BSC simple guides

Section G of the BSC sets out what happens in certain contingency situations and cross-references Contingency Provisions set out elsewhere in the BSC. The contingencies covered are certain emergencies and unexpected or unusual events, and include: failure of the Energy Contract Volume Aggregation Agent (ECVAA) to receive contract notifications (Section P); manifest errors in the submission or acceptance of Bids and Offers (Section Q); the inability of the NETSO to receive Physical Notifications (Section Q); Black Start Periods (Section G); and the exercise of certain emergency powers for civil emergencies and fuel security by the Secretary of State (Section G).

Section H sets out arrangements for the initial establishment of Code Subsidiary Documents; the relationship of the BSC with other documents; arrangements that applied to the commencement of trading under the BSC; arrangements covering Default under the BSC; the ownership, use and disclosure of data; audit provisions in the BSC; the limitation of liability of Parties under the BSC; arrangements for the resolution of disputes; and the legal and contractual relationship between Parties.

Section I contains the BSC arrangements for transitioning from the New Electricity Trading Arrangements (NETA) for England and Wales to the British Electricity Trading Arrangements (BETTA) for Great Britain, which went live in April 2005. It sets out: which BSC provisions were disapplied, amended or substituted during the transition; how Transitional Code Subsidiary Documents were created and modified; how Proposed Transitional Modifications were progressed; how Scottish Metering Systems were registered under the BSC; how data was submitted and testing undertaken; and other transitional arrangements.

Section J deals with Party Agents and how BSC Parties, Party Agents and CVA Meter Operator Agents (MOAs) Qualify to participate in the Supplier Volume Allocation (SVA) arrangements of the BSC. Unlike Suppliers and Licensed Distribution System Operators (BSC Parties), Party Agents don't sign up (Accede) to the full BSC. The main areas covered in this section are the activities undertaken under the BSC through the use of Party Agents; the responsibility of Parties to ensure that Party Agents perform in accordance with relevant performance levels; the Qualification Requirements which must be met by BSC Parties and Party Agents; and the requirement for BSC Parties to register Party Agents.

Section K of the BSC deals with the classification and registration of Metering Systems, BM Units and Trading Units. The main issues covered include: identifying the Parties that are responsible for Imports and/or Exports of energy at Boundary Points; registering the Metering Systems that measure Imports and Exports of energy in the names of the Parties responsible for them; registering BM Units and assigning BM Units to Trading Units; registering the Metering Systems at Systems Connection Points in the names of the Parties responsible for them; the approval of Line Loss Factors by the Panel; and the process to be followed in the event that a Supplier Fails.

Section L of the BSC covers the requirements for Metering Equipment; the requirements to install, commission, operate and maintain Metering Equipment for measuring Active Energy and Reactive Energy; and the role of the Technical Assurance Agent (TAA) in relation to Metering Equipment.

Section M covers the provision of Credit Cover by each Trading Party and the consequences in the event that this Credit Cover is insufficient. These consequences are primarily the refusal and rejection of Energy Contract Volume Notifications (ECVNs) and Metered Volume Reallocation Notifications (MVRNs) as provided for in Section P. Consequences of persistent Credit Default are also outlined in Section H.

Section N of the BSC details payments to and from ELEXON Clear and Payment Parties for Trading Charges and Reconciliation Charges; arrangements for the Funds Administration Agent (FAA) to determine and notify Payment Parties of Trading Charges and Reconciliation Charges; payment procedures for the FAA and Payment Parties to follow; the obligations of ELEXON Clear and Payment Parties to make payments for Trading Charges and Reconciliation Charges and the consequences of non-payment; and the basis on which monies and Credit Cover are held by ELEXON Clear.

Section O of the BSC primarily addresses data communications and sets out an outline of the arrangements for Communications under the BSC; requirements to be complied with by Parties and Party Agents to be able to send certain Communications to BSC Agents and ensure that certain Communications are received; requirements for the form of certain Communications between Parties or Party Agents and BSC Agents; and the basis upon which certain Communications will be treated as received by a Party or a BSC Agent for the purposes of the BSC.

Section P sets out how Contract Trading Parties (Trading Parties and the NETSO), may notify contract volumes to settlements, specifically to the Energy Contract Volume Aggregation Agent (ECVAA). Two types of notifications, Energy Contract Volume Notifications (ECVNs) and Metered Volume Reallocation Notifications (MVRNs), are allowed and these can only be submitted on behalf of Contract Trading Parties by agents, appointed by the Parties specifically for this purpose, and known as Energy Contract Volume Notification Agents (ECVNAs) and Metered Volume Reallocation Notification Agents (MVRNAs) respectively.