SMDA Newsletter – April 2025
Dear All,
2025 has already been an eventful year for SMDA with the SMDA Review and Test House Reprocurement coming to completion which has resulted in benefits to Manufacturer members as SMDA Device Assurance testing costs have been reduced whilst maintaining the same quality of service.
For more information on any of the items covered in this Newsletter please contact smdaso@gemserv.com.
Current activities
SMDA Testing Service Procurement
SMDA is pleased to announce that Critical Software Limited has been awarded the SMDA Testing Service Contract.
The Scheme is excited to continue the successful partnership with Critical Software after a competitive tender process. This marks a significant journey from the SMDA Review, commissioned by the SEC Panel in 2023, which aimed to ensure the Scheme’s value to the industry and identify areas for improvement.
The SMDA Review, with input from the SMDA Sub-Committee members, confirmed the value and benefit of the Scheme in providing interoperability and interchangeability testing assurance, ensuring its future continuation.
The re-procurement of testing services, managed by the Scheme Operator and overseen by the SMDA Sub-Committee, has led to reduced testing fees, benefiting Manufacturers and users of SMDA testing services. The Scheme Operator and Critical Software are committed to maintaining the current quality of service and implementing process improvements (including test automation) moving forward.
The SMDA Sub-Committee Chair, Carmen Strickland commented, “This was an excellent opportunity to ensure that the scheme meets the needs of SMDA now and for the future. Critical Software Limited are a trusted service provider, and this is an opportunity to improve the SMDA service further”.
SMDA Testing Fees
The SMDA Device Assurance Fees have been reduced due to the SMDA Testing Service Procurement.
Testing against all current SMDA Baselines including November 2019, November 2020, November 2021, November 2022 and June 2024 have been reduced and are shown below:
| Type of Device | New SEC Parties Fees | Old SEC Parties Fees |
| Electricity meter | £ 29,901 | £40,000 |
| Gas meter | £ 35.557 | £45,000 |
| Combined PPMID/ IHD Device | £ 26,669 | £38,000 |
The costs for Re-testing, Pre-Testing & Issue Analysis and Exemption testing will be provided on a case-by-case basis. The costs are based on the level of resources required, daily rate of the Test House (which can vary) and time required for testing.
This is a great example of how SMDA and Critical Software Limited are working together to implement process improvements that will benefit Parties.
SMDA Baseline Uplift
In response to industry needs, the SMDA Scheme has implemented and published superseded versions of all SMDA SEC Release Baselines. These updated versions now include an enhanced scope of tests catering to both Network Party tests and specific behaviours associated with prepayment applications and emergency credit usage. The updates have been formally endorsed by the SMDA Sub-Committee following extensive industry engagement with Device Manufacturers via BEAMA and EUA trade associations.
As a result, the SMDA November 2019, 2020, and 2021 SEC Release Baselines have been uplifted to new SMDA Baseline versions. These versions include the Enhanced Prepay tests and Network Party-specific tests but exclude SEC Modification MP085A (Synchronisation of smart meter voltage measurement periods), as MP085A was published in the November 2022 SEC Release Baseline and is not applicable to earlier SMDA Baselines.
The SMDA November 2022 and June 2024 SEC Release Baselines have also been uplifted to new SMDA Baseline versions. These Baselines include the Enhanced Prepay and Network Party tests (*by default), as well as the MP085A requirements. MP085A formed part of the November 2022 SEC Release and is therefore applicable for inclusion in all SMDA Baselines from November 2022 onwards, aligning with standard SMETS functionality.
The SMDA Scheme has clarified that currently SMDA Assured Devices will not be affected by this change. However, any new Devices or those submitted via the exemption process will be tested against the latest Baseline version.
A guidance note has been published on the SMDA website to provide further details on the changes.
* MP085A requirements formed part of the November 2022 SEC Release and is therefore applicable for inclusion in all the SMDA Baselines from November 2022 which aligns to standard SMETS functionality.
Developments
SMDA Sub-Committee Election
SECAS initiated an election for half of the SMDA Sub-Committee seats. Following this election, the following members have retained their existing seats for 24 months starting 10 December 2024:
- Large Suppliers – Letitia Maidment, OVO
- Large Suppliers – Joey Manners, Octopus Energy
- Network Party – Paul Abreu, ENA
- Other SEC Parties ESME Manufacturer – Nick Winfield, Landis + Gyr
- Other SEC Parties GSME Manufacturer – Darren McNeil, MeteRSit
- Other SEC Parties MAP – Beth Tatton, Calisen Asset Management Limited
These members will join the following SMDA Sub-Committee representatives:
- SMDASC Chair – Carmen Strickland, Horizon Energy Infrastructure
- Networks Party – Matthew Alexander, SSEN
- Other SEC Parties Display Manufacturer – Patrick Caiger-Smith, Green Energy Options
- Other SEC Parties ESME Manufacturer – Andrew Willman, BEAMA
- Other SEC Parties GSME Manufacturer – Martin Bell, EUA
- Other SEC Parties MAP – Adam Cooke, Macquarie
The following seats remain vacant:
- One Large Supplier
- Two Small Supplier
- One Other SEC Parties Display Manufacturer
DCC 4G Communication Hubs testing
SMDA has concluded testing on 4G Communications Hubs with the DCC. The Scheme developed a test scope for 4G Communication Hub testing which was approved by the DCC and the DCC now recognise the testing undertaken by the SMDA Test House as a valuable part of their testing.
Testing was carried out independently by SMDA to ensure independence, and the Test House have included an enhanced test pack that covers Trust Centre Swap Out (TCSO) scenarios. TCSO tests were included based on the current industry focus on the impending introduction of 4G Communications Hubs to both new and existing GB smart metering installations.
The overall scope of the testing aligns with the Common Test Scenarios Document (CTSD)/User Entry Process Testing (UEPT) tests required by new Test Participants seeking to become a DCC User.
SMDA Assured Devices were used during testing to maintain the primary goal of assuring that all devices under test function as they did during their assurance phase, regardless of changes in the Communication Hub hardware.
June 2025 SEC Release
The Scheme Operator has determined that no changes to the SMDA test specification or scripts are required to align with the June 2025 SEC Release.
For the latest testing Baseline please refer to the SMDA June 2024 SEC Release Baseline available on the SMDA website here.
Future
4G Communication Hubs in SMDA testing
Following the success of the independent 4G Communication Hub testing for the DCC, the Scheme Operator are investigating how 4G Communications Hubs could be incorporated into SMDA Device Assurance testing.
This would provide further confidence within industry that the Scheme aligns with its needs and the Scheme are looking into ways to achieve this.
Virtual WAN Devices
The Scheme are reviewing the changes to allow Virtual WAN Devices (VWD) into the scope of SMDA Device testing. VWD’s can be connected to a modified 4G NE Communications Hub to allow Smart Metering Systems to communicate via the consumer’s internet connection.
DCC Certificate Pack
SMDA are looking to offer testing that supports devices with the new Organisation Certificate Authority (OCA) Manufacturing Pack, commonly referred to as MP2. This is in preparation for the legacy 2016 OCA Manufacturing Pack (MP1) that will be phased out by the DCC. SMDA anticipate there will be a period of parallel testing as Device Manufacturers transition their production lines from MP1 to MP2 in-line with their individual timescales.
If you wish to submit any feedback or questions, please contact SMDASO@gemserv.com. This can include testing issues that manufacturers would like to raise for discussion.
This newsletter will also be published on the SMDA website here.
Best Wishes
Conroy Saunders, Head of SMDA Scheme Operator