Comms Problems with Aclara Smart Meters

Ildhund

I wondered initially about those security certificate warnings, but they don't seem to matter that much as far as access to the meter's data store is concerned.

I have seen the same failure of Bright to retrieve data since Friday 22 November 2024. n3rgy still manages to get the figures for me, so Loop does, too. 

Phones4Chris

@Ildhund Yes, it's all very odd.

mmmmikey

Ildhund said:

I wondered initially about those security certificate warnings, but they don't seem to matter that much as far as access to the meter's data store is concerned.

I have seen the same failure of Bright to retrieve data since Friday 22 November 2024. n3rgy still manages to get the figures for me, so Loop does, too. 

I'd agree - if some suppliers can get the data and others can't it does sound like a security issue of some sort.

As I understand it (and I'm certainly not claiming to be an expert) this is using some form of privately hosted PKI. If a certificate on the meter has expired could it be a reason for some clients to reject the connection, even if the certificate isn't actually needed? That is, if the security isn't working as expected that could be prompting some clients to reject the connection because it can't be trusted, whereas other clients are just ignoring the error because they can get what they want even if it isn't fully secure.

Ildhund

mmmmikey said:

I'd agree - if some suppliers can get the data and others can't it does sound like a security issue of some sort.

That was everyone's guess when the issue first reared its head back in May. There was some discussion about whether it was a problem with authentication, and it all may be linked to customer consent concerns raised in the wake of the proposed introduction of MHHS. At any rate, Aclara and DCC are apparently still working to fix the access problems. I'll ask if there's any progress being made, which might explain the current Bright outage if changes are being made.

Phones4Chris

A change in the situation late last night. Bright had data for the 2330 bucket.
Today we find Wednesday, Thursday all complete and today upto current time. Just catching up back to last Friday to be done.

Ildhund

Yes, really odd behaviour. Bright is now retrieving current day's data up to the latest bucket, and prior data back to 01:00 on 27 November. The buckets from 01:00 on 23 November are still hiding.

The customer consent battle rages on, with n3rgy's proposed changes to the Smart Energy Code returned by Ofgem today. 

Phones4Chris

Well I had an email reply from Hildebrand stating they'd "triggered" their "backfill" process.
The data, if available, should be there in the next couple of days.
 Already spotted most of it had caught up before I saw the email. Just some data missing for Thursday 21st evening.
As for n3rgy, I'll have to read that stuff again, rather complex, apart from which, now no longer have direct access as I'm not signed up wich "one of their commercial customers" - and it won't be Loop either!!.

Graceglow

Phones4Chris said:

A change in the situation late last night. Bright had data for the 2330 bucket.
Today we find Wednesday, Thursday all complete and today upto current time. Just catching up back to last Friday to be done.

Pleased to report my problem with Aclara meters seems to be fixed. Electricity data previously missing since June 10 2024 is now showing and there are no gaps as it has been backfilled on Hugo and Bright App. Brilliant! My gas data was never affected by the issue.

Qyburn

Couple of days ago I had an email from Bright saying our meter had started working on 27th Jan 2025. Previously they had data only up to 15th June 2024. Now they have filled in import and export right up to 00:30 on 5th October. Same date and time that Octopus stopped.

They have export from 1st January onwards, but import only restarts 01:00 on 27th Jan.

Octopus are still getting nothing.

Chrysalis

Hmm when its warmer I might check what modem and brand my smart meter is, am curious.  Whats the easy to identify if its Aclara?