UIG Task Force

Learn about our UIG Task Force – and review their findings, recommendations and publications.

Page contents

    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 Investigation Log 

     

    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 

    Use of estimates for DM sites 

    Our findings 

    Our recommendations 

    Low take-up of WAR band EUCs 

    Our findings 

    Our recommendations 

    3.1 

    AQ calculation errors 

    Our findings 

    Our recommendations 

    3.2.1 

    Inaccurate/out-of-date AQs – Non-daily metered EUC09 sites 

    Our findings 

    Our recommendations 

    3.2.2 

    Inaccurate/out-of-date AQs – sample sites with different consumption patterns or levels compared with UK Link 

    Our findings 

    Our recommendations 

    3.2.3 

    Inaccurate/out-of-date AQs – sites that have AQs lower than 100 kWh and have had meter read tolerance rejection(s) 

    Our findings 

    Our recommendations 

    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 
     

    Our findings 

    Our recommendations 

    3.2.6 

    Inaccurate/out-of-date AQs – different rates of AQ change to inform discussion on meter read frequency 

    Our findings 

    No recommendations are required for these findings 

    3.2.8 

    Inaccurate/out-of-date AQs – sample sites consuming energy with a UK Link AQ of 1 

    Our findings 

    Our recommendations 

    Shippers and unregistered Sites 

    Our findings 

    No recommendations are required for these findings 

    DM Nomination accuracy 

    Our findings 

    No recommendations are required for these findings 

    12.1 
    12.3 
     

    Use of standard conversion factor for NDM sites with AQ > 732,000 kWh 
    Use of non-standard conversion factor with AQ < 732,000 kWh 

    Our findings 

    Our recommendations 

    12.2 

    Use of standard conversion factor with AQ < 732,000 kWh 

    Our findings 

    Our recommendations 

    13.1.1 

    Accuracy of NDM algorithm – uplift factors 

    Our findings 

    No recommendations are required for these findings 

    13.1.2 

    Accuracy of NDM algorithm – weekend vs weekday correlation 

    Our findings 

    No recommendations are required for these findings 

    13.1.3 

    Accuracy of NDM algorithm – holiday factors 

    Our findings 

    No recommendations are required for these findings 

    13.1.4 

    Influence of geographical factors on demand estimation 

    Our findings 

    No recommendations are required for these findings 

    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 

    Our findings 

    Our recommendations 

    13.2.5 

    Accuracy of NDM algorithm – use of weather data – basic machine learning 

    Our findings 

    Our recommendations 

    13.2.6 

    Accuracy of NDM algorithm – advanced machine learning 

    Our findings 

    Recommendations in development 

    13.2.7 

    Accuracy of NDM algorithm – advanced machine learning options 

    Our findings 

    Recommendations in development 

    13.2.8 

    Accuracy of NDM algorithm – estimation uncertainty and sample set validation 

    Our findings 

    Recommendations in development 

    13.3.1 

    Accuracy of NDM algorithm – NDM sample data – representation across EUCs 

    Our findings 

    No recommendations are required for these findings 

    13.3.2 

    Accuracy of NDM algorithm – NDM sample data – NDM sample population 

    Our findings 

    No recommendations are required for these findings 

    16 

    Accuracy of metering equipment at meter point offtake 

    Our findings 

    No recommendations are required for these findings 

    18 

    Meter points in ‘isolated’ status which are registering consumption 

    Our findings 

    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. 

    Recommendations Tracker 

     

    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.