GSR037 Code Administrator Consultation (1)
This consultation is open for responses
Closes 16 Jun 2026 (26 days remaining)
Summary
NESO is consulting on GSR037, a housekeeping modification to the System Quality of Supply Standard (SQSS) that restructures the definitions section into a table, renumbers Section J, and applies consistent formatting throughout. No substantive requirements change; the Proposer flags sections 6.1, 11, and J for careful review to confirm restructuring has not inadvertently altered obligations. Standard Governance route, no Workgroup, no system or process impact.
Why it matters
Pure document hygiene. The only risk is that 'formatting' edits silently shift a requirement, which is why consultees are asked to compare 6.1, 11, and J line-by-line; otherwise this changes nothing about what can be built, connected, or operated.
Options on the table
Proposed SQSS housekeeping rewrite
Adopt the redrafted SQSS in Annex 01: definitions reorganised into a table, Section J renumbered to align with the rest of the document, and consistent formatting and cross-referencing applied throughout. Substantive requirements unchanged; a list of known issues left for a future modification sits in Annex 02. Implementation 10 Business Days after Authority decision, with no process or system impact on TOs, OFTOs, DNOs, NESO or the Authority.
Questions being asked
Solution and implementation
- Please provide your assessment for the proposed solution against the Applicable Objectives versus the current baseline.
- Do you support the proposed implementation approach?
- Do you have any other comments?
Key facts
- •Proposer: Stuart McLarnon (NESO)
- •Standard Governance, no Workgroup
- •Self-assessed Low Impact on TOs, OFTOs, DNOs, NESO and the Authority
- •Restructures SQSS definitions into a table; renumbers Section J; consistent formatting throughout
- •Sections flagged for special review: 6.1, 11, J
- •Outstanding issues deferred to a subsequent SQSS modification (Annex 02)
- •Implementation: 10 Business Days after Authority decision
- •No interactions with Grid Code, BSC, STC, CUSC, or European Network Codes
Timeline
Areas affected
Memo
1 General Code Administrator Consultation GSR037: Formatting and Housekeeping Overview: This modification aims to make the System Quality of Supply Standard (SQSS) a more readable, user- friendly document. Modification process & timetable Have 5 minutes? Read our Executive summary Have 20 minutes? Read the full Code Administrator Consultation Have 180 minutes? Read the full Code Administrator Consultation and Annexes. Status summary: We are now consulting on this proposed change. This modification is expected to have a: Low Impact on Transmission Owners, Offshore Transmission Owners, Distribution Network Operators, National Energy System Operator and the Authority. Governance route Standard Governance modification to proceed to Code Administrator Consultation Who can I talk to about the change? Proposer: Stuart McLarnon Stuart.McLarnon@neso.energy 07596579914 Code Administrator Chair: box.SQSS@neso.energy How do I respond? Send your response proforma to box.SQSS@neso.energy by 5pm on 16 June 2026 Code Administrator Consultation 19 May 2026 - 16 June 2026 Draft Final Modification Report 14 July 2026 Final Modification Report 05 August 2026 Implementation TBC 1 4 5 6 7 Proposal Form 05 February 2026 2 General Contents What is the issue? ............................................................................................................... 3 Why change? ...................................................................................................................... 3 What is the solution? .......................................................................................................... 3 Legal text .............................................................................................................................. 3 Issues Not Addressed ........................................................................................................ 4 What is the impact of this change?................................................................................. 4 Proposer’s assessment against SQSS Objectives ......................................................... 4 Proposer’s assessment of the impact of the modification on the stakeholder / consumer benefit categories ........................................................................................... 5 When will this change take place? .................................................................................. 5 Implementation date......................................................................................................... 5 Date decision required by ................................................................................................. 5 Implementation approach ............................................................................................... 5 Proposer’s justification for governance route ................................................................ 5 Interactions ......................................................................................................................... 6 How to respond .................................................................................................................. 6 Acronyms, key terms and reference material ............................................................... 6 Annexes................................................................................................................................ 7 3 General What is the issue? The System Quality of Supply Standard (SQSS) document currently contains a significant number of formatting inconsistencies, structural issues, and referencing errors. These challenges make it difficult to efficiently develop and implement other code modifications, as Users often struggle to navigate and interpret the document in its existing form. This modification seeks to address these issues by undertaking a comprehensive housekeeping exercise aimed at improving the clarity, consistency, and usability of the SQSS. Why change? The SQSS document is not easily accessible and not of a user-friendly standard. This will better support stakeholders when reviewing requirements, drafting changes, and ensuring alignment with the wider suite of industry codes and governance processes. What is the solution? The Proposer has drafted an updated SQSS document aimed at improving clarity, accessibility, and ease of use for all stakeholders. Legal text The updates include but are not limited to restructuring the definitions section into a table to improve clarity, renumbering Section J to simplify its layout and align it with the rest of the SQSS and applying consistent formatting across the entire document. The legal text can be seen in Annex 01. The Proposer asks consultees to take special care to review changes to sections 6.1, 11, and J, to check that the restructuring has not inadvertently changed SQSS requirements. 4 General Issues Not Addressed A list of issues that were not addressed can be seen in Annex 02. These issues will be addressed in a subsequent SQSS modification. What is the impact of this change? Proposer’s assessment against SQSS Objectives Relevant Objective Identified impact (a) facilitate the planning, development and maintenance of an efficient, coordinated and economical system of electricity transmission, and the operation of that system in an efficient, economic and coordinated manner; Positive Parties should be better able to review their respective responsibilities within the SQSS (b) ensure an appropriate level of security and quality of supply and safe operation of the National Electricity Transmission System; Neutral (c) facilitate effective competition in the generation and supply of electricity, and (so far as consistent therewith) facilitating such competition in the distribution of electricity; and Neutral (d) facilitate Licensees to comply with any relevant obligations under Assimilated law Neutral 5 General Proposer’s assessment of the impact of the modification on the stakeholder / consumer benefit categories Stakeholder / consumer benefit categories Identified impact Improved safety and reliability of the system Neutral Lower bills than would otherwise be the case Neutral Benefits for society as a whole Neutral Reduced environmental damage Neutral Improved quality of service Neutral When will this change take place? Implementation date 10 Business days after Authority decision. Date decision required by As soon as possible. Implementation approach No processes or systems affected. Proposer’s justification for governance route Governance route: Standard Governance modification to proceed to Code Administrator Consultation As this modification is housekeeping, it does not require a Workgroup. 6 General Interactions ☐Grid Code ☐BSC ☐STC ☐CUSC ☐European Network Codes ☐Other modifications ☐Other No interactions. How to respond Code Administrator Consultation questions • Please provide your assessment for the proposed solution against the Applicable Objectives versus the current baseline. • Do you support the proposed implementation approach? • Do you have any other comments? Views are invited on the proposals outlined in this consultation, which should be received by 5pm on 16 June 2026. Please send your response to box.sqss@neso.energy using the response pro-forma which can be found on the modification page. If you wish to submit a confidential response, mark the relevant box on your consultation proforma. Confidential responses will be disclosed to the Authority in full but, unless agreed otherwise, will not be shared with the Panel or the industry and may therefore not influence the debate to the same extent as a non-confidential response. Acronyms, key terms and reference material Acronym / key term Meaning BSC Balancing and Settlement Code 7 General CUSC Connection and Use of System Code STC System Operator Transmission Owner Code SQSS Security and Quality of Supply Standards TSO Transmission System Operator Reference material No reference material. Annexes Annex Information Annex 01 GSR037 Legal Text Annex 02 List of Issues Not Addressed