ElectraLink has finished its digitalisation of the Distribution Connection and Use of System Agreement (DCUSA), improving accessibility and navigation.
The DCUSA is an energy market code for which ElectraLink administers change management, secretariat and administrative responsibility.
This new 1,100 page digitalised version is an “important step in modernisation of energy market codes”, it said, with new features such as enhanced search and internal cross-linking functionality to create time savings and greater ease of use for DCUSA parties.
It was launched after seven months of development work, and comes as part of a wider digitalisation effort by ElectraLink, with the first to be digitalised being the Smart Meter Installation Code of Practice (SMICoP) in July 2019.
However, ElectraLink stated that the DCUSA is a more significant code in both size and the range of its prescriptions, meaning the CodeNavigator tool, which is available for SMICoP, is not yet available for DCUSA.
Stefan Leedham, ElectraLink’s director of governance services, pointed to encouragement from Ofgem into the creation of digital strategies, in particular among the electricity distribution networks, adding that digitalising DCUSA introduces “further efficiency into the energy market and supports cross-market efforts to enable innovation”.
Digitalisation of the code was achieved using Adobe FrameMaker. Beyond the code document itself, DCUSA teams are also rolling out other digital strategies to increase participation, efficiency and accessibility for all parties.
Online voting on proposals has been integrated into decision making, increased self-service functionality is available for parties and digital collaboration designed to provide fluidity and flexibility has been embedded across interactions between parties, governing bodies and secretariat staff.
In April 2019, ElectraLink launched the UK’s Energy Market Data Hub, a platform offering data services and solutions for the energy sector.
The platform compiles several different products, services and solutions into one location, citing how increased data transparency would promote innovation and investment.
