Information paper on the registry

Transcription

1 Information paper on the registry Version 3.0

2 Version control Version Date amended Comments Jan 08 Updated into Commission style Jan 09 Minor clarification updates.

3 Overview 1. This information paper outlines the purpose and function of the registry and is a high level description of the detailed requirements of the Electricity Governance Rules 2003 (Rules) that pertain to the registry. The registry allows retailers, generators and distributors to manage the process of switching customers between retailers or the clearing manager by facilitating the exchange of information and enabling electricity purchases and sales to be reconciled. 2. The general approach set out in this information paper in no way reduces the requirement upon participants to know and comply with their obligations under the Rules. Neither should it be interpreted as reflecting the Electricity Commission s view on the Rules. This information paper should be read in conjunction with the Rules. 3. Although the Commission has taken every care in the preparation of the content of this information paper, the Commission offers no warranty (express or implied) as to the accuracy, completeness, or legality of that content. The Commission is not liable or responsible to any persons for direct or indirect loss or damage that may result from the action or failure to act by any person in reliance on this information paper. 4. The publishing of this information paper does not place any obligation on the Commission to follow any interpretation contained in them when carrying out any of its functions under the Electricity Act A

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5 Glossary of abbreviations and terms Board Electricity Commission Board Commission Electricity Commission FTP File transfer protocol ICP Installation control point NSP Network supply point Rules Electricity Governance Rules 2003 C

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7 Contents Overview A Glossary of abbreviations and terms C Introduction 7 What are installation control points? 7 The registry service 8 Access to the registry 8 Availability of the registry 9 Security 9 Switching 9 Registry notifications 10 Responsibilities 10 Additional information 11 E

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9 Introduction 1. The registry is a national database that contains reconciliation information on every point of connection on a local network or embedded network from which electricity is supplied to or from a site, as well as static data tables that schedule NSPs, loss category codes, and price category codes. These points of connection are referred to as installation control points (ICPs). Each ICP has a unique identifier. The registry is the database of record of all ICPs Through the use of the ICP identifier and associated records, the registry helps manage the customer switching process and is also an input to the reconciliation process carried out by the reconciliation manager. 3. Part E of the Electricity Governance Rules 2003 (Rules) provides for the management of information held by the registry and outlines the process for switching customers, embedded generators, and direct purchasers on local or embedded networks. What are installation control points? 4. An ICP identifier refers to a specific and unique point on a local or embedded network where electricity is supplied to or from a network company s line. It is at this point that the supply of electricity to or from a site is contestable. Only one trader 2 can own an ICP at any one time, and each point of connection can have only one ICP identifier. 5. Certain ICP identifiers have been created which are not tradable. These are used for administration purposes and are known as distributor-only ICPs. 1 Rule 29 of part E. 2 Retailers, direct purchasers, and embedded generators. 7 of 12

10 6. Each ICP has its own unique identifier referred to as the ICP number. All ICP numbers are a maximum of 15 characters long and follow a set format. 3 The format is yyyyyyyyyyxxccc, where: yyyyyyyyyy xx ccc is a numerical sequence of up to 10 characters. is a code assigned by the Electricity Commission (Commission) Board to ensure uniqueness of the ICP and to enable the registry to validate each ICP against the network supply point (NSP) it is allocated to. is a checksum generated according to an algorithm. 7. An example of an ICP number is TRAAD which may also be expressed as148213traad. The registry service 8. The registry service is the user interface to the registry database. It is an online service available over the internet or via a dedicated client/server application called a Thin Client. Jade Software Corporation (Jade) hosts and maintains the registry under its contract as a service provider to the Commission. 9. The registry also uses a file transfer protocol (FTP) server for exchanging data files between registry users. 10. Full details of the services and resources relating to the registry can be found at Access to the registry 11. Access to the registry is required by traders (retailers, direct purchasers, and embedded generators), distributors (persons who own or operate local or embedded networks), metering equipment owners, and the market administrator. Those who require registry access must first obtain a license to use the application software. 12. To apply for registry access, applicants must complete the registry access application form and submit it to the market administrator for processing. The registry access application form can be downloaded from the Commission s website at 3 Rule 1 of schedule E1 of part E. 8 of 12

11 Availability of the registry 13. The registry, and associated FTP mechanism, is available to registered parties 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Be aware that maintenance may occur between 1930 and Security 14. Each organisation with registry access must have a supervisor who manages the security profile of their organisation s users. The supervisor manages a user s security profile by enabling or disabling certain resources. These are: (a) (b) (c) ICP records maintenance; Individual reports; and Switching. 15. The supervisor is also able to: (a) (b) (c) (d) Create new logons; Reset user passwords; Expire old logons; and Assign another registry party as an agent to maintain ICP data. Switching 16. Switching is when consumers or generators change trader or opt to switch to or from trading with the clearing manager. When switching occurs, traders provide information to the registry to enable the supply of electricity at an ICP to be transferred to another trader. The registry manages the communication of the switching information between traders, maintaining an audit trail and effecting the ICPs change of ownership. 17. Schedule E2 of the Rules defines the information to be supplied to the registry, the method of information exchange, and the notifications the registry must provide to the relevant participants to the switch. 9 of 12

12 Registry notifications 18. The registry provides same day notification of changes made to registry information to users affected by the change. Notifications are made at the end of the working day and contain only changes that occurred on that day. There are two types of notifications: (a) Event maintenance notifications; 4 and (b) Switch notifications between traders Notifications are held in the participant s FTP directories in the registry and are created as a downloadable file. Participants may use these notification files to manually or automatically update their own application systems. Responsibilities 20. Each type of registry user has different responsibilities with regard to the maintenance of registry information and the notification of changes. 21. There are five types of registry user: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) Trader (retailers, direct purchasers, and embedded generators); Distributor; Metering equipment owner; Service provider (includes market administrator and reconciliation manager); and Non participant access. 22. Traders and distributors have access to all registry resources, whereas metering equipment owners, service providers, and non-participants have access only to reporting resources (read only access). 23. Non-participant access is issued on a case-by-case basis at the market administrator s discretion. 24. Traders are responsible for (various rules in part E): 4 Rule 26 of part E. 5 Rule 5.4 of schedule E2 of part E. 10 of 12

13 (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) Requesting the creation of new ICPs by distributors; Providing and managing information (outlined in rule 3 of schedule E1 of the Rules); Updating the registry within three business days of a change of an ICP attribute occurring; Updating the unmetered load 6 attribute within five business days of a request from a distributor (or advise the distributor of reasons not to); Maintaining an ICP until another trader takes its place (a completed switch) or when an ICP is decommissioned; and Using ICP identifiers on all invoices. 25. Distributors are responsible for (various rules in part E): (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) Creating new ICP identifiers; Loading ICP identifiers into the registry prior to the commencement of electricity supply from that ICP; Providing and managing information (outlined in rule 2 of schedule E1 of the Rules) ; Updating the registry within three working days of a change of any of these attributes for an ICP occurring; Decommissioning ICPs; and Maintaining static data tables on the registry. Additional information 26. The Rules are available on the Commission s website at The registry functional specification is available on the Commission s website at The functional specification describes the operation of the registry software. 6 For more information on unmetered load, refer to the unmetered load management guidelines at 11 of 12

14 28. The registry user manual is available for electronic download from the registry itself, and this describes in detail the file formats used in exchanges to and from the registry, and the file transfer mechanisms. 29. If you require any additional information about the registry, please contact the market administrator: Electricity Commission PO Box Wellington Attention: Market administrator Telephone: Fax: of 12