Doing Business with Premier Transmission Limited
Introduction
New Shipper Registration Process
Exit Point Registration
Downstream Load Statements
Establishment of a Required Level of Credit Support
Indicative Applications for Firm Capacity and Firm
Capacity Applications
Allocation Agreements - shared Exit Points only
PTL (Management) Obligations
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Introduction
Premier Transmission Limited (PTL) and Belfast Gas Transmission Limited (BGTL) are regulated by the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation. One of our principal aims is to maximise use of the Scotland to Northern Ireland Pipeline (SNIP) and Belfast Gas Transmission Pipeline (BGTP). To ensure open access to all, commercial arrangements between PTL/BGTL and its customers follow agreed rules laid down within the Premier Transmission Transportation Network Code and the Belfast Gas Transmission Network Code (also known as the Phoenix Transmission Network). These are multi-party transportation agreements which govern the contractual obligations and day-to-day operations of the pipeline and its clients.
Through its Transportation Agreement with Bord Gáis Éireann, Premier Transmission offers Shippers to Northern Ireland a seamless service between Moffat, on the Transco National Transmission System, through the Bord Gáis Éireann SW Scotland Pipeline to their exit point in Northern Ireland or Stranraer.
New Shipper Registration Process
Any party wishing to become a Shipper on the Scotland to Northern Ireland Pipeline will have to accede to the PTL Transportation Code.
For further information see Shipper Accession Agreement Section 2.
Any party wishing to become a Shipper on the Belfast Gas Transmission Pipeline will have to accede to the BGTL Transportation Code (PDF)
For further information see BGTL Shipper Accession Agreement
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Exit Point Registration
A new Shipper also makes an Exit Point Registration application simultaneously with its application to become a SNIP Shipper (it is a condition precedent of the PTL Accession Agreement). Currently there are four exit points on the Premier Transmission or Belfast Transmission systems: Stranraer, Ballylumford, Phoenix Exit Point No 1 (a virtual meter comprising Larne, Torytown, Lisburn and Knocknagoney), Phoenix Exit Point No 2 (for NW Pipeline distribution loads) and Phoenix Exit Point No 3 (for Coolkeeragh Power Station).
- The Exit Point Registration process applies to any existing Premier Transmission Shipper or applicant Shipper that wishes to register at an Exit Point not currently registered by that Shipper.
- For exit point line diagrams,
see Appendix 3 of the Transportation Code.
- Exit Point registration is not required under the BGTL Transportation Code as Capacity applications, Nominations and Allocations in respect of the BGTP are deemed to equate to that under the PTL Transportation Code.
Downstream Load Statements
A Shipper must provide Premier Transmission with an Exit Point Downstream Load Statement from the connected system operator or End User, before it is able to obtain an Exit Point Registration for that Exit Point. Downstream Load Statements are the connected system operator’s or End-User’s statement of the Maximum Daily Quantity at an Exit Point in each of the four defined load categories.
The Transportation Code recognises that it is increasingly difficult to accurately forecast the demand of energy users as the load size decreases. The Downstream Load Statement is used to calculate a tolerance, used in the calculation of any daily balancing charges (gas input less gas output) and scheduling charges (final nomination less final allocation), by applying different tolerances to each category of load. This way, for an Exit Point with multiple load types connected, a flow weighted average can be built up.
The statement may also used to determine priority should capacity need to be restricted on a day. To facilitate this, the categories of load are consistent with the Northern Ireland Network Emergency Co-ordinators Safety Case categories.
For an Exit Point with no previous Exit Point Registrations, a Shipper must provide Premier Transmission with an Exit Point Downstream Load Statement from the connected system operator or End User, before it is able to obtain an Exit Point Registration for that Exit Point.
Shippers must provide updates of the Downstream Load Statements to Premier Transmission Management as changes occur, in order to ensure that the most accurate tolerance is established and the appropriate priority is given to the load.
A Downstream Load Statement is not required under the BGTL Transportation Code as Balancing and Scheduling Charges in respect of the BGTP are managed under the PTL Transportation Code.
Relevant Areas of the Transportation Code
Shipper Actions
- Submit completed Exit Point Registration Application (Proforma 2), Moffat Agent Default Registration Form (Proforma 22), Emergency Contacts (Proforma 7) and Downstream Load Statement (Proforma 6) to PTL (Management).
Premier Transmission is obligated to:
- Respond to the Shipper's request within 20 business days
of receipt.
Establishment of a Required Level of Credit Support
A prospective Shipper shall request Premier Transmission to determine the Level of Credit Support required and the Shipper is required to provide an acceptable form of credit support (this is a condition precedent for accession to the PTL Transportation Code and the BGTL Transportation Code).
The minimum Credit Limit is set by reference to the Shipper’s estimate of the level of booked capacity and to the level of forecast energy volumes they intend to ship in the next twelve months. This is used to produce a forecast of both the Postalised Charges and Transportation Code charges to be incurred by the Shipper in the coming year. The Required Level of Credit Support is a value equal to 80% of the sum of these charges.
A Shipper may also, from time to time, wish to apply for an increase in their Credit Limit where the Shipper wishes to book more capacity or flow more gas than they initially estimated. The consequence of not having sufficient credit is that capacity booking, transfers and interruptible nominations can be curtailed by Premier Transmission.
Relevant Area of the Transportation Code
Shipper Actions
- Complete Minimum Credit Limit Application Form (Proforma 3) and forward to PTL (Management).
Premier Transmission is obligated to:
- Respond to the application within 10 business days.
Indicative Applications for Firm Capacity and Firm Capacity Applications
A Shipper, or prospective Shipper, wishing to book capacity may make an initial "Indicative Application" to Premier Transmission to discover whether there is sufficient available capacity to satisfy their requirements, before making a Firm Capacity Application.
This process does not give the Shipper or prospective Shipper any priority in booking capacity (except for within year capacity applications). It is designed to allow Premier Transmission to calculate the level of firm capacity required by Shippers or prospective Shippers and to determine the level of Available Firm Capacity that can be made available to Shippers.
Any Shipper wishing to book Firm or Interruptible Capacity or wishing to increase their level of Firm Capacity booking can apply to Premier Transmission.
Firm Capacity applications are dealt with separately, depending on whether or not they are for the current or future Gas Year. Assuming Firm Capacity is available, applications for an allocation of Firm Capacity in the same Gas Year are dealt with on a first come, first served basis.
Applications for an allocation of Firm Capacity in future Gas Years are permitted subject to sufficient capacity being available. Priority will be given to Shippers applying for Firm Capacity in the most number of Gas Years. To the extent that there is Available Firm Capacity but new applications exceed Available Firm Capacity, those Shippers indicating that they will accept an allocation of less than they had applied for and who apply for Firm Capacity in an equal number of Gas Years as another Shipper shall have their application met pro rata to the amounts of Firm capacity for which they have applied.
Relevant Area of the Transportation Code
Shipper Actions
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Submit a correctly completed Indicative Application for Firm Capacity (Proforma 14) to Premier Transmission Management.
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Submit a correctly completed Application for Firm Capacity (Proforma 12) to Premier Transmission Management.
Premier Transmission is obligated to:
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Respond to the Shipper request within 5 business days of receipt of Indicative Application for Firm Capacity.
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Issue a Firm Capacity Notice to each Shipper to which Available Firm Capacity has been allocated no later than 40 Business days after the Mid Year date, or other such time that Premier Transmission may agree with the Regulator.
Allocation Agreements - shared Exit Points only
An Allocation Agreement is an arrangement between Shippers that provides the basis of allocations of Measured Quantities at a shared Exit Point (see section 3.7 of Transportation Code). It requires the agreement of all Shippers registered at that Exit Point and, in the case Of Phoenix Exit Points 2 and 3, requires the prior approval of the connected system operator.
In the absence of an Allocation Agreement, Premier Transmission will apply a pro-rata default to all Nominations (see section 3.5 of Transportation Code) or Shippers can re-allocate between themselves after the day following (see section 3.6 of the Transportation Code.)
Allocation Agreements are not required under the BGTL Transportation Code as Allocations in respect of the BGTP are deemed to equate to that under the PTL Transportation Code.
Relevant Area of the Transportation Code
- Section 3.7 or in its absence 3.5 & 3.6.
Shipper Actions
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All Shippers involved jointly submit the correctly completed Allocation Agreement proforma (Proforma 21) to PTL (Management).
PTL is Obligated to:
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Respond to Shippers' request informing them whether or not the allocation arrangement has been accepted.
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Reflect the allocation agreement in the Gas Transportation Management and Billing System (GTMBS).
PTL (Management) Obligations
Once the relevant forms have been submitted, Premier Transmission will:
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Set up new Shipper and contract details on its GTMBS
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Provide the Shipper with a secure internet access to its GTMBS in order for it to make nominations and renominations and to receive allocations
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Provide the Shipper with training
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Issue the Shipper with the Shipper version of its Commercial Operating Procedures
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Comply with the Transportation Code procedures for accession, Exit Point Registration and capacity allocation