a number of teams at Elexon which have public facing roles. If you do not find the contact information for the team you require, please contact the Communications Team.
Elexon monitors and responds to industry-wide consultations that may have an impact on the provisions in the BSC, on Elexon, or on our customers. We also publish consultations on proposed changes to our processes.
The BSC and related codes information is an essential part of understanding the formal procedures that govern the electricity industry.
This page lists all Consultations relating to the BSC and other related codes. The consultations allow ELEXON to gather feedback from the industry about proposed changes so that any concerns are considered as part of our processes.
BSC documents not falling into any other category of Code Subsidiary Documents. Category 3 documents include examples such as the BSC Sandbox procedure, Code Subsidiary Documents Architectural Principles and Party Service Line 100.
This page includes individual sections of the Balancing and Settlement Code (BSC) as well as a consolidated version of the current operational BSC and a legal version.
Derogations can be applied for by any BSC Parties or non-Parties who wish to trial innovations that would otherwise be prevented by normal BSC rules.
Elexon has initiated a project to develop a brand-new website that will enable customers to have much easier access to the BSC and its subsidiary documents.
The BSC Change process is used to progress changes to the BSC arrangements in response to any concerns, problems or defects that Parties may identify in the current processes. Under these processes, changes can be made to the Balancing and Settlement Code, its Code Subsidiary Documents and to BSC Systems.
A Modification is raised in order to progress changes that would alter any part of the BSC. Any CSDs or BSC Systems impacted by the proposed changes would also be updated as part of the Modification
A CP is a detailed proposal which is raised in order to amend CSDs and/or BSC Systems, but would not alter the BSC. A CP must have a clear aim, a single defined solution and contain the relevant redlined documentation changes.
Standard Changes (SC) are low risk, predictable and repeatable pre-authorised changes to the BSC or Code Subsidiary Documents (CSDs).
A Release is a packet of approved Modifications and Change Proposals which are usually all implemented on the same date (although occasional Releases may have more than one Implementation Date).
The Releases process is part of the BSC change procedure and includes information about where changes are being introduced, how they impact on certain areas of the industry and whether your systems will need to undergo tests to ensure they are up-to-date and meet required standards.
The BSC Panel has established six Panel Committees to support it in fulfilling its various duties, and a number of industry groups also meet regularly to discuss issues arising from the BSC.
Contract notifications, bids and offers, and other data, is sent to BSC Central Services for Imbalance Settlement. At the end of a Settlement Period, BSC Systems compare a Party’s contracted (traded) volume with the metered volume of energy used in the Settlement Period.
This page lists all Consultations relating to Operations and Settlement. The consultations allow the team to gather feedback from the industry about proposed changes so that any concerns are considered as part of our processes.
This page explains the various systems and agents used in the Imbalance Settlement process. You can also find out about the BSC Party digital platform, Elexon Kinnect that hosts a range of tools regarding managing accounts, settlement operations and data insights.
The purpose of Credit Cover is to ensure that, should a Trading Party default, sufficient collateral is available to pay any debts. If a Party does not have sufficient funds it will enter into Credit Default.
Losses on the Transmission System are allocated across BSC Parties through the use of Transmission Loss Multipliers (TLMs). Transmission Loss Factors exist for each TLF Zone (aligning with the existing Grid Supply Point Groups) for each BSC Season in order to allocate transmission losses on a geographical basis.
This page sets out the different areas of operational practices that you need to know about when participating in the electricity market.
This page lists all Consultations relating to Operations and Settlement. The consultations allow Elexon to gather feedback from the industry about proposed changes so that any concerns are considered as part of our processes.
The Customer Solution enables you to undertake a range of BSC activities through a dedicated online service. This includes initiating the Market Entry process and managing your company details along with the associated metering assets.
Balancing Mechanism (BM) Units are used as units of trade within the Balancing Mechanism. Each BM Unit accounts for a collection of plant and/or apparatus, and is considered the smallest grouping that can be independently controlled.
Metering Systems accurately record the flow of electricity to (an Import) or from (an Export) a site. Elexon uses Metering System data to calculate energy imbalance charges. These charges are applied to BSC Parties who use more or less energy than they have contracted to buy or generate.
An Unmetered Supply is any electronic equipment that draws a current and is connected to the Distribution Network without a meter recording its energy consumption.
This section lists all the areas on the BSC website and supporting websites where you can access data. You can also see the various monthly reports that we produce, which are based on the large amounts of data we generate.
This is our Beta website publishing production Balancing Mechanism Reporting Service data. This site will replace the ageing BMRS website during the first half of 2024.
The Trading Operations Report provides information on the state of the BSC market; including issues and incidents and a summary of the key events that may have had an impact on BSC Parties.
Market Domain Data is the central repository of reference data used by Suppliers, Supplier Agents and Licensed Distribution System Operators (LDSOs) in the retail electricity market. It is essential to the operation of Supplier Volume Allocation (SVA) Trading Arrangements.
Most Suppliers, Generators, and Licensed Distribution System Operators may have to become a BSC Party because it is a condition within their Ofgem licence. Other companies wishing to trade within the BSC arrangements, like Non-Physical Trader and Virtual Lead Parties, may also have to do so.
This page lists all Consultations relating to Market Entry and Compliance. The consultations allow ELEXON to gather feedback from the industry about proposed changes so that any concerns are considered as part of our processes.
We have produced a number of pages that outline the steps you will need to follow when entering the electricity market in a certain role.
Part of Elexon’s role as administrator of the BSC is to monitor the compliance of all BSC parties and to run Performance Assurance activities. There are a number of techniques that Elexon uses to confirm compliance or identify issues that may need to be addressed.
Part of Elexon’s role as administrator of the BSC involves checking that all BSC Parties (and the agents that work for them) follow rules on accurate submission of data to the process. Elexon does this through the Performance Assurance Framework (PAF).
The Technical Assurance Agent Management Tool (TAAMT) is a central database that contains all historical data and information for Metering System visits performed by TAA inspectors.
Within the BSC there are a number of different processes that enable companies to obtain metering dispensations, transfer BM Units, apply for derogations or experience the removal of qualifications.
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BSC Insights & ‘Spotlight On’ articles
Previous Circulars
Training videos and services
Market Entry & Exit
Charge Codes and Switch Regimes
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