Introduction: The project has been split into three main stages, some of which may be possible to consider concurrently, but it was agreed that without a suitable legal, regulatory and commercial regime, the technical investigation should not proceed.

Stage 1: to undertake a research project on the legal, regulatory and commercial issues restricting networks supplying small quantities of gas during its operations. Investigate if changes can be accommodated within the change to existing restrictions.

Stage 2: to undertake a due diligence investigation on safety requirements involved in networks temporarily supplying small number of consumers with bottled gas

Stage 3: to develop a technical solution that meets the regulatory, commercial and safety restrictions

Objectives:

This proposed innovation project is intended enable provision of temporary gas supplies to alleviate localised interruption. The project is being proposed as part of the RIIO Innovation arrangements and will be an all networks project, led by NGN as proposer.

Three main objectives have been identified initially for the project:-
1.    Changes to Uniform Network Code, GT Licence and/or commercial arrangements that would allow networks to supply small numbers of customers without the current restrictions,
2.    Robust safety management procedures and processes that ensure any technical solution places no additional risk to customers or the network, and
3.    A technical solution that uses gas to supply existing appliances and minimizes the need for purge and relight.

 

Expected Benefits:

• A workable legal and commercial framework that would allow networks to supply gas through existing metering arrangements,
• A safety management procedure that all networks could adopt that would safely maintain customers gas appliances for a minimum time period during an emergency and planned disruptions, and
• A cost effective method of providing a temporary gas supply to customers with minimal disruption.