Terms of Reference for Smart Grid Working Group
Context
The Smart Grid Strategy Working Group has in consultation with wider stakeholders developed the Smart
Grid Sector Strategy. The Smart Grid Strategy Working Group was a time-bound working group tasked with
developing the Smart Grid Sector Strategy. The member organisations were Scottish Power, SSE,
Strathclyde University, GE Energy, Cisco and Scottish Enterprise.
The Smart Grid Sector Strategy sets out the vision for Scotland for 2020, the strategic key objectives and a
high-level action agenda. The next stage is the development of a detailed Action Plan in line with the highlevel action agenda. The objective of the Action Plan is to create the conditions for Scotland to become an
exemplar of Smart Grid adoption and a leading international provider of Smart Grid technologies and knowhow and thus to ensure benefits for customers and the wider supply chain are realised.
To ensure that the Action Plan is fully aligned with the Sector Strategy the current members of the Working
Group will be retained. However, the existing Working Group will be expanded to ensure wider
representation and involvement of the sector.
Objectives of the Smart Grid Action Plan Working Group
The objectives of the Smart Grid Action Plan Working Group are to:
1. Develop a Smart Grid Sector Action Plan in line with the Sector Strategy with a view to exploit:
1. The opportunity to develop Smart Grids in Scotland – enabling the integration of renewables and
the development of the Low Carbon economy.
2. The opportunity to export technologies and know-how globally.
2. Propose the most appropriate Group structure to oversee the implementation of the Smart Grid
Sector Strategy.
The Smart Grid Action Plan will:
Set out the detailed actions required to implement the Sector Strategy.
Define roles and responsibilities for the different Smart Grid players.
Identify the decision makers who can realise the actions required to turn the Sector Strategy into reality.
The Smart Grid Action Plan Working Group will actively work to obtain corporate and public sector buyin from these decision makers to realise the actions required.
Guide and inform the support from Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise, Skills Development
Scotland, Scottish Development International and other public sector bodies (e.g. in areas such as
investment and policy).
Governance
The Group is a formal working group reporting to the Economics and Grid Group – which in turn reports to
the Energy Advisory Board (please refer to the Notes for the remit of these groups). A progress report will
be provided to the Co-Chairs of the Economics and Grid Group at key milestones. The Group will also
provide the Economics and Grid Group with updates at their meetings when required/appropriate.
The Group’s activities are time-bound – it will exist until a Smart Grid Sector Action Plan has been
delivered. The approval of the Action Plan will be by the Economics and Grid Group.
The Group will be liaising with other relevant organisations such as SmartGridGB, Energy Skills Action
Group, Skills Development Scotland, Scottish Development International.
Roles
The role of the industrial and academic members of the Group is to take ownership of the process and the
Action Plan.
The role of Scottish Enterprise is (a) to take part in the development of the Action Plan; (b) to represent an
independent view based on previously carried out research and wider consultations both with Smart Grid
players and other public sector bodies and (c) to provide the secretariat function.
Scottish Enterprise Account Managers are not formally part of the Group but will be kept informed of the
work of the Group and are available to assist companies with specific issues/opportunities outside of the
Group.
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Smart Grid Action Plan Development – Working Group
Chair
Stewart Reid (SSE) and Martin Hill (Scottish Power) will be the Co-Chairs of the Group.
Membership
To ensure that the detailed Action Plan is fully aligned with the Sector Strategy current members of the
Sector Strategy Working Group will remain members of the Group. Additional members are invited to join
the Group via an Open Letter process initiated at All Energy 2012. The Working Group will be limited to 15
members. It is envisaged that approx. 80% of the members will come from the private sector.
Commitment/Benefits
Commitment from members required:
Time commitment to attend meetings. This is estimated at one three-hour meeting per month. A work
plan with set meeting dates has been drawn up.
Commitment to take agreed actions forward in-between meetings – liaising with colleagues and other
parties as required.
Taking ownership of the Action Plan development process and the actual Action Plan.
Benefits to members:
By participating in the Smart Grid Action Plan development process, members will help to:
Accelerate Smart Grid developments which will result in the Scottish Smart Grid sector gaining
momentum.
Raise the profile of the Scottish Smart Grid sector.
Realise benefits for all Smart Grid players by focussing on the actions to exploit sector opportunities
and address current issues.
Working Rules
Discussions of the Working Group should focus on sector-level actions – company specific issues can be
followed up outside the Group, with assistance from SE Account Managers where appropriate.
There will be no provision for alternate members or for deputies to attend meetings when members are
unable to attend. Members are appointed as individuals and not as representatives of organisations.
Members are expected to attend meetings in person. A guest attendee may be agreed by the Group for a
specific purpose.
The Co-Chairs in consultation with the Working Group members can remove members. This may be done
in exceptional circumstance; for example:
• Failure of a member to adhere with the principles set out in the Code of Conduct for Standards in
Public Life
• Lack of participation in Working Group activities e.g. recurring non-attendance of meetings.
Discussions will be held with an open mind and in an atmosphere of mutual respect.
Members of the Group will take ownership of any agreed actions and progress these actions between
meetings.
Secretariat
Scottish Enterprise will provide the secretariat function. This will consist of:
Supporting and advising the Chair.
Alongside the Chair, developing the forward plan for meetings and drawing up the agenda for meetings.
Arranging meetings.
Circulating the meeting agenda and papers in advance of meetings.
Preparing meeting notes.
Deliverables and Schedule
Deliverable: Scottish Smart Grid Sector Action Plan
Schedule: First meeting: 23 July 2012 – Final deliverable: Q4 2012
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Smart Grid Action Plan Development – Working Group
Success
Measures of success for the Working Group will be:
The Group contributing actively to the acceleration of Smart Grid developments.
A Scottish Sector Action Plan having been developed which sets out concrete actions to implement the
Smart Grid Sector Strategy.
Reporting and Liaising with Other Groups
Legend
Energy Advisory Board
Reporting
Liaising
Member of
Economics and
Grid Group
Smart Grid
Forum
Energy Skills
Action Group
Smart Grid
Working
Group SE
SmartGrid
GB
Consumer
Focus
Scotland
Skills
Development
Scotland
Scottish
Development
International
Highlands and
Islands
Enterprise
Notes
The Energy Advisory Board is the forum for strategic discussion on the current and future energy
challenges and opportunities for Scotland. It ensures effective, high-level, open and informed engagement
between Ministers, the energy industry and other relevant bodies, on the key issues facing the energy
sector in Scotland. It is co-chaired by The First Minister and Prof. Jim McDonald, Principal, University of
Strathclyde.
The Economics and Grid Group is a themed group reporting to the Energy Advisory Board. It considers
the energy market in a broader economic sense, including technological developments and emerging
opportunities, and considers ways of capitalising on them. The group is co-chaired by Professor Jim
McDonald and David Wilson.
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