UNITY Messenger CSS
(formally known as SWIM-HOOKS)
Case Study – UNITY Messenger CSS
The UK Energy Central Switching Service (CSS) was introduced by Ofgem in 2022. Its main purpose is to facilitate efficient and expedited switching between energy suppliers within the retail energy market. The CSS acts as a central hub for managing registrations and associated data for electricity and gas.
​
UNITY Messenger CSS is a CSS Adapter developed by C&C Group specifically for the electricity industry metering point registration system (MPRS) to be able to interact with the CSS. An adaptor service offers a number of benefits as it allows different software systems to communicate and work together smoothly, even if they were not originally designed to do so. It is also flexible to adapt to changes, scalable to meet changing operational activity. C&C Group were the first party to exchange live files with the DCC and our software underpins 99.2% of all IDNO MPANS. SWIM-Hooks’ key functions include:
Key Features
-
The design architecture of UNITY Messenger CSS involves several key components hosted in the Microsoft Azure Cloud. It is structured as a series of microservices, each serving a specific function:
​
-
Message Validator API: Ensures that messages are correctly formatted and validated before processing.
​
-
From CSS Function: Handles messages coming from the Central Switching Service (CSS) to be processed and translated for MPRS.
​
-
To CSS File Function: Manages the translation of MPRS files into the appropriate format for CSS.
​
-
To CSS Message Function: Converts messages into the required format for transmission to CSS.
​
-
Reporting Function: Provides performance and service-based analytics reporting.
​
-
These components are geo-located across Azure UK West and South data centers, ensuring reliability and redundancy. The architecture also includes secure data handshakes using SFTP public keys stored in the Azure Key Vault, with the private keys retained by the (I)DNOs. This setup ensures secure and efficient communication between MPRS and CSS.
Design Architecture
The design architecture of UNITY Messenger CSS involves several key components hosted in the Microsoft Azure Cloud. It is structured as a series of microservices, each serving a specific function:
​
-
Message Validator API: Ensures that messages are correctly formatted and validated before processing.
​
-
From CSS Function: Handles messages coming from the Central Switching Service (CSS) to be processed and translated for MPRS.
​
-
To CSS File Function: Manages the translation of MPRS files into the appropriate format for CSS.
​
-
To CSS Message Function: Converts messages into the required format for transmission to CSS.
​
-
Reporting Function: Provides performance and service-based analytics reporting.
​​
These components are geo-located across Azure UK West and South data centers, ensuring reliability and redundancy. The architecture also includes secure data handshakes using SFTP public keys stored in the Azure Key Vault, with the private keys retained by the (I)DNOs. This setup ensures secure and efficient communication between MPRS and CSS.
High Performance
The messaging performance limits of UNITY Messenger CSS are designed to be robust and efficient. The system is expected to process requests and respond with a 202 status within 750 milliseconds at the 95th percentile. This setup allows for an hourly throughput of up to 720,000 messages, comfortably covering peak requirements. Additionally, the system has been tested to handle up to 200 messages per second. This ensures that UNITY Messenger CSS can manage high volumes of data efficiently and reliably.
Benefits
The benefits of using UNITY Messenger CSS include:
​
-
Seamless Integration: Acts as a bridge between MPRS and the CSS, ensuring smooth communication by translating and validating message flows.
​
-
Real-time Messaging: Facilitates real-time message exchange, enhancing the efficiency of data transfer.
​
-
Error Handling: Provides validation of message structure and syntax, with errors returned through existing mechanisms, reducing the risk of data issues.
​
-
Security: Signs all messages using keys as per the CSS process, ensuring secure communication.
​
-
Reliability: Manages message delivery statuses with defined retry mechanisms, ensuring messages are delivered successfully.
​
-
Performance Reporting: Offers performance and monthly reporting, including service-based analytics, to help customers monitor and optimize their operations.
​​
-
Proven Technology: Hosted in Microsoft Azure Cloud, ensuring compatibility and leveraging proven technology for secure and efficient operations.
Customers
SWIM-SOAK is the market leading CSS MPRS Adaptor service and has been adopted by the majority of Electricity DNO and IDNO organisations:
Trusted Collaborations
