Consultations

The Authority is consulting on a draft Code amendment for the use of AMI meter readings in the ICP switching process. The proposed amendment would benefit consumers during the switching process by ensuring that, when there is an AMI meter, retailers use accurate switch event meter readings for consumer invoicing

The Authority invites submissions on the regulatory statement and the proposed amendment, including drafting comments for an amendment to Schedule 11.3 of the Code. The purpose of these proposed amendments is to improve the efficiency of the process for switching ICPs between traders.

When the new Part 10 and associated amendments to Parts 1, 11 and 15 (new metering rules) were being implemented (Part 10 implementation project), it was identified that half-hour (HHR) certified and reconciled advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) metering installations created issues for the process used to switch ICPs between traders.

To overcome these issues, and so enable the new metering rules to function as required, a new switch completion file (known as the CS file), and Code amendments for ICP switching were included in the Part 10 implementation project. The intention was that the switching process would be fully reviewed after the new metering rules came into effect and participants had some experience with switching HHR AMI metering installations, to ensure that this issue and other issues raised by participants were addressed.

Experience since the new metering rules came into effect on 29 August 2013 suggests that the changes made in the Part 10 implementation project appear to be working effectively, and only minor changes to the ICP trader switching process appear to be required. This paper proposes a number of amendments to the processes set out in Schedule 11.3 that are expected to facilitate the efficient switching of HHR metering installations.