Critical Contingency Management
Gas Industry Company administers the Gas Governance (Critical Contingency Management Regulations 2008) Regulations. The purpose of the Regulations is to achieve the effective management of critical gas outages and other security of supply contingencies without compromising long-term security of supply. The Regulations achieve this principally through the appointment of a Critical Contingency Operator (CCO) which has a range of powers, particularly to curtail gas consumption during critical contingencies.
Critical Contingency Operator
The Critical Contingency Operator role is performed by Persons approved by Gas Industry Company in accordance with a Service Provider Agreement (SPACCO) with Plant & Platform Ltd. The role of the Critical Contingency Operator includes to:
• determine & declare the onset of a Critical Contingency• call for load curtailment as required to balance the system• monitor the supply/demand balance and adjust load curtailment directions as necessary, and• determine when it is safe to terminate a Critical Contingency.
Critical Contingency Events
Critical Contingencies occur when there is a shortage of gas supply relative to demand. The pressure on the Transmission System can fall to a point where intervention is required to ensure that a sufficient supply of gas is maintained in the Transmission System to supply distribution networks and domestic consumers.
If pressures on the Transmission System reach certain thresholds, the CCO will declare a Critical Contingency. The CCO will issue instructions to the industry designed to ensure that the balance between supply and demand is maintained.
The Transmission System Owner (TSO) remains in direct control and management of the transmission system at all times and activates processes and procedures contained in their Critical Contingency Management Plan (CCMP).
