Changes to equipment installation requirements and governance arrangements for technical specifications
Read the full outcome
Detail of outcome
This document sets out the government response to the consultation on changes to equipment installation requirements and the governance arrangements for technical specifications (published on 10 April 2014), and concludes on relevant legal text.
The consultation sought views on draft licence conditions and a policy implementation approach that:
- Require the Data and Communications Company (DCC) to provide energy suppliers with communications hubs that comply with a Communications Hub Technical Specification (CHTS);
- Require energy suppliers to install DCC-provided communications hubs in domestic premises as part of the Smart Metering System installation;
- Require energy suppliers to comply with the technical specifications for a HAN Connected Auxiliary Load Control Switch (HCALCS) and Prepayment Interface Device (PPMID) where they install such devices;
- Allow multiple versions of technical specifications to be in force at one time;
- Require the Secretary of State to provide notice of when new Smart Metering Equipment Technical Specification (SMETS) 1 installations will no longer count towards suppliers’ roll-out obligations; and
- Provide for the technical specifications to be incorporated into the Smart Energy Code (SEC) and thereby be subject to the SEC modification process (Section D).
Feedback received
Detail of feedback received
Responses received.
Original consultation
Consultation description
The government’s vision is for every home and smaller business in Great Britain to have smart electricity and gas meters. Smart meters will play an important role in Britain’s transition to a low-carbon economy and help to meet some of the long-term challenges in ensuring an affordable, secure and sustainable energy supply. The government has introduced licence conditions on energy suppliers that require them to take all reasonable steps to install smart metering systems in domestic and smaller non-domestic premises by the end of 2020. The licence conditions require that energy suppliers install smart metering systems that meet the requirements set out in the Smart Metering Equipment Technical Specification (“SMETS”).
The initial version of the SMETS (“SMETS 1”) was designated by the Secretary of State on 18 December 2012 . SMETS 1 remains the version in legal force, although we intend shortly to make some minor clarificatory changes. In August 2012 the government consulted on proposed updates to the specification (“SMETS 2”), arrangements for the provision of communications hubs and enduring governance of the technical specifications. This consultation focuses on how we enact these policies.
Documents
Updates to this page
Published 10 April 2014Last updated 29 July 2014 + show all updates
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Government response published.
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First published.