Review of UNC Section Q “Emergencies” Steve Pownall Transmission Workstream

Why is the NEC appointed ?  Gas Safety (Management )Regulations (GS(M)R) states that there will be a sole Network Emergency Co-ordinator (NEC) for the network  The NEC must prepare a Safety Case that is accepted by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE)

GS(M)R Duties on persons conveying gas 3.—(1) No person shall convey gas in a network unless— (a) he has prepared a safety case containing the particulars specified in Schedule 1 and that safety case has been accepted by the Executive; and (b) where any other person is conveying gas in that network, there is a sole network emergency co-ordinator for the network. (2) For the purposes of these Regulations a network emergency co-ordinator is, subject to paragraph (3), a person who has prepared a safety case containing the particulars specified in Schedule 2 and has had that safety case accepted by the Executive.

When was the NEC appointed ?  The Transitional Provisions of the GS(M)R stated that the NEC must be appointed by 1 st April 1996  The NEC was appointed by Transporters using the network on 1 st April 1996

High Level Relationships  Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974  Gas Safety (Management) Regulations 1996  Transporters Safety Cases  E1 Emergency Procedures  Network Emergency Coordinator  NEC Safety Case  Duty Holders  Gas Act 1986  GT Shipper & Supplier Licences  Gas Transporters  Uniform Network Code  Section Q

Gas does not fail safe…… GS(M)R 1996 NEC Safety Case NEC Safety Case T/PM/E/1 Emergency Procedure NEC Safety Case and Section Q UNC Section Q Duty to Co-operate Any request or instruction given by the Transporter to a User in a Gas Supply Emergency shall be treated as being: (a)a request for the purposes of Standard Licence Condition 5(2) of the Shipper's Licence (b)a request for cooperation pursuant to GS(M)R Regulation 6(1) Transporters’ Safety Case(s)

NEC Safety Case and Section Q  UNC Section Q is effectively a back-to-back commercial agreement that reflects those obligations and procedures established by the NEC Safety Case, GS(M)R and the Procedure for a Network Gas Supply Emergency (T/PM/E1) “E1”  The provisions contained within the NEC Safety Case override any provisions within the UNC  Users have a Licence duty to co-operate and therefore are required to conform to any instructions that are issued by the NEC  Any breach of those provisions of the Gas Act, GS(M)R and thus NEC Safety Case, relating to an NGSE, might be considered a criminal offence

Section Q – Purpose of Review The purpose of this review is to:  Ensure the UNC Definitions, requirements and obligations are clear & consistent with the NEC Safety Case, GS(M)R and E1  Ensure the structure of UNC Section Q is logical and processes described follows the steps taken by NEC and E1  Provide clarity as to the roles and responsibilities of all parties in the event of a Network Gas Supply Emergency

Recommendations  Agree the Terms of Reference  Establish review timescales  Put forward a Review Proposal  Identify and agree attendance of the Review Group  Produce summary Review Group Report