List of all BSC Modifications
P465 Correction to P415 legal text to amend Credit Cover requirements for Virtual Trading Parties
This Modification is required to correct an error in the approved legal drafting for P415. This Proposal will ensure that Credit Cover requirements for Virtual Trading Parties (VTPs) correctly take into account the energy volumes (‘Deviation Volumes’) that VTPs trade in wholesale markets, which was the intention of the P415 Workgroup.
P464 Housekeeping and updating BSC references to “Consumer Scotland”, “Generation Curtailment Validation Committee” and “GCVC”
This housekeeping Modification replaces references to “Citizens Advice Scotland” with “Consumer Scotland”. It also replaces any references to “Network Gas Supply Emergency Settlement Validation Committee” and “NGSESVC” to “Generation Curtailment Validation Committee” and “GCVC”. Additionally, it also corrects 5 non-material errors and inconsistencies across 5 Sections of the Balancing and Settlement Code (BSC).
P463 Introduce a Standard Change Process
To introduce a new change process – a ‘Standard Change’ process – into the BSC arrangements that would allow for certain, low risk, predictable and repeatable pre-authorised changes to be implemented without following the existing Change Proposal or Modification procedures.
P462 The removal of subsidies from Bid Prices in the Balancing Mechanism
This Modification aims to reduce consumer cost potentially caused by the interaction between the BM and support mechanism arrangements. This shall be done by removing distortion of support mechanisms (such as Contracts for Difference (CfDs) and the Renewables Obligation (RO) schemes) to reduce actions being taken outside of consumer cost order when following the Bid stack merit order.
The proposed solution for consideration by an industry Workgroup is to modify the equation BSC Section T ‘Settlement and Trading Charges’ paragraph 3.11 to pay the lost support mechanism.
P461 Accurate Reporting of Customers Delivered Volumes to Suppliers
The details reported to Suppliers when a customer delivers a Bid Offer Acceptance (BOA) through a Virtual Lead Party (VLP) do not reflect any adjustments made to that data in Settlement. This Modification proposes to address this issue by amending the values reported to Suppliers.
P460 Amend the responsibility to propose and consult on a MHHS Migration Plan
P460 aims to change responsibility for proposing, consulting on and obtaining approval of the Market-wide Half Hourly Settlement (MHHS) Migration Plan from BSCCo to the Market-wide Half Hourly Settlement Programme (MHHSP).
P459 Allowing different Supplier Agents to be appointed to Import and Export MSIDs
This Modification would allow Suppliers to appoint different Supplier Volume Allocation (SVA), Meter Operator Agents (MOAs) and Data Collectors (DCs) for the Import and Export Metering System Identifiers (MSIDs) where Data Communications Company (DCC) adopted smart meters are installed. Being able to appoint different Supplier Agents across Import/Export MSIDs will remove a barrier preventing the use of Export MSIDs for small-scale micro-generation, which currently disbenefits Suppliers, sales and operators of micro-generation, and electricity consumers.
P458 Introducing Data Controller and Processor Obligations in the BSC for MHHS Testing
The purpose of this Modification is to address the need for personal information sharing in the Balancing and Settlement Code (BSC), specifically in the context of the Market-wide Half Hourly Settlement (MHHS) testing. The current BSC General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and data protection provisions were not designed to allow the sharing of personal information, which has now become necessary for the planned MHHS testing.
P457 Replace the Electricity Arbitration Association with the London Court of International Arbitration
P457 proposes to remove the Electricity Arbitration Association (EAA) from the BSC and replace with the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) to deliver better value for money and service.
P456 Enable Elexon to procure ancillary Technology Services for use by BSC Agents
Removing barriers in BSC Section E that would prevent Elexon updating BSC Agent contracts, therefore enabling BSC Agents to use Technology Services procured by Elexon. This should reduce costs for BSC Parties.
P455 On-Site Aggregation as a method to facilitate Third Party Access
This Modification seeks to establish a more cost effective and efficient method for delivering Third Party Access on private networks that include domestic and small business customers. It does so by enabling aggregated meter data from sub meters on private networks to be submitted into Settlement in lieu of data from Settlement meters installed at the Boundary Point.
P454 Removal of BSC obligations to provide BMRS Data via TIBCO and the High Grade Service
This Modification would remove the existing requirement within BSC Section V ‘Reporting’ for the Balancing Mechanism Reporting Agent (BMRA) to provide BMR Service (BMRS) data via the legacy High Grade Service, otherwise referred to as the TIBCO service.
P454 is a recommendation from BSC Issue 95, which considered the impacts associated with maintaining the legacy TIBCO service.
P453 Metering Dispensation process improvements and clarification to the CoPs
This Modification seeks to progress two recommendations from Issue 93 ‘Review of the BSC metering Codes of Practice’. The first recommendation clarifies the relevant Code of Practice (CoP) for circuits embedded behind the Boundary Point Metering System or Defined Metering Point (DMP). The second recommendation eliminates the need for Metering Dispensations when the Actual Metering Point (AMP) does not coincide with the DMP, but there is no impact on Settlement accuracy.
P452 Replacement of the Energy Bill Relief Scheme for non-domestic customers with the Energy Bill Discount Scheme
This Modification seeks to enable Elexon as the Balancing and Settlement Code Company (BSCCo) to act as the payment provider for the Government’s Energy Bill Discount (EBD) Scheme for non-domestic electricity customers. This scheme will replace the existing Energy Bill Relief (EBR) Scheme.
P451 Updating BSC Black Start provisions and compensation arrangements
P451 seeks to facilitate the implementation of NGESO’s new approach to Black Start, termed System Restoration. In doing so, it proposes to update all BSC references to “Black Start” to “System Restoration”, and enable contracted Restoration Service Providers who are non-BSC parties to claim BSC Black Start compensation.
P450 Housekeeping and making the BSC gender neutral
This housekeeping Modification corrects a total of 52 non-material errors and inconsistencies across 31 Sections (including 9 Annexes) of the BSC. It also replaces gender specific references with references that are gender neutral to bring the BSC in line with modern best practice and other energy codes.
P449 Non-domestic Energy Bill Relief Scheme
This Modification seeks to enable Elexon (BSCCo) to act as the payment provider for the Government’s Energy Bill Relief Scheme for non-domestic electricity customers. The intention of the subsidy would be to reduce non-domestic consumer tariffs in light of the recent rises in energy costs.
P448 Mitigating Gas Supply Emergency Risks
The war in Ukraine and resultant gas shortages in Europe significantly increases the risk of Generators in GB being prevented from generating this winter (due to Firm Load Shedding during a Gas Supply Emergency). If that happens Generators are likely to incur massive Imbalance Charges and credit cover requirements, potentially causing them to become insolvent. Even if such an Emergency does not occur, the risk that it could occur is likely to force Generators to reduce their forward and Day Ahead trading, reducing liquidity in electricity markets, and raising costs for electricity consumers.
P447 Avoiding impact of Winter Contingency actions on cash-out prices
This Modification would prevent negative impacts to the cash-out price if NGESO’s Winter Contingency service is used.
P446 Domestic Energy Price Guarantee Scheme
This Modification seeks to enable Elexon (BSCCo) to implement and administer the payment scheme for Suppliers as part of the Government’s Energy Price Guarantee scheme for domestic electricity customers. The intention of the subsidy would be to reduce consumer tariffs in light of the recent rises in energy costs.