SMDA Monthly Update – June 2019
Following the latest Management Panel meetings, we expect to be issuing SMDA assurance certificates imminently. To secure your test slot to gain SMDA Assurance for your devices, contact the Test House today on smdalab@nmi.nl.
Read on to find out more about what happened in SMDA during June.
Path to Partial Assurance – Progress Update
In our May update, we informed you that the testing baseline for Partial Assurance had been agreed by the Management Panel as tests that cover Credit functionality in the Central and South regions. This was a key moment for SMDA, as it enabled us to progress towards issuing SMDA certification without being hindered by issues that sat outside of the control of the scheme to resolve. This clears the way for manufacturers to submit devices into the Test House, knowing that devices being rolled out in credit mode in the Central and South regions can gain SMDA assurance for interoperability and interchangeability functionality.
Having established the baseline, a number of tests were identified whereby devices were still not completely passing, for example because an alert was being received in a different way to what was expected, even though the event related to that alert could be seen to be completed correctly. The Management Panel deemed that these could be tolerated for now, provided they did not impact Supplier business processes.
At the last Management Panel meeting (MP10), held on 19th June, a final set of tolerable tests was agreed, with just one test outstanding to be confirmed. The Management Panel is in the process of confirming whether this one test can be tolerated. If this is the case, Partial Assurance certificates will be issued in July for those devices that meet the agreed requirements.
Device Assurance Register (DAR)
Devices that achieve Partial Assurance will be listed on the Device Assurance Register (DAR), which can be found in the Members Area of the SMDA website. The device type, firmware version and testing baseline, among others, will be listed, along with a tick box showing whether the device has passed with tolerances.
A list of all device specific tolerances will be published on the SMDA website, however we will not publish which devices these tolerances relate to. Instead, the relevant tolerances will be listed on each device’s SMDA certificate. Should a Supplier or MAP wish to know what these tolerances are for a specific device, they will be able to request to see the Manufacturer’s certificate.
Device Testing
With SMDA Assurance certificates expected to be issued imminently, we would strongly encourage device manufacturers to contact the Test House as soon as possible to secure your testing slot. Non-EMM devices have been submitted into the Test House and we are progressing testing these against our agreed baseline.
Where Suppliers and MAPs have requirements in their contracts with manufacturers for SMDA assurance, we would also request that you contact your manufacturers now and request they submit their devices for testing.
To contact the lab, please email smdalab@nmi.nl.
Subscription Fees
Invoices for annual SMDA subscription fees were issued on 24th April. With devices expected to be granted Partial Assurance in July, access to the members area of the SMDA website will be revoked from 5th July for those who have not paid their subscriptions. We therefore request that you pay your subscription as soon as possible before this date. If you have any questions about your invoice, or would like another copy sent to you, please contact us on smdaso@gemserv.com.
Benefits of being an SMDA member include:
- Discounted testing fees, saving manufacturers at least £5,000 per device submitted
- Access to the Device Assurance Register (DAR), where approved SMDA devices will be displayed
- Access to SMDA documentation, including test specifications and scheme procedures
- Access to test reports for manufacturers, and for Supplier members where required by Ofgem
- Ability to influence the scheme’s development through your member representatives on the Management Panel and SMDA Co Board
BEIS Review into Interoperability on Change
Following a recommendation included in a report by the National Audit Office (NAO) last year, BEIS is commissioning an Independent Review of the assurance activities being undertaken by energy suppliers to satisfy themselves that smart devices being deployed meet the “interoperability on change” test (or interchangeability in SMDA language). This test ensures that devices do not need to be replaced early as a result of Change of Supplier events. The review will also include ensuring that all device types can work with each other, and with the central systems managed by the Smart DCC.
This work has now started and the Board, SMDA SO and the Test House are actively engaging with the independent auditor regarding the technical, commercial and regulatory aspects of interchangeability. A key message is that Comms Hubs should be subject to SMDA testing, to provide independent assurance that the full end to end infrastructure supports interoperability and interchangeability. We would ask that if any members are also involved in this review, that this message is reiterated.
Recent and Forthcoming Meetings
- The SMDA Management Panel met on 19th June
- The SMDA SO presented at the Independent Suppliers Forum on 27th June
- The SMDA Co. Board met on 1st July
- The Test House continues to meeting with EMM manufacturers and welcomes ongoing engagement
Please contact smdaso@gemserv.com if you have any questions on the information in this update, otherwise we will issue the next update at the end of July.
Best Wishes
Louise Singleton, Head of SMDA Scheme