Spotlight Interview with...

The REC Code Manager's Technical Design Authority Team

This month we spoke to Rosalind Timperley and Mark Pearce from the REC Code Manager’s Technical Design Authority Team.

What does your role at the Code Manager involve? Roz: I am responsible for the Technical Design Authority (TDA)’s engagement activities, this includes creating and maintaining TDA training and guidance material and managing the TDA’s Service Desk queries. I also deliver Market Entry Testing, to ensure new parties can send files over the Data Transfer Network (DTN).Within the Technical Design Authority Team, we all work on REC Change Proposals, bringing our diversity of knowledge and experience together to optimise technical design solutions to REC Change Requests. As such, I spend a fair amount of my time working on CPs. I also support colleagues in maintaining the digital REC in the Energy Market Architecture Repository (EMAR).Mark: I work within the Technical Team to ensure that our services meet the requirements of industry. This covers continuous improvement which is a key priority right now as well as incorporating any required changes. I also work with the REC Service Providers to ensure that any planned changes are appropriately assured from a testing and implementation perspective.What are the key benefits of the REC’s Technical Design Authority?Roz: As TDA, our role is to develop technical solutions and deliver a robust technical assurance framework to maintain the integrity of the overall REC architectural design. On a day-to-day basis, this means that we provide expert technical advice to REC users and our Code Manager colleagues; validate and support the development of the technical aspects of Change Proposals; and engage with REC Service Providers (e.g. C&C as provider of the Secure Data Exchange Portal and Electricity Enquiry Service) to provide delivery assurance on technical changes. We also maintain and develop the digital REC within the EMAR.The benefits of the TDA function include:

Optimisation of technical solutions: a fundamental element of our role is to ensure the technical aspects of REC Change Proposals are well developed. This means that for each Change Proposal raised that impacts on a REC system, we deep dive into the proposed solution and ensure that it is technically robust. Not only that, but we also think about the bigger picture, ensuring that REC CPs don’t just tweak around the edges but rather steering technical changes to REC in a holistic and rounded manner that head towards the ultimate goals of the industry.

Delivery of the Digital REC: the digital REC (which is stored in EMAR) is the most advanced GB digitalised Energy Code. As TDA we maintain this digitalised Code and develop enhancements to it.

Assurance of REC system updates: where there are changes to REC Service Provider systems we will provide assurance to ensure successful implementation, giving REC users confidence in system releases.

Provision of technical support and guidance: We are here to help you so, for example, if you are considering raising a change that is technical in nature, we are available to provide you with advice and guidance on the solution.

Continuous improvement: interlinked with our activities under the REC Change process and extending beyond that, we place a great deal of emphasis on continuous improvement for the benefit of industry parties and consumers. This includes suggesting solutions to technical issues; identifying improvements to the REC and in how we deliver of our TDA service, including enhancements to EMAR.

"...our role is to develop technical solutions and deliver a robust technical assurance framework..."

What is keeping you busy at the moment? Mark: At the moment I am working with the technical team to review feedback from our recent Data Specification workshop and we are investigating ways to better provide access to the Data Specification in both machine and human readable format. In addition, I have several interfaces with industry in general around ongoing programs as well as REC changes that come our way for review. I am also working with REC service providers on testing assurance and integrating services in the longer term such as with CSS.Roz: My role is quite diverse, with a mixture of working on Change Proposals, preparing for and carrying out Market Entry DTN testing and leading the TDA Team’s engagement activities, which keeps me busy.

The REC’s Technical Expert Group has held a number of meetings since the 1st September, what is the key areas of focus at the moment? Mark: We will now be looking to the TEP to give us feedback on the ideas we are developing for improving the use of the Data Specification. The TEP are really engaged and give us frank feedback which is great for us. There are also a number of planned REC changes that will be coming to the TEP for their consideration shortly.What advice would you give REC Parties for staying up to date with developments under the REC?Roz: Each Friday the Code Manager issues a communication giving a round-up of key REC events. If you are not already on this distribution list, I’d really recommend joining it to get a concise weekly summary of REC activities. To join the distribution list email: communications@recmanager.co.uk.What’s in the pipeline for the team and EMAR over the next 6 months?Mark: In the short term, continual improvement to get EMAR to meet the needs of our stakeholders, and to ensure that we are prepared for the upcoming industry changes.Roz: I’d agree with Mark one this one. Continuous improvement is really important to us and a big area of focus for us over the next six months will be enhancing the EMAR. We’ll also be continuing our preparations for the Central Switching Service (CSS) go-live.Finally, what do you enjoy most about your role?Mark: I enjoy interacting with clients and understanding their drivers and what they want to achieve.Roz: I am really enjoying working with the EMAR. It has been built in IBM Jazz, which is such a powerful tool. We have created the digital REC in EMAR, which brings with it the ability to create reports, link market participant types to requirements, create dashboards and so much more. But we are just at the start of our journey. I am excited about making it even better, building on the industry feedback we have received and the wealth of potential functionality available to us in IBM Jazz.