Electronic Data Interchange Test Plan
Version 1.0
Revised 01/15/2002


Contents

01. Overview
02. Assumptions
03. Requirements
04. Levels of Certification
05. Frequently Asked Questions
06. Testing Process
07. Level 2 Testing Frames

01. Overview:

      This document defines the test plan to be used by Energy Service Providers (ESP) that wish to transport gas in South Jersey Gas Company's (SJG) service territory utilizing the Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) protocol. The SJG EDI Test Plan elaborates on the NJ Gas Certification Test Plan where applicable and provides information specific to operation in the SJG environment. The goal of the test plan is to define an objective criteria for SJG and ESP to validate that the EDI transactions conform to the NJ state defined standards identified in the Electronic Data Exchange and Protocol Process Flow for Gas Deregulation document.


02. Assumptions: 

    • The ESP is familiar with the New Jersey Gas Certification Testing Plan for Electronic Data Interchange. Information is available on the Web site www.bpu.state.nj.us under energy choice.
    • The ESP is familiar with the South Jersey Gas standard business rules that are unique to utilizing EDI in its service territory. Information is available on the Web site www.southjerseygas.com/edi/
    • Assumes the trading partners will be utilizing automated systems for the processing of the test transactions. It is imperative to notify SJG if a manual system is being used so that test scheduling can be adjusted so as not to impact other testing partners.
    • The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) may moderate the testing and has final ruling on all disputes between SJG and the ESP.

03. Requirements:

 
ESP
SJG
Prior to Testing

- Licensed in State of NJ

- Completes a Retail Choice Partner registration form

- Provide automated test system

- Understands the SJG Standard Business Rules

- Read and understand the EDI implementation guidelines and data dictionaries

- Provide test environment

- Provide test account numbers

- Establish a test schedule

- Provide trading partner information to ESP

- Read and understand the EDI implementation guidelines and data dictionaries
During Testing

- Keep the test schedule as established by SJG

- Maintain availability and participation in testing calls

- Communicate testing exceptions

- Coordination of periodic testing status calls
After Testing - Notify SJG of major changes to EDI related environments

- Notification to ESP of Level 2 certifications

- Notify trading partners of major changes to EDI related environments

04. Levels of Certification

  • Level 1 - Certifies the communication of sample transactions between SJG and the ESP via EDI over the Internet. This entails a preliminary review of sample EDI transactions that comply with the X12 format. Level 1 certification must be attained prior to the beginning of level 2 testing.

  • Level 2 - Certifies testing between SJG and the ESP are completed according to the Electronic Data Exchange and Protocol Process Flow for Gas Deregulation document to allow for the accurate exchange of data. Completion of Level 2 certification testing represents the minimum test requirements to achieve production exchange with the utility. Level 2 testing will take place over several weeks as the various test scenarios are transmitted, evaluated, corrected and re-tested.

05. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

  • Do all current Energy Service Providers have to convert to EDI?
    No, current energy service providers can continue to use the existing method of transferring data via the Electronic Bulletin Board (EBB) with dial-up access to the SJG network. There cannot be a mix of EDI and non-EDI data coming from an individual energy service provider.

  • What is required to begin EDI with SJG?
    All Energy Service Providers must attain two levels of certification before they can begin transporting gas in SJG service territory utilizing EDI. Level 1 involves both SJG and ESP providing pertinent trading partner information and certifies the communication of valid X12 test transactions between SJG and the ESP. Level 2 involves the actual testing process and certifies that testing between SJG and the ESP are completed according to the Electronic Data Exchange and Protocol Process Flow for Gas Deregulation document.

  • Can customers initiate enrollments with SJG?
    No, customer enrollments will only be accepted if they are initiated by the energy service provider.
  • When do enrollments become effective?
    Enrollments become effective on the first meter read date following the first business day of the month after the enrollment is received.

  • If multiple enrollments are received, what determines with which energy service provider the customer is enrolled?
    The latest contract date/time will determine with which energy service provider the customer is enrolled if multiple enrollments are received.

  • Who initiates a drop request?
    SJG will accept drop requests that are initiated from a customer call or from an energy service provider EDI drop transaction.

  • Where can SJG meter read schedules and valid business days be found?
    This information will be posted on the SJI web site for access by licensed energy service providers. The web address is www.southjerseygas.com/edi/readsked.htm.

  • Who will resolve any disputes between SJG and an ESP?
    The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities will have final ruling on any disputes between trading partners.

  • Where can the SJG EDI Business Rules be found?
    SJG standard business rules regarding EDI are available on the web site www.southjerseygas.com/edi/plan.htm.

06. Testing Process:

SJG could be testing a maximum of 3 ESP in any given test period; therefore, it is imperative for the ESP to keep up with the test schedule. ESP falling behind will be dropped from the current period test and be rescheduled at some future date.

  • ESP must complete their internal system EDI testing (see the New Jersey Gas Certification Testing Plan for EDI for specific test scenarios that the ESP should be capable of handling)

  • ESP should contact SJG to notify them of interest to participate in EDI process

  • ESP will complete the Retail Choice Partner Registration Form (located at www.southjerseygas.com/edi/) and return it to SJG

  • SJG schedules certification testing and notifies ESP of testing period

  • SJG to host kickoff meeting with testing ESP's, BPU and the SJG EDI Agent

  • SJG supply test account information to the ESP

  • ESP begins Level 1 certification with an exchange of sample transactions with the SJG EDI Agent

  • SJG notifies ESP of Level 1 certification acceptance or failure

  • ESPs not achieving Level 1 certification will not move on the level 2 testing and must be rescheduled for Level 1 certification

  • ESP begins Level 2 certification with SJG

  • ESP sends transactions (test frames) according to test schedule

  • SJG and ESP communicate testing results

  • SJG notifies ESPs of Level 2 certification acceptance or failure

  • SJG will notify those ESP's attaining Level 2 certification of a start date. ESP's not attaining Level 2 certification must be rescheduled for level 2 certification

A test frame represents an activity that must be completed by the trading partners. Each frame typically ends with a set of transactions being exchanged between trading partners. A test frame should take no longer than two days to complete. All ESP's will move from test frames together until all test frames are complete.

07. Level 2 EDI Testing Frames

Account#
Frame#
Responsibility
Transaction#
 Description
1

1

ESP

814E

Request enrollment and historical usage for an account with an invalid account number.
2
SJG
814 ER
 Reject response with reject reason A76 (invalid account #).
SJG
814 HUR
 Reject response for historical usage.
 
2
1
ESP
814E
 Request enrollment and historical usage for an account with a valid account number
2
SJG
814ER
 Accept response for enrollment.
SJG
814HUR
 Accept response for historical usage.
SJG
814HU
 Historical usage information.
 
3 1 ESP 814E Request enrollment and historical usage for an account with a valid account number.
2 SJG 814ER Accept response for enrollment.
SJG 814HUR Accept response for historical usage.
SJG 867HU Historical usage information.
3 ESP 814C Change in ESP account #.
4 SJG 814CR Accept response for change in ESP account #.
 
4 1 ESP 814E Request enrollment and historical usage for an account with a valid account number.
2 SJG 814ER Accept response for enrollment.
SJG 814HUR Accept response for historical usage.
SJG 867HU Historical usage information.
3 SJG 814C Change in SJG account #.
4 ESP 814CR Accept response for change in SJG account #.
 
5 1 ESP 814E Request enrollment and historical usage for an account with a valid account number.
2 SJG 814ER Accept response for enrollment.
SJG 814HUR Accept response for historical usage.
SJG 867HU Historical usage information.
3 ESP 814D Drop request from ESP.
4 SJG 814DR Accept response for drop.
 
6 1 ESP 814E Request enrollment and historical usage for an account with a valid account number.
2 SJG 814ER Accept response for enrollment.
SJG 814HUR Accept response for historical usage.
SJG 814HU Historical usage information.
3 SJG 814D Drop request from SJG.
4 ESP 814DR Accept response for drop.
5 SJG 814R SJG sends reinstatement request.
6 ESP 814RR Accept response to reinstatement request.
 
15 1 ESP 814E Request enrollment usage for an account with a valid account number.
2 SJG 814ER Accept response for enrollment.
3 SJG 867MU SJG provides bill ready usage for one month.
4 ESP 810 ESP provides bill ready invoice.
5 SJG Bill ESP receives printed bill from SJG.
SJG 820 SJG sends payment transaction.
 
16 1 ESP 814E Request enrollment usage for an account with a valid account number.
2 SJG 814ER Accept response for enrollment.
3 SJG 867MU SJG provides bill ready usage for one month.
4 ESP 810 ESP provides bill ready invoice - SJG does not process to simulate missed bill window.
5 SJG 824 Advise transaction with MBW.
SJG 867MU SJG sends second month's usage.
6 ESP 810 ESP provides invoice for months 1 and 2.
 
18 1 ESP 814E Request enrollment usage for an account with a valid account number.
2 SJG 814ER Accept response for enrollment.
3 SJG 867MU SJG provides bill ready usage for one month.
4 SJG 867MU To cancel the previous month's usage.
SJG 867MU To restate the corrected usage for the customer.
ESP 810 ESP provides bill ready invoice.
5 SJG Bill ESP receives printed bill from SJG.
SJG 820 SJG sends payment transaction.
 
19 1 ESP 814E Request enrollment usage for an account with a valid account number.
2 SJG 814ER Accept response for enrollment.
3 SJG 867MU SJG provides bill ready usage for one month.
4 ESP 810 ESP provides bill ready invoice.
5 SJG Bill ESP receives printed bill from SJG.
SJG 820 SJG sends payment transaction.
SJG 867MU To cancel Month 1 usage.
SJG 867MU To provide bill ready usage for month.
6 ESP 810 ESP provide second 810 reflecting updated balances.
7 SJG Bill ESP received printed bill from SJG.
 
20 1 ESP 814E Request enrollment usage for an account with a valid account number.
2 SJG 814ER Accept response for enrollment.
3 ESP 814D Drop request from marketer.
SJG 867MU SJG provides bill ready usage for one month.
4 ESP 810 ESP provides bill ready invoice.
SJG 814DR Accept response for drop.
5 SJG Bill ESP receives printed bill from SJG.
SJG 820 SJG sends payment transaction.
SJG 867MU To cancel Month 1 usage.
SJG 867MU To provide bill ready restated usage for month.
6 ESP 810 ESP provide second 810 reflecting updated balances.
7 SJG Bill ESP receives printed bill from SJG.

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