Qualification Assessment Document
All Systems Integration Testing (SIT) and Non-SIT participants that are planning to Qualify in the MHHS arrangements should review and provide comments on this document.
The Qualification Assessment Document (QAD) sets out the information and evidence that all Suppliers, Supplier Agents (Data Agents and Meter Equipment Managers (MEMs)), and Licensed Distribution System Operators (LDSOs) are required to provide to the Balancing & Settlement Code (BSC) and Retail Energy Code (REC) Code Bodies so that they can be MHHS Qualified to operate the new arrangements. The QAD also covers the information that participants must provide to the Data Integration Platform (DIP) Manager for its assurance activities.
The QAD has been developed through discussions with the MHHS Qualification Working Group (QWG) and Qualification Advisory Group (QAG).
Qualification Assessment Document (QAD)
Ofgem approved the Balancing & Settlement Code (BSC) Modification, P476 Exemption from MHHS Requirements for Smart Meter Segment (SMS) Supplier Qualification on 23 January 2025.
P476 sought to allow the BSC Performance Assurance Board (PAB) to have the authority to exempt Suppliers from Smart Segment Qualification obligations, allowing Suppliers operating in the advanced market segment that do not have the systems, processes or controls in place to meet these obligations to be exempted from Design, Test and Build.
A paper was taken to the Retail Energy Code (REC) Performance Assurance Board in February 2025 to approve the principle that a Supplier may be granted a derogation on obligations around Smart Segment Meter Points when they complete MHHS Qualification with an approved exemption.
Following Ofgem’s approval of BSC Modification P476, the Code Bodies updated Section 5.1.1 of the Qualification Assessment Document (QAD), setting out additional criteria and expectations for participants that are seeking a SMS exemption. This includes asking Suppliers to provide detail on the controls they have in place to identify, prevent the onboarding and migration, and de-register any SMS Meter Points in their QAD Submissions.
Please note that the updates only apply to participants seeking a Smart Meter Segment exemption and do not impact Systems Integration Testing (SIT) participants or Non-SIT Licensed Distribution System Operators (LDSOs).
If you intend to apply for this exemption, please return a completed copy of the Intention to Apply Exemption Letter, available below, to the Code Bodies at MHHSQualification@elexon.co.uk
Intention to Apply Exemption Letter (template)
The Code Bodies have also created an Exemption Process for Smart Market Segment Guidance document that sets out further details on the timescales and process steps for the exemption application. You can view this document below:
Exemption Process for Smart Market Segment Guidance
The Code Bodies published the updated QAD for industry consultation, which closed on Wednesday 26 February 2025. Thank you to all participants who submitted comments or confirmed review of the artefacts.
The Code Bodies reviewed and responded to all participant feedback. An update was given at the Qualification Working Group (QWG) on 11 March 2025, followed by approval of the updated document at the Qualification Advisory Group (QAG) on 20 March 2025, and the Retail Energy Code (REC) and Balancing & Settlement Code (BSC) Performance Assurance Boards (PABs) on 25 and 27 March 2025, respectively.
You can view the latest versions (in PDF and Word format) including a red-lined version of QAD v5.0 below:
Qualification Assessment Document - PDF version
Qualification Assessment Document - Word version
Qualification Assessment Document (red-lined)
If you have any questions, please email MHHSQualification@elexon.co.uk
Completing the QAD
To support efficient review of information and evidence from parties, there are two formal QAD submission stages. The timeframes for submission are set out in Appendix C of the Qualification Approach & Plan (QA&P), which you can view on the Qualification Approach and Plan page of this website.
Please note that although we have provided a PDF version of the QAD, the format of the QAD submission will be via the QAD Portal. We've also provided a Word version so that participants can prepare and draft their responses ahead of accessing the QAD Portal.
All Non-Systems Integration Testing (SIT) Suppliers & Agents will be onboarded to the QAD Portal in the two weeks before the opening of their Initial QAD submission window, which will be dictated by participants allocated Qualification Wave.
The Code Bodies and Data Integration Platform (DIP) Manager have published clean and red-lined versions of the Qualification Assessment Document (QAD) Guidance (v1.8) to support participants to prepare their QAD submissions. This document provides guidance to all participants undergoing MHHS Qualification, specifically in relation to the Qualification Assessment Document (QAD) and the QAD Portal. You can view the clean and red-lined versions below:
Qualification Assessment Document Guidance v1.8 (Clean Version)
Qualification Assessment Document Guidance v1.8 (Red-lined Version)
The Code Bodies and DIP Manager will regularly update the guidance to ensure that frequently asked questions and lessons learnt are captured and published as participants progress through Qualification.
For further guidance, please also visit the MHHS Webinars and Open Days page of this website for the QAD webinar slides and recordings that took place last year.
You can view the Q&A document that was developed following these webinars below:
Qualification Assessment Document Webinars Q&A
The Code Bodies issued a feedback questionnaire to all SIT participants and facilitated a feedback session with all Non-SIT Licensed Distribution System Operators (LDSOs) in April 2025 to better understand and capture participant feedback regarding the Initial QAD submission process.
The Code Bodies have collated and responded to all the feedback received, which you can view in the document below:
Initial QAD Submissions Participant Feedback Comments Log
The Code Bodies are assessing, prioritising and implementing the feedback to enhance the Final QAD submission process for SIT participants and LDSOs, as well as the Initial QAD submission process for Non-SIT Suppliers and Agents.
If you have any questions about the QAD, please email the Code Bodies and DIP Manager at MHHSQualification@elexon.co.uk
Work Off Plans Guidance and QAD Action Plan Template
The Code Bodies have published the Work Off Plans Guidance Note, which you can view below, to support participants with outstanding defects from Systems Integration Testing (SIT), Qualification Testing (QT) and/or QAD to enter live operation.
This guidance provides details on Testing Work Off Plans and QAD Action Plans, including:
- What they are
- The criteria for eligible plans
- Information on completion and approval of these plans
- The monitoring mechanism for these plans, including completion and escalation
The QAD Action Plan Template is available below. The QAD Action Plan will be used to capture any work off items that arise as part of the QAD process. The template aims to provide sufficient information to the Code Bodies and Data Integration Platform (DIP) Manager so they can assess the impact of proposed items. QAD Action Plan items should be in line with the Code Bodies' and DIP Manager’s Assessment Criteria, Qualification Approach & Plan and Risk Registers.
You can view the template below:
The completed template should be submitted as part of QAD finalisation.
Please note:
- Providing early sight of QAD Action Plan items is highly encouraged.
- A QAD Action Plan adds risk to your Qualification being approved by Code Bodies and DIP Manager in your planned timeframes, it is therefore strongly recommended that these items are resolved in QAD finalisation rather than as an action plan item.
If you have any questions, please email the Code Bodies at MHHSQualification@elexon.co.uk
Letter of Delegated Authority
As a reminder, MHHS participants need a Director to sign off their Qualification Assessment Document (QAD) submission in line with the Qualification Approach and Plan.
For Meter Operator Agents (MOAs) there is an option for a Director to sign a Letter of Delegated Authority (LoDA), delegating another member of the team to sign off on their behalf.
You can view this LoDA below:
Letter of Delegated Authority Template
If you wish to use this route you must upload the signed letter to Your Files section in the REC Portal and notify enquires@recmanager.co.uk that you have uploaded this.
New Entrants
A revised approach has been agreed for how New Entrants will complete Qualification under both the Balancing & Settlement Code (BSC) and Retail Energy Code (REC).
If you are a New Entrant that is not yet BSC or REC qualified, you will need to complete a Self-Qualification Assessment Document (SQAD) for BSC and a Business Solution Assessment (BSA) for REC.
If you are a New Entrant that is BSC qualified, but not REC qualified, you will need to complete a BSA for REC. Whether a QAD is also required will depend on your Qualification route, as set out below:
- If you are completing Legacy Qualification (i.e. you intend to start operating under existing processes before later completing MHHS Qualification via the MHHS Programme), you will complete a QAD with the REC
- If you will only operate MHHS Meter Points from the start, you will not need to complete a QAD with the REC, as the relevant questions are already covered within the MHHS Market Entry process
If you are a New Entrant that is REC qualified but not BSC qualified, you will typically need to complete a SQAD for BSC and a QAD for REC. Please note that there are currently no participants in this position, but if any instances arise, a specific approach will need to be agreed.
Regardless of whether you are or aren't yet BSC or REC qualified, all New Entrants must complete a Pre-Qualification Submission (PQS) to register your intention to qualify under the BSC and/or REC. You can view the he PQS for New Entrants in both Word and PDF formats below, along with the SQAD.
New Entrants Pre-Qualification Submission - Word version
New Entrants Pre-Qualification Submission - PDF version
Self-Qualification Assessment Document v2.0 - Word version
Self-Qualification Assessment Document v2.0 - PDF version
The REC BSA is currently being uplifted. We'll update this page and issue communications once the artefact has been finalised and is available for New Entrants to access.
If you have any questions about the PQS or SQAD, please email the Code Bodies at MHHSQualification@elexon.co.uk
If you have any questions about the BSA, please email the REC Code Manager at enquiries@recmanager.co.uk
