SMDA Newsletter – December Quarterly Update

Dear All,

Merry Christmas everyone!
With the Christmas break around the corner, this is a great opportunity to highlight the recent achievements of SMDA before starting the new year.

Developments
Governance restructure
The SMDA Sub-Committee (SMDASC) has been merged with the SMDA Technical Sub-Group (TSG) to focus on technical aspects of the Scheme while commercial decisions will be made by the SEC Panel. The aim of these changes is to improve timescales for technical and baseline changes by removing duplication of information and decisions.
Volunteers were requested from the SMDASC and the TSG to maintain continuity and access to relevant technical expertise. The new composition of the SMDASC is shown below.

Manufacturer NDA
Seven Other SEC Party manufacturers have successfully gained access to the SMDA test scripts. The aim is that this will result in more devices being submitted for testing as manufacturers will understand the detailed test requirements.

To request access, manufacturers need to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) which is available from the Scheme Operator (SO) (SMDASO@gemserv.com).

Current activities

Meetings
The first meeting of the new SMDASC was held on 6 December 2022. At the meeting, the SMDASC welcomed a new Network Party representative Matthew Alexander, Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN).

The SMDASC agreed to recommend changes to the Terms of Reference (ToR) to expand the composition to allow each Other SEC Party Device manufacturer type (ESME, GSME and Display) to have two seats. The changes were agreed at the SEC Panel on 16 December 2022.

Two roles are currently available on the SMDASC for one Other SEC Party Display manufacturer as well as a role for a Large Supplier representative as Martin Hanley has left the SMDASC. Everyone involved in the Scheme would like to thank Martin Hanley for being a key member of the SMDASC, whose input and support has shaped the Scheme into what it is today.

If you are interested in volunteering or finding out more about these roles, please contact SMDASO@gemserv.com.

SMDA November 2022 SEC Release and SMDA Test Scenarios Consultations
The SMDA November 2022 SEC Release and SMDA Test Scenarios Consultation is now available on the SEC website.

This consultation requests feedback from SEC Parties on two items which will require changes to the SMDA test scripts and testing scenarios:
1. Changes to the SMDA test script to align testing with the November 2022 SEC Release
2. A proposal to introduce 14 new test scenarios into testing by updating and creating new test scripts which will provide additional Scheme benefits to Network Parties.

Please log into to the SEC website to access the consultation documents via the link above. If you do not yet have a SEC website account, please register here.

Please email your completed response form available in Annex C to SECAS@Gemserv.com with the subject line ‘SMDA November 2022 SEC Release and SMDA Test Scenarios Consultation’.
The deadline for responses is 5pm on Tuesday 24 January 2023.

Documentation
The SMDA Change Procedure has been updated to reflect the new governance structure and has removed references to the SMDA Technical Sub-Group/ Management Panel Sub-Group. This has simplified the change process and was published on the SMDA website on 20 December 2022.

In addition, the SMDASC agreed to close SMDA Tolerable Common Issue – Positive or Negative meter balance. Updated versions of the following documents were published on the SMDA website on 19 December 2022:
• SMDA-252 – SMDA Tolerated Issues for Full Assurance; and ,
• SMDA-246 – SMDA Tolerated Issues for Partial Assurance.

All new devices submitted for testing will need to demonstrate the expected behaviour to be awarded assurance.

Device Assurance Register
There are currently 39 devices on the Device Assurance Register (DAR).

Future Focus
SMDA Review
Due to the limited number of responses and mixed results of the SMDA Review Consultation, the SO initially proposed to revise the consultation to request further information from SEC Parties.

After further discussions with SEC Panel members, it was agreed that the best approach would be for the SO to develop options for the Scheme’s future with costs. This was approved by the SEC Panel Chair on Tuesday 9 November.

The SO will develop the options and collaborate with key industry representatives to gather feedback, before presenting the results to the SEC Panel in February 2023.
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

Kunal Sharma, Head of SMDA Scheme