Business and Vulnerability Team 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
Supplementary questions to our Business Plan submission were submitted by Ofgem between January until the end of March. There were a couple of questions / clarifications on our vulnerability proposals.
A GD3 stakeholder webinar was held in early February and 60+ stakeholders dialed onto the session, with slides being shared afterwards. Slides are available if anyone would like a copy. The draft determination response from Ofgem to our Business Plan proposals is expected at the end of June (provisional date 25th).
Other business news
Operational performance - continues to be strong and we’re on track to achieve all Ofgem targets by the end of March. NGN are the leading GDN in terms of performance for attending to gas escapes - 99.89% for attendance to 1 hour (uncontrolled escapes), 99.99 for attendance to 2 hour (controlled escapes). Both of these metrics are against a target of 97%.
Engagement – we will be working with regional electricity distributors to share key themes from our GD3 engagement, to inform their ED3 engagement, which is about to commence.
Vulnerability Team updates
Vulnerability & Carbon Monoxide Allowance (VCMA) – Ofgem funding spend update
We are on track to commit all the GD2 allowance by the 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. A rresponse from Ofgem regarding draft determination is due at the end of June'25 and the final decision will be announced in December '25. We will keep partners/stakeholders informed of further updates.
NGN Centres for Warmth (CFW) programme – update
We now have 20 live CFW locations across NGN’s network in areas identified as the most deprived communities across our network.
Services Beyond the Meter (SBtM) – in house development and improvements
Work has been ongoing throughout this year to improve our SBtM delivery with full service brought fully in house from 16th January 2025. The team has been expanded and upskilled to support this. 837 interventions have been supported to date (commenced 1st April 2024) with the servicing, repair and replacement of appliances as well as CO investigations for eligible households. Customer satisfaction monitoring is now in place.
ISO 22458 – Consumer Vulnerability Kitemark
Our annual assessment was undertaken in December ’24 and the Kitemark was retained. Full re-assessment will take place in January ‘26. The standard focuses on inclusive service provision for customers and NGN work really hard to retain this accreditation.
Support for All Project
Cross utility Priority Services Register (PSR), led by Northumbrian Water Group. NGN were involved in the pilot (phase 1) and continue to be involved in the national roll out (phase 2). We will keep partners / stakeholders updated.
Community Partnering Fund (shareholder fund)
Five community groups were awarded £10,000 each to deliver grass roots projects around energy efficiency, PSR and carbon monoxide awareness raising.
