Useful Operational Information

On this page you will find links to various sources of useful Gas Operational Information.

National Grid values its Customer and Stakeholder feedback very much and in response is constantly looking to improve its service offerings.

As part of this, we have embarked on an initiative that helps bring together a wealth of useful, Gas operational information.

The following page includes links to all kinds of information, most of which can actually be found elsewhere on our National Grid website.  

We hope that the signposted information is of use to you and your colleagues, and urge you to get in contact if there is anything else that you would like us to include.

Gas Operations Contact Directory

To help you efficiently find the right person to talk to in relation to specific National Transmission System operational gas queries, we have developed the following contact list and directory. We have based it on the most common queries we receive from our customers. Its purpose is to make finding the right subject matter expert within National Grid, quicker and easier than ever before.

National Grid representative sitting at a desk in front of a computer with an out of focus office in the background

 

Please note that if your query relates to a home or domestic gas connection or meter exchange, please contact your network operator. You can find who your network operator is on the Energy Networks Association website.  

Download the directory

Transmission Operational Data

We provide this information to reduce market uncertainty, ensure equal access to information, and increase information transparency. 

Feel free to explore details of the reports below, alternatively watch our Operational Data Overview webinar, which provides more information on viewing data, how to access it, and maintenance windows.

View Operational Data Overview Webinar

Popular Operational Data reports include:

 

Prevailing View - Provides a snapshot of real time data and associated contextual data that provides a high-level overview of the current status of the NTS. Hover over the data items to see the definition, frequency of updates, and units of measure.

Prevailing View

 

Data Item Explorer - Data Item Explorer allows access to individual data items. The data items are categorised according to subject. Users can select combinations of items of their choice. There is the option to view the data on the screen or download via CSV or XML.

Data Item Explorer

 

Report Explorer - Provides data in several pre-defined report formats that are categorised according to publication schedule. The data is limited to a singular gas day or month.

Report Explorer

 

Instantaneous Flow into the NTS - Here you can access real time flow data for system entry points. This information is updated every two minutes and published at twelve-minute intervals.

Instantaneous Flow into the NTS

 

Calculated Linepack Utilisation - The report collates the hourly supply and demand flow notifications received from NTS connected sites to calculate the NTS Linepack minimum value in MCM that would result from these flow profiles. 

Calculated Linepack Utilisation Report

Linepack Presentation

 

Pressure Forecasts - Following industry feedback, National Grid now offer a pressure forecasting service. This is available on our Transmission Operational Data page under Supplementary Reports.

Transmission Operational Data

NTS Operational Overview

National Grid owns and operates Britain's Gas National Transmission System (NTS). 

The following presentation has been developed to help explain how the NTS is managed and the kinds of challenges that are faced in response.

Other topics covered include: 

  • Customer Flexibility
  • Supply & Demand
  • Transparency of Operation

View NTS Operational Overview

Pre-Emergency Commercial Tools / GDW

The diagram below helps illustrate the wide range of commercial tools available to help manage the system in light of a possible gas emergency. Depending on the exact circumstances on the day, will obviously depend on which tool is used. 

 

 

Part of a suite of documents created to provide operationally focused guidance material; the aim of which is to support our customers in increasing their understanding of non-routine commercial tools utilized by National Grid, so that industry participants can be suitably prepared and ready to participant ahead of an event.

Business as usual tools

Pre-emergency tools

Gas emergency tools

The Operational Guidance Documents detail the optimum way to perform the relevant process based on the current systems available.  Where there are alternative ways in which the process could be completed the associated risks and benefits are explored. These documents are not intended to be used a detailed operating process / procedure; however, can be used by each Shipper organisation to assist in creating the operational process steps that are right for them.

In addition to the information signposted above, National Grid have also developed a Pre-Emergency Commercial Tools webinar.

View Pre-Emergency Commercial Tools webinar

 

Gas Deficit Warnings (GDW)

A GDW is given at our discretion, based on our expectations of the impact of a significant supply/demand event. A GDW will be issued in advance of or during a gas day if a significant supply/demand event is experienced which instigates a material risk to the physical end-of-day balance.

In response to this, National Grid offers a text and email notification service to provide updates on the GDW. Please provide your details via the link on the registration page for the free subscription service or login to manage your subscriptions.

Gemini

Xoserve has full responsibility as system manager and system operator of Gemini, on behalf of National Grid.

The following processes can be carried out within the Gemini application:

  • Gas Nominations
  • Gas Trades
  • Energy Balancing
  • NTS Entry Capacity Booking
  • NTS Entry Capacity Trading

The following processes can be carried out within the Gemini Exit application:

  • Long Term NTS Exit Capacity Applications
  • NTS Exit Capacity Transfers
  • NTS Exit Capacity Assignments
  • Daily NTS Exit Capacity Auctions
  • Constraint Management Actions
  • NTS Exit Capacity Invoicing

Other useful resources include:

Upcoming Gemini Activities

Provides a 6 month rolling view of planned activities on the Gemini system and is revised and republished every month.

View upcoming Gemini Activities

 

Gemini IE11 User Guide

View Gemini IE11 User Guide

 

Gemini Invoicing 

Gemini invoicing file formats are available from the UK Link Documentation website. 

Go to UK Link Documentation website

 

Gemini Training

Go to Gemini Training

 

Gemini Frequently Asked Question

View Gemini FAQs

REMIT

Market participants have an obligation to publish ‘inside information’ in respect of businesses or facilities which they own or control (or are operationally responsible for) before they can trade on it. REMIT introduces, for the first time, a consistent EU-wide framework:

This service provides a centralised GB Platform for the publication of REMIT Inside Information notifications, supporting market participants obligated under Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1227/2011.

Market Participants can choose to add notifications either manually via a secure Provider Account or through Twitter.

Please note the responsibility for the publication of inside information remains with the Market Participant, it is therefore suggested all notification providers have contingency processes in place should this service be unavailable for any reason.

Visit National Grid REMIT web page

View REMIT Frequently Asked Questions

EIC Codes

An EIC is a unique code that facilitates cross-border exchanges and identifies different objects and parties relating to the IEM and its operations. This was introduced on a European basis and aids all aspects of trading.  As of the 1st of November 2015, a registered EIC will be required if you intend to trade on PRISMA, the European Capacity booking platform.

On 7 September 2015, Xoserve became the Local Issuing Office (LIO) for the UK and therefore is authorised to issue International and Local EIC Codes. This role was previously held by National Grid.

For more EIC Code information or further help and support, please visit the Xoserve website. 

Visit Xoserve - EIC Code webpage

 

To view the full list of current EIC Codes, follow the link below:

View Public GB EIC Library spreadsheet

Unidentified Gas (UIG)

Xoserve manages the central database holding all gas consumption points (Supply Points) and analyse and report key data.

Using this gas industry supplied data, Xoserve's daily processes calculate Unidentified Gas (UIG) levels. This is an amount of gas which cannot be directly attributed to any system user. A major part of our work is to support the gas industry to understand, manage and resolve UIG in a better way.

Visit Xoserve - UIG webpage

Maintenance

Here you will find information about the different types of maintenance activities carried out on the National Transmission System that may impact our customers (including how to raise customer initiated requests), in addition to contact information for our planning team and links to all our published maintenance documents:

Two National Grid maintenance workers repairing a gas pipeline

 

  • Winter Maintenance Programme (Annual 24 month view of planned maintenance)
  • Summer Maintenance Programme (Annual 36 month view of planned maintenance)
  • EU Harmonisation Capacity Summary (Impact on Interconnector capacity due to NTS maintenance)
  • Maintenance Programme Review (Review of previous years’ maintenance)
  • Deliverability with Respect to Planned Maintenance (Summary of daily maximum capability to flow gas from all NTS supply sources)

 

Go to Maintenance webpage

Webinars

We have developed a suite of pre-recorded webinars to provide guidance to the industry to aid decision-making. We are conscious that many of our operational customers work non-standard hours, so we felt that pre-recorded webinars would be beneficial as these can be viewed flexibly at times to suit operational needs.

2018 Webinars

2017 Webinars

Should there be any other topic areas that you would like to see covered by our suite of webinars, please do not hesitate to contact the Operational Liaison Team:  [email protected]