Posted by: @transparent

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It couldn't unless the UK Government was able to persuade HP manufacturers to allow digital access to their control electronics...
effectively opening a port to the internet through which commands can be sent.

That's fair

Posted by: @transparent

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The DESNZ proposal is for crude access to the mains incomer

I agree this is too crude.  It needs to be done properly or not at all.  There are at least four companies developing various smart controls based on tarrif, why does the government need to involved other than to regulate and encourage.

Government shouldn't be involved at all in the future development of our energy supply systems.

The Energy Act (Nov'23) made provision for energy planning and systems operation to be placed in the hands of an independent organisation...
... which is now in place.
NESO is charged with doing so in such a way that

• we achieve de-carbonsation of electricity supplies by 2030
• we reach Net Zero by 2050

Ofgem still holds the remit for governance of the commercial energy companies.

SEC has the remit to define, license and implement the hardware and software for the National Smart Meter Network
(and for its security as of September'24)

So just what is DESNZ doing?

The Department is extremely segmented.

If I communicate with a civil servant on the subject of the 360,000 properties which are beyond the licensed communications channels for the Smart Meter Wide Area Network (SMWAN), then he won't be able to discuss the Smart Meter functionality which affects grid-demand in those (remote) locations. That's the task of a different staffer.

And if I communicate with him about ESAs (Electricity Smart Appliances) then that's being handled by another separate group within DESNZ because they're smart domestic appliances, rather than Smart Meters.

The best way to get a properly joined-up dialogue is to post here on the Forum and listen to the feedback!

We keep using this word "independent" when referring to NESO.  The Chair and CEO are appointed by the Government and regulated by OFGEM (another government controlled quango). How that can make NESO independent is beyond me.  They are simply yet another fig leaf, arms length department of the Government. If you are going to nationalise energy supply then do it openly, can we please stop all the pretence.

I hear what you're saying @abernyte
and the independence of NESO hasn't yet been tested, and may not be until the RESPs are in place at the end of next year (2025).

Ofgem is technically a non-ministerial government department rather than a quango.
That subtle difference means that my MP can 'request' that they respond to written questions...
... and that's relevant to an issue which my MP has been working on at my instigation.

I have met with NESO staff, and am therefore in the fortunate position of being able to assess their independence for myself.
One particular response given to me by a senior engineer strongly indicated that he was putting the best interests of Britain ahead of a future network planning strategy.
That was reassuring.

I'm also awaiting a response from a different department within NESO at the moment.
Possibly the sort of work I do is more likely to bring me into direct contact with NESO than others here on the RHH Forum.

a senior engineer strongly indicated that he was putting the best interests of Britain ahead of a future network planning strategy. 

....and precisely how did he determine what the best interests of "Britain" were? I strongly suspect that what is in the best interests of the more northern parts of these isles may not be what is topping the agenda in London and the south east.  

Ofgem may well be a GONGO but that does not alter the fact that it is a ministerial sock puppet.

Posted by: @abernyte

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....and precisely how did he determine what the best interests of "Britain" were?

I don't think I should expand much on that in this open forum discussion.

Let's say it was a Security issue; I was asking about a technical network planning matter for infrastructure which was not yet built.

Posted by: @abernyte

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I strongly suspect that what is in the best interests of the more northern parts of these isles may not be what is topping the agenda in London and the south east.  

It depends what the issue is.

If we're discussing grid resilience, then it's of equal concern to all.
A sudden loss of the Transmission Grid transformers at Strathaven would affect all of Britain.
It's the main interface between the 275kV supplies from the Scottish hydro-electric generation in the Highlands, and the 400kV grid to the south.

If I thought there was a risk of thermal overload, for example, then I might

• write to NESO expressing my concerns
• install a larger home storage battery (!)

On the other hand, if Councils in Scotland are concerned about foreign ownership of wind farms off the East coast, then there's likely to be a difference of opinion between Westminster and Scottish residents.

Scotland does seem to be providing a high proportion of the renewable generation which GB wants to attain Net Zero.
You have MPs who should rightly be requesting information on that matter.

The Commons Select Committee for ESNZ is still in the process of announcing its membership.
There is currently one Scottish member, representing the constituency of Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Outer Hebrides).

That's particularly interesting because Torcuil Crichton is the new Labour MP who replaced Angus MacNeil at the last election in May'24.
And it was Angus MacNeil who chaired the Select Committee on ESNZ, sitting as an Independent when the SNP withdrew the whip.

I will suggest that the Outer Hebrides probably has a high proportion of residents who understand renewable energy and battery storage!

I have now received clarification from Octopus and the reports I came across are either gleaned via a crystal ball or they are incorrect. Octopus informed me that there is no such integration of the Tesla Powerwall with Intelligent Flux.

In my circs,. (battery storage, solar PV and a heat pump) they suggest that Octopus Flux would be advantageous to me. Looking at the import and export rates, this may be a goer come the spring when the more favourable ratio allows more export than during the heat pump hungry darger days of winter. Regards, Toodles.