Authorisation and Accreditation

Accreditations

Accreditation means accreditation awarded to an ICP under the National Electricity Registration Scheme (NERS).
ICPs accredited under NERS to undertake specific contestable activities shall be deemed to be competent to undertake such activity normally.
In all cases where NERS accreditation is not available SPEN will work with the scheme administrator to implement a scope change to cover the relevant activity consistent with the Relevant Objectives which are detailed within Section 2.3 of the Code of Practice which can be found here.

Authorisations

SPEN accept that ICPs administer and control their own Safety Management systems (SMS) and to enable more flexibility and control within the ICP, SPEN allows all ICPs to work under their own safety rules. The details of which can be found within document CON-04-002 Process for LV and HV connections activities under SPEN and ICP’s DSRs, which is available on our website here.

Under the changes that have been implemented for the Code of Practice SP Energy Networks (SPEN) is committing to the 3 options that are available and would ask any ICP that is interested to contact us directly and we will work together to enable their access to their preferred option.

Please see our guide to gaining Authorisation to SPEN here.

The 3 options are detailed below:

Option 1 - ICP authorisation of ICP Employees and Contractors

ICPs shall operate under their own SMS, including the ICP’s Safety Rules, which shall be of an equivalent relevant standard to SPEN’s (in all cases the SMS should align to OHSAS18001 or equivalent).
ICPs are responsible for determining the relevant competence requirements for the work to be undertaken and for the issue of an appropriate authorisation to their employees or contractors. The relevant competence requirements shall include any network specific issues identified by the ICP following consultation and communication with SPEN.
ICPs shall provide, if requested, details of their SMS to SPEN before first accessing SPEN’s Distribution System.
ICPs shall thereafter provide, when required, reasonable information regarding their ongoing SMS to SPEN.
SPEN will be entitled to carry out reasonable checks on the application of the relevant SMS to demonstrate so far as reasonably practicable to the Health and Safety Executive (or other interested parties) that safety assurance is in place for any ICP working on its Distribution System.
Either party shall make available to the other relevant policies, operational processes, local information and procedures as required to facilitate safe working on SPEN’s Distribution System. This may be in writing or by personal briefing as may be appropriate, but in all cases the information exchanged shall be recorded and such records must be held for future reference by each party.

Option 2 - DNO authorisation of ICP Employees

ICPs shall operate under SPEN’s SMS, including SPEN’s version of the Model Distribution Safety Rules.
SPEN will determine the relevant competence requirements and issue authorisations to the ICP’s employees or contractors.
SPEN will be entitled to undertake appropriate checks to demonstrate, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the ICP’s employee or contractor has an appreciation of network hazards and local procedures.
SPEN shall take account of authorisations issued by other DNOs in order to minimise circumstances where repeat authorisation assessments are required for work on different DNOs’ Distribution Systems.
The charges to get authorised must be cost-reflective and opportunities to be authorised must be available on a sufficiently frequent basis.
Each party shall make available to the other the relevant policies, operational processes, local information and procedures as required to facilitate safe working on SPEN’s Distribution System. This may be in writing or by personal briefing as may be appropriate, but in all cases the information exchanged shall be recorded and such records must be held for future reference by each party.

Option 3 - Transfer of Control

SPEN shall transfer control of a specified part of its Distribution System for the purposes of the ICP’s activity.
The ICP shall have full control of the specified part of SPEN’s Distribution System and shall carry out the work in accordance with its own SMS, including its Safety Rules.
Each party shall make available to the other the relevant policies, operational processes, local information and procedures as required to facilitate safe working on SPEN’s Distribution System. This may be in writing or by personal briefing as may be appropriate, but in all cases the information exchanged shall be recorded and such records must be held for future reference by each party.