Guidance
Metering Systems Compliance with BSC
Codes of Practice
This document covers:

The definition of a Metering System;

The rules regarding compliance with the BSC Codes of Practice (CoPs); and

The purpose of Metering Dispensations
What is a Metering System?
A Metering System is made up of items of Metering Equipment including:

Voltage transformers

Current transformers

Meters and Outstations

The wires and connections between each item

Connections required to transfer metered data to the outside world (e.g. modems and
communication lines).
There are two types of Metering System:

Those which measure and record electrical energy flow for each half hour for Settlement (Half
Hourly Metering Systems)

Those which measure and record over longer periods of time, from which energy flows in each
half hour can be estimated (Non Half Hourly Metering Systems).
Metering Systems measuring flows to and from the Transmission System or between Distribution
Systems, and a few Metering Systems measuring flows at particular sites embedded in Distribution
Systems, are registered in the Central Meter Registration System (CMRS) and are often referred to as
Central Volume Allocation (CVA) Metering Systems.
These Metering Systems record Half Hourly (HH) data. All other Metering Systems measuring flows at
sites embedded in Distribution Systems are registered in a Supplier Meter Registration System (SMRS)
and are referred to as Supplier Volume Allocation (SVA) Metering Systems. Only those SVA Metering
Systems measuring flows off a Distribution System which are less than 100kW, or flows onto a
Distribution System which are less than 30kW, may be Non Half Hourly (NHH) Metering Systems. All
other SVA Metering Systems must be HH Metering Systems.
In relation to an Unmetered Supply, Equivalent Meters are the hardware and software used to
calculate the HH consumption of electricity associated with such Unmetered Supply.
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What is the Purpose of a Metering System?
A Metering System accurately records the flow of electricity. For example, it may record the energy
flowing into (Import), or away from (Export), a site connected to the Transmission System or a
Distribution System or it may record energy flowing between two Systems. This recorded data is
submitted into the central BSC systems and used to calculate energy imbalance charges for BSC
Parties who use more or less energy than they contract to buy or sell.
Suppliers and Generators, Licensed Distribution System Operators, the Transmission System operator,
Interconnector Administrators and ELEXON also use this data for other charging purposes, both within
and outside the BSC arrangements. For example: Transmission and Distribution Use of System
Charges; allocation between Interconnector Users; Balancing Services delivery, monitoring and
payments; Climate Change Levy calculations; and Renewables Obligation performance.
Section K1 of the BSC sets out participant responsibilities for registering both Import and Export
Metering Systems and those which measure flows between Systems at Systems Connection Points.
Section L2 sets out the obligations for participants (Registrants) who register Metering Systems in
Settlement. It stipulates that Registrants must ensure that the Metering Systems for which they are
responsible are installed, commissioned, maintained and tested in accordance with the relevant Code
of Practice (CoP) at the time that Metering System is first registered in Settlement 3.
These obligations on the Registrant are normally carried out by its appointed agent, a Meter Operator
Agent (MOA).
What is a Code of Practice (CoP)?
The CoPs set out the minimum engineering and data requirements that Metering Systems must
adhere to in order to be classified as compliant Metering Systems under the BSC. There are various
metering CoPs (CoP1, CoP2, CoP3, CoP5, CoP6, CoP7 and CoP10 for HH Metering Systems and CoP8
and CoP9 for NHH Metering Systems) each of which caters for different maximum rates of electricity
flow. CoP4 is different as it sets out the minimum requirements for calibrating, testing and
commissioning the Metering Equipment installed in Metering Systems under all the other CoPs.
Material Change to an Item of Metering Equipment
From time to time, items of Metering Equipment need replacing due to damage, failure or simply
because they become obsolete and cannot be maintained. The BSC sets out rules for replacing
Metering Equipment. The general principle is that when replacing Metering Equipment, the most up to
date specifications are used. This means that the latest version of the relevant CoP applies.
Section L3.3 of the BSC stipulates that where any ‘material change’ to an item of Metering Equipment
occurs, then that item of Metering Equipment must be compliant with the version of the relevant CoP
current at the time of the change. A change is not a ‘material change’ when, if in the judgement of
the MOA, a repair, modification or replacement of any component is not a substantial part of the
Metering Equipment. For example, where the MOA identifies and replaces a faulty mechanical register
on a CoP 1 Meter (the MOA judges that this is not a substantial part of the Meter).
An example of a material change could be if a MOA identifies a faulty Meter and replaces it with
another Meter. The replacement Meter (identical or of a different type) must be compliant with the
latest version of the relevant CoP.
1
‘Classification and Registration of Metering Systems and BM Units’
‘Metering’
3
Or in the case or those Metering Systems which were registered under the Pooling and Settlement Agreement (P&SA) or
Settlement Agreement for Scotland (SAS) the versions of the Code of Practice the Metering Equipment was required to comply
with just before the Go-live Date or the BETTA Effective Date, respectively.
2
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Material Change to a Metering System
A Metering System is comprised of items of Metering Equipment. In addition to the BSC definition of a
material change to an item of Metering Equipment, the current versions of CoPs 1 and 2 contain a
definition of what constitutes a material change to a Metering System. A material change to a
Metering System would result in the need to ensure that all items of Metering Equipment comprising
that Metering System are compliant with the latest version of the relevant CoP. These material
changes to a Metering System are described as a change to:
1.
Switchgear containing measurement transformers; and/or
2.
The primary plant associated with the Metering System, i.e. measurement
transformers.
In contrast, the replacement of a Meter or Outstation would not be material to the Metering System
and would only require the replacement Meter or Outstation to be compliant with latest version of the
CoP (i.e. a material change to an item of Metering Equipment).
What is a Metering Dispensation?
If, for practical and/or financial reasons, any Metering Equipment or Metering System does not meet
the requirements set out in the relevant CoP, the Metering Equipment or Metering System may be the
subject of an application for a Metering Dispensation from that relevant CoP.
BSC Procedure BSCP324 sets out the process to follow when applying for a Metering Dispensation.
Metering Dispensations are classified against a number of criteria. Each Metering Dispensation will
have an associated term (‘temporary’ or ‘lifetime’) and location (‘site specific’ or ‘generic’). Generic
Metering Dispensations apply to specific items of Metering Equipment which may be used to form any
number of Metering Systems, subject to the conditions of that Metering Dispensation. Any
modifications to or extensions of existing Metering Dispensations must be identified as updates.
An example of where a generic Metering Dispensation for an item of Metering Equipment might be
granted would be if a MOA had purchased a number of CoP compliant Meters and before this store of
Meters had been used up, a new version of a CoP became effective. If the Meters did not meet certain
requirements in the new CoP then a Party could apply for a lifetime generic Metering Dispensation for
that Meter type against those specific requirements of that new version of the CoP. If granted, the
MOA could continue to install those specific Meter types in new or existing sites subject to the
conditions of the Metering Dispensation (e.g. only for a period of one year after the new version of
the CoP became effective).
BSC Parties can contact ELEXON before applying for a Metering Dispensation to get further
guidance. The BSC Panel has delegated responsibility for accepting or rejecting Metering Dispensation
applications to the Imbalance Settlement Group (ISG) and/or the Supplier Volume Allocation Group
(SVG). Applications are considered individually. A list of generic Metering Dispensations can be found
on the Metering Dispensations page of the BSC Website.
How can you Prove Compliance with the Relevant Code of Practice?
a)
Compliance Testing
In order to confirm that a Half Hourly Meter/Outstation is compliant with the relevant issue of a CoP
the item of Metering Equipment must go through compliance testing in accordance with the processes
set out in BSCP6015. If an item of Half Hourly Metering Equipment passes all the relevant tests in
BSCP601, it will be considered proven against the requirements of the relevant CoP. In most cases
4
5
‘Metering Dispensations’
‘Metering Protocol Approval and Compliance Testing’
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the applicant who submits the Half Hourly Meter/Outstation for testing is the Half Hourly
Meter/Outstation manufacturer.
If all these tests are passed, ELEXON issues a certificate of compliance to the applicant for the
particular issue of the CoP that the item was tested against. If the item of Metering Equipment fails
any tests then an applicant can either address the issue(s) and re-do the testing or seek a Metering
Dispensation (through a BSC Party), which, if granted, allows its use in Settlement despite those
failings. The BSC allows Metering Dispensation applications from Registrants or the BSC Panel, where
ELEXON would raise a Metering Dispensation on behalf of the BSC Panel. The process for applying for
a Metering Dispensation is described in Section L3.4 and in further detail in BSCP32. There is a list of
approved Meter types and Protocol Approvals on the Metering page of the BSC Website6.
b)
Protocol Approval
In addition to HH Meters/Outstations being tested for compliance with a HH CoP, the HH
Meter/Outstation must be tested to ensure an approved communications protocol is used before a
protocol approval certificate is issued. This ensures that the relevant metering data stored in the
Outstation can be collected from the Metering System by authorised parties (i.e. HH Data Collectors
and the Central Data Collection Agent) and passed into the Settlement process. It is up to the
Registrant (Supplier) to satisfy themselves that the protocol used for communicating with NHH
Metering Equipment is suitable so that any remotely retrieved NHH data can be used in Settlements.
c)
Installation of Compliant Equipment
Once both these certificates are issued, a Registrant can then install that particular HH
Meter/Outstation in either:

any existing HH Metering System where there has not been a material change to the Metering
System but there has been a material change to the item of Metering Equipment; or

any new HH Metering System installations as long as the issue of the CoP for which it is
compliant is still the current issue of that CoP when that Metering System is first registered 3 in
Settlement.
How is On-going Compliance Measured?
The Technical Assurance Agent (TAA) is a BSC Agent who monitors compliance by Parties in respect
of the requirements of Section L7 of the BSC, the Half Hourly CoPs and relevant BSCPs for their
registered Half Hourly Metering Systems. Compliance is determined via site inspection visits where a
number of sites (as determined by the Performance Assurance Board) are randomly selected in
accordance with BSCP277.
Non-compliances are reported to the Registrant (and relevant participants like the Meter Operator
Agent and Data Collector) and ELEXON. The Registrant is required to rectify all non-compliant
Metering Systems. BSCP27 further splits non-compliances into four categories:

NC: A non-compliance has been identified through the Consumption Data Comparison Check
that is deemed to be currently affecting the quality of data for Settlement purposes;

Category 1 Non-Compliance: A non-compliance has been identified which is deemed to be
currently affecting the quality of data for Settlement purposes;

Category 2 Non-Compliance: A non-compliance has been identified which is deemed to have
the potential to affect the quality of data for Settlement purposes; and
6
The list of approved Meter type compliances and Protocol Approvals provides an indication of approvals. Registrants of
Metering systems should refer to the certificate of compliance for proof of compliance.
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‘Technical Assurance of Half Hourly Metering Systems for Settlement Purposes’
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
Observation: A non-compliance has been identified which is deemed neither to affect nor to
have the potential to affect the quality of data for Settlement purposes.
You can find out more about Technical Assurance of Metering process on the Technical Assurance of
Metering Systems page on the BSC Website.
What Happens when a Code of Practice Changes?
The CoPs are subject to change as is the BSC and its other subsidiary documents.
BSC Parties or ELEXON can raise Change Proposals which are determined by the BSC Panel or a Panel
Committee with delegated authority. For approved changes which materially affect requirements
within a CoP, a new issue (and version) of the CoP will be released 8. Therefore, the Registrant has to
ensure that for any new installations all the items of Metering Equipment used to make up the new
Metering System are compliant with the latest issue (and version) of the relevant CoP.
A timeline showing the previous versions of each CoP is available on the Codes of Practice page of the
BSC Website.
Need more information?
Useful Links:

BSC Website

BSC Section K

BSC Section L

BSCP27

BSCP32

BSCP601

Codes of Practice

Metering

Metering Dispensations
For further information please contact the BSC Service Desk at bscservicedesk@cgi.com or call
0870 010 6950.
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on it.
8
A material change to a Code of Practice will result in a new issue e.g. change from Issue 2, Version 1.0 to Issue 3, Version
2.0. A non material change would result in a new version of the CoP say from Issue 2, Version 1.0 to Issue 2, Version 2.0.
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