UIG Task Force
Learn about our UIG Task Force – and review their findings, recommendations and publications.
What is the UIG Task Force?
Unidentified Gas (UIG), in the months following the implementation of a new industry settlement regime in June 2017, became (and continues to be) a priority issue for the industry to address.
We created a UIG Task Force to investigate and make recommendations to the industry on how to reduce the levels and volatility of UIG.
Between 2018 and 2020, our Task Force worked with an analytics partner to:
- investigate and report on the causes of UIG
- suggest how the level and volatility of UIG could be reduced
UIG investigations
We, the UIG Task Force, put together an Investigation Guide, describing the areas investigated and why they are important to UIG.
It details the results of each finding and how much UIG they can explain, as well as Xoserve's recommendations on how the industry can work to resolve the issue.
UIG Xoserve Task Force Investigation Guide
An Investigations Log was also maintained, which kept a record of our investigations as work progressed.
UIG Findings and Recommendations
The UIG Task Force, working with their external data analytics partner, completed a detailed analysis of what were thought to be the contributors to Unidentified Gas. This was achieved by a series of 6 Sprints with a set of findings being created to share our workings with customers and industry colleagues.
We summarised our Findings and Recommendations into a Recommendations Tracker which was used to share progress with our customers.
You can read the detailed findings and, where appropriate, recommendations below.
Reference | Title | Findings | Recommendations |
1 |
Use of estimates for DM sites |
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2 |
Low take-up of WAR band EUCs |
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3.1 |
AQ calculation errors |
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3.2.1 |
Inaccurate/out-of-date AQs – Non-daily metered EUC09 sites |
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3.2.2 |
Inaccurate/out-of-date AQs – sample sites with different consumption patterns or levels compared with UK Link |
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3.2.3 |
Inaccurate/out-of-date AQs – sites that have AQs lower than 100 kWh and have had meter read tolerance rejection(s) |
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3.2.5 |
Inaccurate/out-of-date AQs – impact of AQ. Investigate the change in the AQ mix and direction of travel following introduction of rolling AQ |
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3.2.6 |
Inaccurate/out-of-date AQs – different rates of AQ change to inform discussion on meter read frequency |
No recommendations are required for these findings |
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3.2.8 |
Inaccurate/out-of-date AQs – sample sites consuming energy with a UK Link AQ of 1 |
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6 |
Shippers and unregistered Sites |
No recommendations are required for these findings |
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9 |
DM Nomination accuracy |
No recommendations are required for these findings |
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12.1 |
Use of standard conversion factor for NDM sites with AQ > 732,000 kWh |
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12.2 |
Use of standard conversion factor with AQ < 732,000 kWh |
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13.1.1 |
Accuracy of NDM algorithm – uplift factors |
No recommendations are required for these findings |
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13.1.2 |
Accuracy of NDM algorithm – weekend vs weekday correlation |
No recommendations are required for these findings |
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13.1.3 |
Accuracy of NDM algorithm – holiday factors |
No recommendations are required for these findings |
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13.1.4 |
Influence of geographical factors on demand estimation |
No recommendations are required for these findings |
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13.2.2 (Including 13.2.3 and 13.2.4) |
Accuracy of NDM algorithm – use of weather data – sensitivity of components of the composite weather variable |
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13.2.5 |
Accuracy of NDM algorithm – use of weather data – basic machine learning |
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13.2.6 |
Accuracy of NDM algorithm – advanced machine learning |
Recommendations in development |
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13.2.7 |
Accuracy of NDM algorithm – advanced machine learning options |
Recommendations in development |
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13.2.8 |
Accuracy of NDM algorithm – estimation uncertainty and sample set validation |
Recommendations in development |
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13.3.1 |
Accuracy of NDM algorithm – NDM sample data – representation across EUCs |
No recommendations are required for these findings |
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13.3.2 |
Accuracy of NDM algorithm – NDM sample data – NDM sample population |
No recommendations are required for these findings |
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16 |
Accuracy of metering equipment at meter point offtake |
No recommendations are required for these findings |
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18 |
Meter points in ‘isolated’ status which are registering consumption |
No recommendations are required for these findings |
Final status of recommendations
When our UIG Task Force finished their work in 2020, they produced a Recommendations tracker.
This document shows the final status of all recommendations which were implemented.
A summary of the UIG Task Force findings and outcomes, shared with DSC Contract Management Committee, is available on the Joint Office of Gas Transporters website.
Draft UNC Modifications
As a result of the Findings and Recommendations from the UIG Task Force, a number of potential UNC Modifications were drafted.
You can read all the drafted modifications below.
The UIG Modifications report provides a summary of the modifications.
Title | Status |
ModXXX Incentivise key areas of performance using additional UIG charges | Raised as Mod 0699 but later withdrawn |
ModXXX Automatic changes to meter read frequency v0.1 | Mod 0692S approved, implementation due November 2021 |
ModXXX CDSP to convert Class 3 or 4 meter points to Class 1 when G1.6.15 criteria are met | Mod 0691S implemented 1 April 2021 |
Request XXX Use of a standard conversion factor | UNC request 0693R now closed |
ModXXX Reduce qualifying period for Class 1 | Mod 0690S implemented 25 March 2020 |
ModXXX Amend must-read obligation for SSPs | Download drafted modification |
ModXXX Change maximum meter read frequency to six months | Download drafted modification |
ModXXX Improving conversion factor quality v0.3 | Modification 0681S implemented 25 March 2020 |
UIG publications
The Task Force shared updates throughout their work.
You can read all these publications below.
UIG Task Force update – 31 January 2020
UIG Task Force update – 19 December 2019
UIG Task Force update – 14 November 2019
UIG Task Force update – 16 September 2019
UIG Task Force update – 13 August 2019
UIG Task Force update – 12 July 2019
UIG Task Force update – 7 June 2019
UIG Task Force update – 3 May 2019
UIG Task Force update – 27 March 2019
UIG Task Force update – 15 February 2019
UIG Task Force sprint six update – 6 December 2018
UIG Task Force sprint five update – 23 November 2018
UIG Task Force update to Ofgem – 13 November 2018
UIG Task Force sprint four update – 8 November 2018
UIG Task Force sprint three update – 25 October 2018
UIG Task Force sprint two update - 12 October 2018
UIG Task Force sprint one update – 27 September 2018
UIG update from Ranjit Patel, CCO – 5 September 2018
UIG update from Ranjit Patel, CCO – 2 August 2018