Past EU gas change implementation

Dear Colleague

As you will be aware, 1st November is a key milestone in the delivery of the system and process changes associated with the implementation of EU Codes. The purpose of this letter is to provide an update on the changes to Gemini being implemented on Thursday 29th October, and to make you aware of an issue affecting within day auctions at Bacton IP ASEP from 1 st November.

Scope of system for EU Nominations and Balancing fixes being implemented on 29th October 2015

On Friday morning 03:15 to 06:15 there will be an extended outage window to Gemini. During this time there will be some fixes loaded to resolve some of the issue around the EU Balancing and Nominations processes.

The fixes that will be delivered will be: 

• The nominations ‘lock out’ issue during the matching process has been resolved
• A User can re-nominate again at hour bar +5 minutes (recommended to give the DELORD file a chance to leave the system)
• The issue of nomination start time not automatically populating for within day matching cycles starting at hour bars 21:00, 22:00 and 23:00 has also been resolved
• Shipper balance screens are being corrected going forward to show the correct confirmed nominations
• Users are now able to re-nominate a positive value if a zero value has been entered as the original nomination
• An issue with day-ahead re-nominations submitted between 04:00 and 05:00 has now been resolved

Also as you have been aware from 1st October we have offered a line of support for EU Nominations / Balancing issues and this will continue until a further update. Note however this is only for the EU Nomination and Balancing process and not for general queries.

John McNamara will be the first point of contact and the number to use is 0192 665 4127. If your issue is a general Gemini one then please direct to the Xoserve Help line which is 0845 600 0506.

Issue Affecting Within Day Auctions for Entry Capacity at Bacton IP ASEP from 1 st November

We have recently become aware of an issue affecting the settings of within day entry capacity auctions on Prisma, which means that the auctions will have to run with a non-zero reserve price.

We have written separately to shippers registered on Prisma to provide a more detailed explanation of the impact of this issue. If you are a registered user on Prisma and have not been contacted, please contact me on the details at the top of this letter.

The impact of this issue can be summarised as follows:

• Within day auctions run on Prisma for entry capacity at Bacton IP ASEP will be set up to run with a non-zero reserve price of 0.00000001p/kWh/d
• Capacity invoices will be adjusted to remove the impact of the reserve price
• There is expected to be a very small impact on capacity neutrality (up to 13p/day); we are not proposing to adjust neutrality at this time
• Aggregate auction reports In Prisma, Gemini and MIPI will continue to show the impact of the reserve price

We are currently investigating the most appropriate way to implement a permanent resolution to this issue. Given that this is expected to involve a system change to at least one of Gemini or Prisma, any solution is likely to take some time to scope, test and implement. We will continue to communicate implementation updates via ANS, our website, and Joint Office/ENA emails as appropriate.

Finally can I apologise for any inconvenience caused by this issue. If you require further information please do not hesitate to contact Jon Dutton at [email protected] or on 07976 268933.

Yours sincerely
Chris Gumbley
National Grid Gas Transmission

Document containing: Key Points regarding UK Interconnection Points for gas days from 1st November 2015.

Download the 'Key Points for Gas Days from 1st November 2015' document. 

Extended outage of Gemini for EU integration implementation – Thursday 29th October 2015.

This communication is to notify you that there will be an extended outage of Gemini on Thursday 29th October for the purposes of implementing final integration elements and corrective fixes for the EU regime associated with phase 2.

The Gemini system will be unavailable from 03.15 for 3 hours whilst essential activities are carried out. Services will be available again at 06.15. A contingency date of 31 st October will be utilised if there is an issue with the activities on the 29th October.

Users are advised that any activity completed during this time will be processed during catch up activities at the end of the outage period.

Undertaking activities on these dates ensures that all obligations are met for the start of the EU Capacity Regime on 1st November. Please contact us if you have any queries via email: [email protected]. 

Please note any pending fixes due to be deployed will now be deployed during this outage.

This page is to provide industry information to help manage successful implementation of EU change, primarily covering the prominent change arrangements being delivered Oct/Nov 2015.

EU Ph2 Implementation Timeline 

The EU Codes Legal Roadmap document has been prepared by National Grid NTS to serve as a reminder and summary for stakeholders of the various UNC and other contractual changes that are needed to implement the EU Codes

EU Codes Legal Roadmap

The section will help act as a guide to highlight areas that your organisation may be required to change or complete prior to key dates, while also providing useful information to aid answers to any questions you may have.

24 September 2015

Capacity auctions at Interconnection Points (IPs) will now require booking via a new system called PRISMA.

PRISMA and Gemini will interface to manage the available capacity.

Users will require an EIC code to be able to register on the PRISMA platform, users will also be required to enter their company details, VAT Number and Company Registration Number – these will all be required for TSO authorisation.

Please note: PRISMA registration process may take between 2-3 weeks to complete; therefore we recommend that you have started this process before the end of September 2015.

Following registration on the PRISMA platform, an email is required from your company Local Security Officer to Xoserve Customer Life Cycle Team (CLC) - who is acting on National Grids behalf as TSO approver, to complete the registration process.

Should you have any queries during the registration process, please contact Xoserve CLC Team on [email protected].

PRISMA website address and contact details:

PRISMA European Capacity Platform GmbH
Schillerstraße 4
04109 Leipzig
Germany

Phone: +49 341 69 92 990 – 69
Fax: +49 341 69 92 990 – 99
Email: [email protected] 
Web: www.prisma-capacity.eu

Please note: The PRISMA registration process takes around 2-3 weeks to complete.

For further details, please download the PRISMA Registration Information document 

29 September 2015

Please note as a reminder: Information regarding Gas Day and Key EU changes on 30th September and 1st October 2015 onwards

30 September 2015 - Gas Flow

As communicated by us at Operational Forums, Transmission Workstream and our Customer Seminar days, notifications to flow gas (Supply and Demand), faxed to the National Grid Gas Control Centre for gas day 30th September 2015 are required to be in a 23 hour gas day format, due to the move to a 05:00 gas day start on Gas Day 1st October. Any information that does not provide us with notification for a 23 hour gas day will be rejected / not entered into our systems and we will require it to be re-sent in the correct format, (06:00 to 05:00).

1 October 2015 Onwards 

As above information regarding notifications to flow gas (Supply and Demand), faxed to the National Grid Gas Control Centre for gas day 1st October 2015 are required to be in a 05:00 to 05:00 format to comply with the new Gas Day from 1st October. Any information that does not provide us with notification for a 05:00 to 05:00 gas day will be rejected / not entered into our systems and be required to be re-sent in the correct format (05:00 to 05:00).

Gemini Outage Window 

Please also be aware that due to the new gas day start time of 05:00 hours from Thursday 1st October, the Gemini outage window will be moving back one hour with effect from Thursday 1st October 2015, morning. For clarity gas day Wednesday 30th September the Gemini outage will commence at 03:15 Thursday morning and come back up at 04:15 and the gas day will end at 05:00 hours. The new outage windows going forward will be: 03:15 hours to 04:15 hours Monday to Saturday and 03:00 hours to 05:00 hours on Sunday mornings. Unless otherwise notified by the usual communications you receive. There is not an extended outage planned for Thursday 1st October outage as the EU Code has already been loaded into Gemini.

Other information

There will also later today be some further information on the nominations process that will need to be read, however this should not stop you entering any nominations now. Also some contingency information will be made available.

Another ANS will be sent to alert you to the upload on the website. If you have any queries around this please contact box account: [email protected].

2 October 2015

We are experiencing some issues in Gemini with the nomination process for Interconnection Points (IPs) only. This has been due to shippers inadvertently entering incorrect information regarding our adjacent TSO reference numbers. To help us ensure nominations and renominations are matched correctly, information on how to enter nominations has previously been communicated and we have summarised this information below. Therefore please refer to the table below to help you clarify what information should be entered for IP nominations and renominations.

Points of clarity for EU nominations in Gemini

Gemini will populate the EIC Code into the screen for your company, but does not populate our adjacent TSO references, these need to be entered correctly.

Each of our adjacent TSO systems require different reference numbers (See table below). These range from EIC Codes, Shipper Short Codes or Type of nomination code and we ask that you confirm these with the adjacent TSO for the IP you are nominating at.

Reference numbers for each IP

We would also like to draw your attention to a number of other factors to ensure the nomination matching process can operate successfully.

1. A DSN should only be used where two different counterparties are nominating. Gemini will reject DSN for the same counterparty.
2. For a DSN the counterparty must enter a nomination on the adjacent TSO system in order for the matching process to occur
3. Please ensure the information entered is correct before saving to ensure nominations can be matched in a timely manner.
4. Please note Gemini does not validate the references for adjacent TSOs

If you experience difficulties please contact either the National Grid EU programme team on 01926654127 or the Xoserve helpdesk if you experience system issues.

30 September 2015 Nomination Update

There are three areas of the Nomination process you need to be aware of as they form a key part of the process and initially are not functioning as expected until we have made some changes to Gemini.

1: Nomination Lock out:

For a temporary period from 1 st October no IP re-nominations will be possible on Gemini whist the matching cycle is in progress. This is the period between the process quantity populating on the Gemini screen at around (HB+4 minutes) and the confirmed quantity populating on the Gemini screen. This time period varies by IP but from testing for IUK and BBL this will be around 20 minutes past the hour bar and for GNI/PTL it will be around 35 minutes past the hour bar. (It will not be possible for the same matching pair to be updated with a new nomination. This will also include any matching pairs that although may not have a new nomination in the current hour bar, but have been “used” in the current gas day). This is due to the fact that the adjacent IPs require a full set of nominations each time we send the file. National Grid are working with Xoserve to resolve the issue and we are currently expecting a solution in Gemini within a few weeks of go live subject to technical analysis. We will keep you updated on progress via the UE Codes Implementation Webpage.

2: SSN& DSN Duplicates

PTL have developed their systems to allow SSN & DSN ‘duplicates’ to be placed for the same gas day. However this has not been implemented by any other TSO (and for at least one, such a pair of nominations would be rejected). For clarity this functionality has not been implemented in Gemini and so cannot currently be undertaken. We are reviewing this issue with the Regulators and will keep you informed of progress

3: Nomination Start Time:

For a temporary period from 1 st October when placing nominations in Gemini, it will default to 05:00 start time for day ahead nominations and plus two hours from the next hour bar when in day. However we have a small issue in that when placing nominations during the period 21:00 through to 00:00 hour bars the screens are not always auto populating, so there is a requirement for these hour bars only to check and if the field is blank to select a start time. In day this must be plus two hours from the next hour. (i.e. if placing nomination at 21:18 the start time required will be 00:00 as a minimum). National Grid are working with Xoserve to resolve the issue and we are currently expecting a solution in Gemini within a few weeks of go live subject to technical analysis. We will keep you updated on progress via the UE Codes Implementation Webpage.

Gemini user contingency spreadsheet for new EU nomination matching process at IPs

In the event we have to call, to go to contingency due to a Gemini issue generally or we have an issue with the new nomination matching process, please find attached the pro-forma that will be required to be filled out in order to keep the process going. This is a temporary process via this message to cover us for the first month of use in case there are any teething issues with the process. Should there be a requirement to use this form an ANS message will be sent to the community.

This process will at a future date be added to the usual Gemini Contingency area on the National Grid Website, this is just a temporary placement to ensure we have the process covered. And a message will be sent to inform you of this.

Shipper Contingency Form: Contingency spreadsheet - new EU nomination matching process at IPs

Any questions or queries can be sent to [email protected] or ring 01926 654 127

11 September 2015

Further update which includes the transitional arrangements for APIs under the new nominations process at EU Interconnection Points (IPs):

Transitional Arrangements during September 2015 only:

Gemini will accept nominations at IPs throughout the entire 30 day period prior to 1st October 2015, e.g. from 1st September 2015 for gas flow day 1st October 2015. However as part of National Grid’s EU systems changes, nominations at IP’s input prior to planned Gemini code releases will not be retained by the system as they will not comply with the information requirements of the new nominations process and they will therefore not be processed. In addition, shippers will not be able to place any nominations via APIs until full deployment is complete on 22nd September 2015.

Therefore for gas flow days from 1st October 2015 onwards, even if nominations have already been submitted:

At IUK IP and BBL IP, users will need to submit either:

• screen based nominations on or after D-20, or 11th September 2015, or
• nominations via APIs on or after D-9 or 22nd September 2015

At Moffat IP, users will need to ensure they submit nominations on or after D-9, or 22nd September 2015, whether screen based or through APIs.

For the avoidance of doubt, existing APIs for non-EU Interconnection Points are not subject to transitional arrangements and should continue “as normal”

The maximum notice periods available will then increase incrementally from Gas Flow Day 1st October 2015 until the full 30 day notice period is available. After this point these transitional arrangements will cease.

1 September 2015

By 1st October 2015, GB and adjacent transmission system operators (TSOs) aim to begin “go live” with changes which will ensure compliance with relevant provisions of the EU Network Codes. Please find below an update with regards to the arrangements for the new nominations process at EU Interconnection Points (IPs).

Overview of the Arrangements post 1st October 2015:

The new regime introduced by UNC Modification 0493 allows for a gas flow nomination at IPs to be sent to National Grid up to 30 days in advance of the gas day. No processing of this nomination submission takes place until 13:00 on D-1. If during the 30 day period a nomination is resubmitted prior to the nomination deadline, only the last such nomination submitted is processed with the associated nomination to the adjacent TSO at the IP, a “counterparty pair”.

Transitional Arrangements during September 2015 only:

Gemini will accept nominations at IPs throughout the entire 30 day period prior to 1st October 2015, e.g. from 1st September 2015 for gas flow day 1st October 2015. However as part of National Grid’s EU systems changes, nominations at IP’s input prior to planned Gemini code releases will not be retained by the system as they will not comply with the information requirements of the new nominations process and they will therefore not be processed.

Therefore for gas flow days from 1st October 2015 onwards, even if nominations have already been submitted:

• At IUK IP and BBL IP, users will need to ensure they submit nominations on or after D-20, or 11th September 2015.
• At Moffat IP, users will need to ensure they submit nominations on or after D-9, or 22nd September 2015.

The maximum notice periods available will then increase incrementally from Gas Flow Day 1st October 2015 until the full 30 day notice period is available. After this point these transitional arrangements will cease.

22 December 2015

I attach a further update on the capacity issues affecting PRISMA and Gemini.

EU Issue update 2015_12_18

I would draw your attention to two main points. Firstly we are aware there has been an increased incidence of allocations from within-day PRISMA auctions not being reflected in Gemini. We now believe that all the known causes of these issues have been identified and system fixes have been implemented. We will continue to proactively monitor that allocations are correctly being updated in Gemini. Please note that entitlements that are still missing will be updated on the afternoon of 23rd December 2015.

Secondly PRISMA are experiencing some issues with the reliability of the within day auctions. PRISMA will notify shippers of these incidents and are responsible for restoring the service. PRISMA are aware of the issue and investigating how to improve reliability. Note that overruns will not apply at affected points if either 6 consecutive hourly auctions are missed or the last auction of the day is not run.

17 November 2015

Update on Capacity Issues affecting IP Auctions on PRISMA

Following on from my letter of 28th October relating to the application of a non-zero reserve price for the IPWDDSEC at Bacton, I thought it would be helpful to provide a summary of the known issues together with plans to resolve them.

In particular we have experienced two instances of day-ahead interruptible auctions being ‘cancelled’ – this was due to a fault on PRISMA which has now been corrected and should not happen again. I apologise for the inconvenience this has caused and we will be contacting shippers who have incurred unnecessary costs as a consequence of this fault to rectify the situation.

Also we have a code fix being deployed on Sunday 22nd November which will resolve some of the interface issues that can cause Gemini entitlements not to be updated following allocations in PRISMA auctions.

Further details are provided in the attached pdf.

National Grid Gas EU Capacity Issues Update 2015_11_17 

I will provide updates on these issues as further information becomes available.

If you require any additional information in the meantime please contact either myself or the capacity team on the details below

Regards

Jon Dutton NTS Capacity Manager

Capacity queries: [email protected] 01926 6554057 (office hours)

24 September 2015

Transitional Arrangements for Capacity Allocations Mechanisms (CAM) at UK Interconnection Points (IPs)

The below information reminds Users of key transition dates as set out within modification 500. It also informs users of the date for the 'CAM Operational Date' as specified within the Transitional Document (Part V) of the UNC.

Auctions

The first PRISMA auction under the new CAM arrangements will be the day ahead firm auction on the 31 st October for gas day 1 st November. Thereafter the first of each auction process will be as per the table below.

Note there are no further auctions under the existing capacity regime (as outlined in the Transportation Principle Documents) for gas days after 1 st November 2015. The existing auctions will continue as below, for gas days up to the 31 st October 2015.

CAM Operational Date

The CAM Operational Date is designed to match the date of the EU phase 2 Gemini release. (Note this is separate to the CAM effective date which is 1 st November). This date was the 6 th September 2015.

Shippers can submit communications for the following process once the CAM Operational Date has been reached*.

• Transfers of IP Capacity via PRISMA
• Surrenders of IP Capacity via PRISMA
• Voluntary Bundling of capacity at IPs.

*Subject to certain dependencies listed below:

a) For the Moffat IP then communications via PRISMA are dependent upon kWh/d functionality being ready on the PRISMA platform. This functionality will be available in October (exact date to be confirmed and communicated). Note while this will affect transfers and surrenders, the voluntary bundling process at Moffat is unaffected by this.

b) For the Bacton IP ASEP then Users will need to wait for the system update to be completed following the Bacton splitting process. In line with modification 501 this will be completed no later than 30th September.

The rules for these processes will be in line with the relevant sections in the European Interconnection Document (EID). These are EID B9 for Transfers, EID B7 for Surrenders and EID B6 for Voluntary Bundling.

Download the new proforma for submitting voluntary bundling requests

11 September 2015

General Information only on NTS Optional Tariff (Shorthaul) at the Bacton ASEP

To comply with EU regulations, from 1 November 2015, the existing Bacton ASEP within the NGG Licence (Ref: Special Condition 5F), will be split into two new ASEPs (Bacton UKCS ASEP and Bacton IP ASEP). Following the implementation of UNC Modification 0501V (Treatment of Existing Entry Capacity Rights at the Bacton ASEP to comply with EU Capacity Regulations) the Bacton Capacity Reallocation Process was undertaken. This process enabled the reallocation of all existing registered capacity at the Bacton ASEP to be split between the new ASEPs Bacton UKCS and Bacton IP (as from 1 November 2015 onwards).

Please be aware that as a consequence of the above processes the existing Bacton ASEP will no longer be a nominated Entry Point for the purposes of NTS Optional Tariff (Shorthaul) after 31 October 2015. Shippers that currently have the Bacton ASEP as their nominated entry point will have to either nominate the Bacton UKCS ASEP or the Bacton IP ASEP as the entry point to their nominated exit points (as appropriate), to ensure the application of the NTS Optional Tariff (Shorthaul) from the 1 November 2015. Please note that Shippers may nominate one or more exit points to an entry point however they cannot nominate an exit point to more than one entry point (UNC Section Y Ref 3.5).

Proformas and a covering letter will be issued, by 11 September 2015, to those Shippers who currently have Bacton ASEP as their nominated Entry Point for the purposes of NTS Optional Tariff (Shorthaul), however due to the anticipated volume of requests and timescales, Shippers are urged to submit their requests prior to 1 October 2015 to ensure that the requests can be actioned in sufficient time to ensure that the NTS Optional Tariff (Shorthaul) can be applied from 1 November 2015. Requests received after the 1 October 2015 cannot be guaranteed to be processed for the 1 November and this may result in the Standard NTS Commodity Charge being applied until such time as the renomination is completed.

Where requests are received after the 1 October 2015 we will endeavour to process them in time for the 1 November 2015 however this cannot be guaranteed and this may result in the Standard NTS Commodity Charge being applied until such time as the renomination is completed as application of the NTS Optional Commodity Tariff at the current Bacton ASEP will cease after 31 October 2015.

Please note that this message is being sent by e-mail via the Joint Office of Gas Transporters

For avoidance of doubt, expressions used within this letter should be interpreted as having the same meaning as per the UNC Document.

If you have any queries regarding this application process please contact a member of the SPA team on +44 (0121 623 2476). Alternatively you can e-mail the SPA team regarding any issues at [email protected].

1 September 2015

During September, October and November 2015, various system and process changes are being implemented. Please see helpful contact details of teams that can answer should you have any queries during this time:

Xoserve Service Desk for Gemini related faults
UK Tel: 0845 6000506
Int Tel: +44121 623 2858
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.xoserve.com/index.php/our-systems/gemini/gemini-training/

EIC and PRISMA Registration Queries:
Xoserve Customer Life Cycle Team - [email protected]

PRISMA Platform / Website Queries:
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.prisma-capacity.eu
Phone: +49 341 69 92 990 – 69
Fax: +49 341 69 92 990 – 99

Capacity Related Questions / Queries:
National Grid Capacity Team - [email protected]

General EU Change Project Queries including Nomination / Gas Day Change Queries:
National Grid EU Project Team - [email protected]

FAQs Document Updated 22 December 2015 EU Q and A version 3 final