Vulnerability Team and Business updates
Business updates
Any questions on our general business updates, please just get in touch with Eileen – ebrown@northerngas.co.uk
GD3 Business Plan update
We submitted our GD3 Business Plan to Ofgem on the 11th December. We are voluntarily producing a customer-facing version of the plan, which was published on 18th December.
Thank you to everyone who gave their views and challenge to help us build our plan.
Key headlines:
- 21 voluntary vulnerability commitments, including regional approach to investment and PSR awareness raising
- Maintaining industry leading safety performance
- Proposing 1 bespoke output on our 7 and 28 day repair standards
We're working on a communication and engagement plan to help explain our proposals.
Other business news
N-Gen Energy was formed almost two years ago and is owned by CKI. This separate company was created to pursue opportunities to produce hydrogen and operate hydrogen assets (activities we're not permitted to do at NGN, due to our status as a regulated business).
N-Gen's flagship project, Bradford Low Carbon Hydrogen, the UK's largest planned low carbon hydrogen production facility, is being delivered with joint venture partner, Hygen and is supported by Bradford Council. The scheme was the largest to receive funding in the first Hydrogen Allocation Round.There has been lots of energy-related topics covered by the news – many of them focussing on the hydrogen v heat pumps debate for decarbonising heat. Our approach at NGN is to make sure that customers have choice through the energy transition, and that due consideration is given for those customers for whom a heat pump isn't appropriate. We are still awaiting a government decision on Redcar – installing either hydrogen or all electric solutions to c 2000 homes and businesses.
Vulnerability Team updates
Vulnerability & Carbon Monoxide Allowance (VCMA) – spend update
We are on track to commit all of the GD2 allowance by end March 2025, with all projects ending in March 2026. GDNs have presented a case to Ofgem to support a higher allowance (near to GD2 levels) in GD3. Decisions on this will not be announced until late 2025. We will keep partners/stakeholders informed of further updates.
NGN Centres for Warmth (CFW) programme – update
We now have 12 live CFW locations across NGN’s network in areas identified as the most deprived communities. We are in talks with a further 3 centres and we have another 3-4 planned to go live before the end of March 2025.
Services Beyond the Meter (SBtM) – in house development and improvements
Work is ongoing throughout this year to improve our SBtM delivery with the majority of work brought in house by the end of 2024. The team has expanded and has been upskilled to support this. 733 households have been supported since 1st April 2024 with servicing, repair and replacement of appliances, as well as Carbon Monoxide (CO) investigations for eligible households.
ISO 22458 – Consumer Vulnerability Kitemark
Annual assessment currently being undertaken to extend the accreditation for another year. The standard focuses on inclusive service provision for customers and NGN have worked hard to maintain this Kitemark over the past year.
Supporting Communities Together event (Open Day)
This year we held our Open Day on 16th October in Huddersfield. Our Open Day is an annual event which we hold in various locations across our region.
Last year we hosted it in Newcastle and the previous year was in Leeds. This year we decided to host the event in a charitable organisation’s premise rather than a hotel, in order to give something back to the local community.
This annual event is really valued by our partners and NGN colleagues. It provides a rare opportunity to meet face to face and make connections, as well as celebrating the fantastic work that is delivered in our communities.
During the day we asked our stakeholders to share their thoughts on 3 topic areas which were:-
- Digital switchover
- Seldom heard and
- Winter readiness
A lot of discussion was generated and useful feedback gathered in relation to these key themes. Everything that was captured on the day, was detailed in our Open Day report, which has now been published.
There were 24 stalls showcasing:
A selection of partner projects funded through VCMA, including collaborative projects with other GDNs and DNOs
- Innovation Projects
- NGN services offered to colleagues, such as a Well Being Hub and iBenefits
- NGN services offered to customers in vulnerable situations, such as the One Number / Services Beyond the Meter project, for those who require extra support with a faulty/broken applianceTo respond to this challenge, NEA worked Northern Gas Networks to undertake a cross-utility review that considers the range of support currently being provided, who those providers are, and what good practice means for community resilience and consumer safeguarding, both in the current energy landscape and during the future energy transition.
