Safety

Gas Supply Emergencies and Your Role as a Gas Customer

When a Gas Supply Emergency occurs, Gaslink, Bord Gais Networks, Shippers/Suppliers and Gas Customers need to act quickly and safely.  Your role is vital to help the industry do this. 

This Frequently Asked Questions document has been prepared to provide an overview of your role as an End-User, whose premises individually consume 5,550,000 kWh per annum or more.  It also outlines what you are required to do in the event of a Gas Supply Emergency being declared by the NGEM.  For instance, as an End-User you may be required to voluntarily reduce the gas offtake or cease offtaking gas completely.

Please read this information carefully, and ensure that you and those employees in your organisation who may be directed to stop using gas understand their responsibilities.  Minimising the impacts of potential Gas Supply Emergencies requires the co-operation of everyone in the industry.  Only by working together can we improve the quality of contact information, which is a vital part of the industry emergency process for reducing demand on the gas network quickly and safely.

You are requested to help proactively by ensuring that you provide up-to-date contact information to your Shipper/Supplier for use by the NGEM.

Gaslink are designated as the NGEM.  Bord Gais Networks, in compliance with the Operating Agreement, Natural Gas Emergency Plan and relevant legislation will perform the functions of the NGEM on behalf of Gaslink. 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is a Gas Supply Emergency?

2. Who is the NGEM?

3. What are your organisation's obligations as a consumer of gas during a Gas Supply Emergency?

4. Who will contact your organisation to ask you to stop using gas?

5. If your organisation is contacted what will the NGEM say?

6. What happens if there is nobody available to take the message?

7. What happens if there is someone available but they do not have the authorisation to stop using gas?

8. What does 'stop using gas' mean to your organisation as an End-User?

9. What are the consequences of your organisation failing to stop using gas when directed?

10. What Emergency Contact Information is required?

11. What are Emergency Exercises?

12. Who are the Gas Industry Participants?

A Gas Supply Emergency is caused by insufficient gas supplies being available to satisfy expected demand.  Although the probability of an emergency occurring is low, insufficient supplies could result in a loss of pressure to all types of End-Users across the network.  Such a situation will require prompt and appropriate action to prevent any dangerous incidents.  The NGEM declares a Gas Supply Emergency.

The NGEM (National Gas Emergency Manager) is the entity who takes control of the gas network during a potential or actual Gas Supply Emergency.  Gaslink are designated as the NGEM, Bord Gais Networks, in compliance with the Operating Agreement, Natural Gas Emergency Plan and relevant legislation will perform the functions of the NGEM on behalf of Gaslink.

The NGEM can direct any End-User to stop using gas when necessary to prevent a Gas Supply Emergency.  In the vent of such an emergency it is vital that you, as a non-domestic Gas Customer stop using gas as soon as you are asked to do so, to safeguard the Network and limit the disruption to smaller End-Users.

As a non-domestic gas consumer you will be contacted by Bord Gais Networks, acting on behalf of the NGEM, as soon as there is a requirement for you to stop using gas.  This direction for you to stop using gas may be sent by fax, given orally (in person or by telephone), by SMS text message, or delivered by hand.

Bord Gais Networks acting on behalf of the NGEM will advise you that there is a Gas Supply Emergency and will direct you to stop your site from using gas.

You must provide 24hrs contact details of a competent person who is empowered to switch off the gas at your premises.

The nominated person must have authorisation to stop gas usage at your organisation.

If the NGEM contacts you and asks you to stop using gas this means that you are obliged to immediately, but safely, turn off any equipment or appliances that use gas.  The NGEM will notify you when supplies can be restored.

Should you fail to stop using gas, you will be putting the security of the network and supplies to priority and domestic End-Users at risk.  Failure to stop using gas could lead to the isolation of your Gas Point by Bord Gais Networks acting on behalf of the NGEM.

Your emergency contact (primary contact and backup contact) should be someone that is in a position to accept the direction from the NGEM and be able to arrange for all affected Gas Customer Facilities to cease using gas as soon as possible.  If the emergency contact is unable to act upon the instruction directly, they must know who to contact to ensure that Gas Customer Facilities stops using gas.  The emergency contact number(s) provided must not be diverted to an answering machine.  Any changes to your organisation's contact details going forward must be advised to your Shipper/Supplier as a matter of urgency, using the Emergency Contact Details form.

From time to time, then NGEM and/or Bord Gais Networks perform Gas Supply Emergency exercises.  During these exercises, the emergency contact details you have provided may be tested.  If you are contacted for the purpose of an emergency exercise, it will be clearly stated that it is an exercise and you will not be required to actually stop using gas.

• Bord Gais Networks operates the gas network which transports gas from System Entry Points to Gas Customers Exit Points or Supply Points on behalf of Gaslink, the independent system operator.
• Shippers / Suppliers Sell gas to their customers / End-Users.  Shippers/Suppliers contract with Bord Gais Networks to transport gas from the Shippers/Suppliers nominated Entry Point to the consumer/End-Users Exit Points or Supply Points off the Gas Network.
• National Gas Emergency Manager (NGEM).  The NGEM is responsible for coordinating the actions of all industry participants during a Gas Supply Emergency.  The NGEM discharges his responsibilities through Bord Gais Networks.
• End-Users are the consumers who purchase gas for use at their Gas Customer Facilities.

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