SMDA Newsletter October 2025 Update

Dear All,

Happy Halloween! Here are the latest updates from the Smart Meter Device Assurance Scheme.

For more information on any of the items covered in this Newsletter please contact smdaso@gemserv.com.

Current activities
4G Communications Hub Pilot Project

As part of SMDA’s drive to align with industry, the SMDA Sub-Committee commissioned a 4G Communications Hub (CH) Testing Pilot. The aim of the Pilot was to determine if that 4G CHs behaved consistently with all other current CHs used in SMDA (e.g. WNC, Toshiba 2/3G, EDMI). The Pilot carried out a small subset of CH specific tests considered to be key priority tests covering areas such as security credentials, supply tamper state, soak test, change of tenancy test cases, TCSO (Trust Centre Swap Out)/ CH replacement, and Network Party specific tests.

Testing has been completed successfully with no variances or issues found. The results were presented at the SMDA Sub-Committee on 22 October 2025 where the SMDASC agreed that the results provided sufficient confidence that 4G CHs could be used with SMDA Device Assurance testing.

Therefore, the Scheme has introduced 4G CH testing into SMDA Device Assurance testing and any new Device submissions for testing will include tests with 4G CHs.

To find out more, please see the SMDA Baselines available on the SMDA Website.

SMDA Future Dated Tariff Price Update

SMDA has introduced an addition to its suite of tests that caters specifically for the inclusion of critical future dated functionality used by Energy Suppliers. This is to update the tariff pricing elements of smart meters via the Service Request 1.2.1 – Update Price (Primary Element). This test has been implemented following a review by the SMDA Sub-Committee and driven by the quarterly price change events in Great Britain which now reinforces the Scheme’s test coverage for future dated testing. The SMDA Baselines and Test Specification Library have been updated and are available on the SMDA website.

Devices submitted for SMDA Assurance testing will now be tested against this new testing scope.

Developments
SMDA Test Script and Specification changes

Over the last year, SMDA has made the following changes to the SMDA Test Specifications and Test Scripts:

The following additions have also been made to all Test Specification Libraries to ensure consistency and clarity.
• Suite of tests for Polyphase ESMEs
• Suite of tests for Twin Element ESMEs
• Suite of tests for Double Band ESMEs
• Removal of tests that have been superseded

SMDA November 2025 SEC Release

The Scheme Operator has determined that no changes to the SMDA Test Specification or Test Scripts are required to align with the November 2025 SEC Release.

For details of the latest testing Baseline please refer to the SMDA June 2024 SEC Release Baseline available on the SMDA website here.

SMDA Sub-Committee Call for Nomination

The 2025 SMDA Sub-Committee elections are now open, and the following seats are up for nomination:
• 1 Large Supplier
• 2 Small Supplier
• 1 Electricity Network
• 1 Other SEC Party ESME Manufacturer
• 1 Other SEC Party GSME Manufacturer
• 2 Other SEC Party In Home Display Manufacturers
• 1 Other SEC Party Meter Asset Provider

SEC Parties are invited to make a nomination for their Party category using the online form here by Friday 21 November 2025 . You will need to be logged in to access the form.

Nominee Requirements: As set out in the SEC, the person to be nominated (the nominee) should be a person who (at the time of their nomination) is capable of becoming and remaining a SMDASC Member in accordance with Sections C6. You may wish to use the text box in the nomination form to detail any relevant experience, although this is not mandatory.

Voting: In the event that there are more nominations than there are available seats in a particular Party Category, a vote will occur. Each Voting Group within a Party Category up for election is entitled to cast one vote for their preferred nominee. Once the nomination window has closed, eligible candidates will be advised if a vote is going ahead, and voting forms will be distributed to the relevant Voting Groups. If required, voting will go live on 6 Working days following deadline.

If you have any questions, please contact the SECAS Helpdesk.

Future
Virtual WAN Devices

The SMDA has carried out an assessment for the onboarding of Virtual WAN Devices (VWDs) into the Scheme. The SMDASC considered the possibility of providing independent testing on behalf of the DCC to assess the 4G CH capability to operate with a VWD, however members agreed to avoid any potential duplicated effort with industry’s current approach to the VWAN soft launch in Q1 2026.

Based on this and the feedback from VWAN Manufacturers, VWAN testing is considered outside of the Scheme’s Interoperability testing scope. However, the Scheme will continue to monitor the development of VWAN and future industry updates as this capability evolves.

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