Technical Assurance of Performance Assurance Parties

This page explains the purpose of this annual process as a set of audits targeted at key market performance and risk areas. These risk areas are usually highlighted through activities that are reported to the Performance Assurance Board (PAB).

How it relates to you

The following Performance Assurance Parties (PAPs) may be subject to checks at the discretion of the PAB:

• Suppliers
• Supplier Agents
  • Includes Half Hourly (HH) and Non Half Hourly (NHH) Data Collectors
  • HH and NHH Data Aggregators
  • HH and NHH Meter Operators
• Licensed Distribution System Operators (LDSOs)
• Independent Distribution Network Owners (IDNOs)
• Licensed Distributors acting as Unmetered Supplier Operators (UMSOs)
• Supplier Meter Registration Agents (SMRAs)
• Meter Administrators (MAs)

We conduct checks either via site visits or off-site reviews of information and data. If you are selected for a Technical Assurance (TA) check, we will contact you with the reason for the check, its scope, timescales that it will be performed in and a request for data.

About the Performance Assurance process

Technical Assurance of Performance Assurance Parties (TAPAP) is a detective Performance Assurance Technique (PAT) in Elexon’s Performance Assurance Framework (PAF). Issues for a TAPAP scope can be identified by other PAF techniques:

• Error and Failure Resolution
• SVA Qualification
• Technical Assurance of Half Hourly Metering Systems
• PARMS Techniques

The aim of TAPAP is to review where you are meeting your Balancing and Settlement Code (BSC) obligations, to identify weakness in industry practices and detect any issues in the BSC processes (and or other processes as where appropriate.

Timescale

The PAB agrees an annual scope of work for Technical Assurance which is set during the approval of the Risk Operating Plan (ROP). This is done after the BSC Audit Report is published and covers the Performance Assurance Operating Period (PAOP) (01 April – 31 March).

Scope

The scope contains the checks we will perform during the period. A ‘within period revision’ to the scope can also be made with approval from the PAB. The check will then take place anytime during that BSC year.

• Technical Assurance Scope 2022-2023 (published May 2022) (Size: 270.79 KB)
• Latest Risk Operating Plan approved by PAB in April 2022 (PAB255/07) (Size: 572.55 KB)

Technical Assurance findings reports

After every Technical Assurance audit we produce a non-confidential findings report that is presented to the PAB, view previous and latest reports:

• Supplier Agent Management check – April 2022 (Size: 387.14 KB)
• Risk 11, Unmetered Supplies – August 2021 (Size: 427.38 KB)
• Risk 007, Supplier Volume Allocation (SVA) Data Retrieval report – February 2020
• Late and Missing Smart MTDs – February 2019
• Missing Meter Technical Details – May 2018
• Automatic Meter Read Meters – September 2016
• P283 Commissioning Process Implementation – December 2015
• P283 Commissioning Process Implementation – April 2015
• Fault Investigation Process – June 2013
• Investigating the Trading Disputes Process – May 2012
• Maintaining and Managing Metering System Records – April 2011
• Supplier Appointments and Associated notifications – April 2010
• Processing Revenue Protection Reads – April 2010
• Meter Technical Details – March 2009

BSC obligations

BSC Section Z – Performance Assurance details the administration and implementation of Performance Assurance Techniques (PATs).

BSCP535 Technical Assurance sets out the timescales for the role of the Performance Assurance Board (PAB) and/or Delegated Authority and other interested parties in the Technical Assurance of PAPs (TAP).