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Send distribution grid information for the frequency ancillary services

Today, all generation or consumption sites connected up to the distribution grid can be certified so that they can supply frequency ancillary services. They then become part of a reserve entity, themselves attached to a reserve manager’s reserve perimeter.

This is why distribution system operators must send RTE data about this demand response mechanism in order for the power system to operate smoothly.

Frequency ancillary services are reserves that are activated automatically. They can be divided into two categories:

  • frequency containment reserve, which is activated based on frequency imbalance
  • secondary reserve, which is activated based on remote adjustments sent by RTE

What is the system service reference data?

Distribution system operators send RTE two files:

  • One file containing all of the characteristics of all sites that contribute to the frequency containment or secondary reserve for the month M+1 (file name SSY_REFST_GRD_<Month valid>_<DSO’s EIC code>_<Creation time-stamp>.csv)
  • One file containing the updated perimeter after sites have been added/removed at the reserve manager's initiative for the current month M (file name SSY_REFST_GRD_MAJ_<Month valid>_<DSO’s EIC code>_<Creation time-stamp>.csv)

These files must adhere to the formal structure described in paragraph 9.2 of the frequency ancillary service IT rules.

Data quality is a fundamental consideration: the distribution system operator is responsible for checking the quality of data that it produces and sends to RTE.

How often should system service reference data be sent?

The file containing the site characteristics must be sent no later than 5 working days before the start of month M+1.

The file containing the updated parameters must be sent within five days following any changes to a reserve manager's perimeter.

Via which channel?

Currently, this data should be emailed to marketservices@rte-france.com.

From 1 October 2019, it should be sent via the RMC application (multichannel router). You may already request access to this application by asking your usual sales representative for an update for your PKI certificate. If you do not have one, you may request one via the PKI certificate request form.

Details of sending data via the RMC application

There are several ways to submit data via the RMC application:

What about dynamic data?

Distribution system operators do not need to send RTE load curves.

Indeed, the performance of reserve entities is certified and checked based on remote measurements communicated to RTE in the form of aggregated data in 10-second increments.

What are the consequences of failing to send the reference data in the allotted time or of errors in the files?

Financial consequences for clients

In order to invoice users of the transmission and distribution networks as accurately as possible, RTE uses the allocation process. It is therefore vital that the data sent by distribution system operators be reliable and of a high quality.

  • Incorrectly allocated volumes result in incorrect invoicing and so a risk of disputes
  • Energy imbalances are distributed across all balance-responsible entities. The whole community therefore bears the imbalances of only some balance-responsible entities, resulting in unfair treatment.

Consequences for the power system's reliability and balancing

The reference data communicated by the distribution system operators is used to monitor the performance of the reserve managers, whose purpose is to ensure that the services delivered in real time are reliable.

Providing high-quality data falls within system operators' public service remit.

Appointing a third party to exchange your data

If you do not want to send your data or if you do not have the means to do so yourself, you can appoint another company (which may itself be a DSO) to manage all or part of your data exchanges with RTE. To do this, you need to sign a power of attorney, and complete the dedicated appendices in the rules for the mechanism in question.

The principal DSO remains liable for any adverse consequences which may result from the execution or non-execution of all obligations, the aforementioned power of attorney notwithstanding.

Documentation

Contact

For more information, contact your usual account manager or email marketservices@rte-france.com.

For any technical problems in communicating data, RTE has a hotline that you can telephone on 0810 80 50 50 or you can write to rte-hotline@rte-france.com.

Additional information