F.A.Q
Q. Who are Northern Gas Networks?
Q. What does Northern Gas Networks do?
Q. Who owns Northern Gas Networks?
Q. How do I contact you?
Q. How is gas delivered?
Q. Who can I buy gas from?
Q. How is the industry controlled and regulated?
Q. Who provides the gas emergency service?
Q. How do I obtain a connection to the gas network?
Q. How do you ensure there is always enough gas to meet demand?
Q. Will there be enough gas available this winter?
Q. Your contractors are working near my home/business - who do I speak with to ask about the work programme?
Q. I believe you have equipment on my land, who do I contact to discover its exact position?
Q. If you have to dig on my property how will you fill in the excavation?
Q. Who are Northern Gas Networks?
A. Northern Gas Networks is the owner of the gas distribution network covering West, East and North Yorkshire, the North East and northern Cumbria. We took ownership on 1st June, 2005, buying the assets from National Grid – who sold three other gas distribution networks at the same time.
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Q. What does Northern Gas Networks do?
A. Northern Gas Networks is responsible for the distribution of natural gas to homes and businesses in the geographical region it serves. The gas is delivered into the region through the National Transmission System (NTS which is owned and operated by National Grid). The gas is delivered from the NTS through 23 `offtakes’ into the pipeline system owned by Northern Gas Networks. We then deliver the gas, through a network of 36,000 km of pipes, to 2.5 million homes and businesses. Northern Gas Networks also provides the free 24-hour gas emergency service in the area it covers.
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Q. Who owns Northern Gas Networks?
A. Northern Gas Networks is owned by a consortium, consisting of three companies and organisations. For further information, please refer to the section Organisational Structure.
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Q. How do I contact you?
A. By email, please click the Contact Us link in the menu at the top of the page.
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Q. How is gas delivered?
A. Gas is delivered by the offshore gas producers from more than 100 fields beneath the sea around the British Isles to the seven reception points (called beach terminals). Additionally, a recently commissioned terminal at the Isle of Grain, Kent, allows Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) to be delivered to the terminal by sea transport. After treatment, which includes checking the quality meets the safety requirements and measuring the calorific value (the amount of energy contained in the gas), it is transported through the National Transmission System (NTS), owned by National Grid. The NTS operates at high pressure and consists of more than 6,600 kilometres of welded steel pipeline operating at pressures of up to 85 times normal atmospheric pressure, over 1250 psi. The gas is pushed through the system using 26 strategically placed compressor stations. The NTS supplies gas to power stations and a small number of large industrial consumers and the pipes operating at a lower pressure which eventually supply consumers’ properties.
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Q. Who can I buy gas from?
A. Gas is supplied by around 60 companies (known as shippers) to consumers across the UK through the gas transportation system. Only suppliers licensed by Ofgem (formerly known as Ofgas) can sell gas. Ofgem is the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets. It was set up by the Government to protect the interests of consumers. Visit Ofgem at: www.ofgem.gov.uk
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Q. How is the industry controlled and regulated?
A. The Uniform Network Code is the operating regime around which the competitive gas industry revolves. It is a legal and contractual framework to supply and transport gas. It has a common set of rules for all industry participants, which ensure that competition can be facilitated on equal terms. The Network Code came into effect in March 1996. In 2005 as a result of the sale by National Grid of four of the eight gas distribution networks, the Network Code was replaced by the Uniform Network Code (UNC). The UNC is managed by the Joint Office of Gas Transporters. Ofgem is the regulator for Britain’s gas and electricity industries. Its role is to promote choice and value for all customers.
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Q. Who provides the gas emergency service?
A. If you smell gas or are worried about gas safety, please call 0800 111 999 at any time of the day or night. The call is free. You will be put through to a trained operator who will take all the details and pass the call to a qualified engineer. All calls to the National Gas Emergency Service are recorded, and may be monitored.
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Q. How do I obtain a connection to the gas network?
A. If you wish to connect a domestic property or your business premises to gas, the process for obtaining a gas connection is similar. You can arrange for a gas connection by contacting:
- A Gas Supply company
- A Gas Transporter (GT)
- Or you can arrange it yourself using a Utility Infrastructure Provider (UIP)
Gas Suppliers will make all the arrangements for the installation and connection of your gas connection, fitting a gas meter and subsequently charge you for the gas you use.
Gas Transporters will arrange to install and connect the new connection, however, you will have to arrange to purchase your gas from a gas supplier, who is responsible for the fitting of a gas meter.
A UIP will install your connection and ensure that it is connected to the gas network of a GT. You will have to arrange to purchase your gas from a gas supplier, who will arrange for the fitting of a gas meter.
There will usually be a charge for installing a gas supply.
Please refer to our Connection page.
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Q. How do you ensure there is always enough gas to meet demand?
A. National Grid is responsible for ensuring the national gas pipeline system is kept in balance. It ensures a balanced system by buying and selling gas and using stored gas to ensure that in most normal circumstances, demand can be met. Usually the system is balanced by gas bought on the open market through the ’On the Day Commodity Market (OCM)’ set up as part of the Network Code - the rules that govern the supply of gas. National Grid also has gas in store (the so called Top-up and Operating Margins gas) to ensure the system is balanced and that supplies are maintained.
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Q. Will there be enough gas available this winter?
A. National Grid published its annual winter energy outlook report on 5th October, 2005, to give the gas and electricity markets the information it needed to prepare effectively for the coldest months of the year. NG’s report concluded that, while gas supplies are lower than last year, demand can be met during an average winter, with only a small amount of demand reduction from large gas users, such as gas-fired power stations. Even in a 1:50 winter - last seen in 1963 - NG’s analysis shows that the market can maintain supplies to domestic customers by a combination of actions to reduce consumption of gas. This would include power stations and major industrial users reducing their demand for gas.
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Q. Your contractors are working near my home/business, who do I speak with to ask about the work programme?
A. Please call our General Inquiries helpline on 0845 6340508.
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Q. I believe you have equipment on my land, who do I contact to discover its exact position?
A. Please contact our Dial Before You Dig Team. Call them on 0845 6340508, or write to them at:
1st Floor
1 Emperor Way
Doxford International Business Park
Sunderland
SR3 3XR
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Q. If you have to dig on my property how will you fill in the excavation?
A. Repairing or renewing gas pipes inevitably involves some digging. Where possible we try to restrict this work to public areas but sometimes we have no choice but to dig small holes in driveways or footpaths in people’s gardens.
For planned work, we always tell householders in advance if we need to do this.
If we dig on your property we will always reinstate the area we have disturbed to a good standard as set out in schedule 2B of the Gas Act 1986 (as amended). However, we cannot agree to reinstate an area we did not disturb.
When reinstating your driveway or footpath we will match the original material i.e. concrete for concrete, tarmac for tarmac. Although we will do our best to replicate the colour and texture of the existing area it is virtually impossible to match it exactly. This is usually due to the age, weathering and general wear and tear of the original surface. Colour matching usually improves as the new surface weathers.
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