Project Nexus has been given a new live date of the 1st of June 2017 following previous delays.
Project Nexus is the name given to the planned upgrade of the UK's existing gas network. Initially scheduled to go live in October 2015 the scheme has suffered numerous delays and has now been given a new launch date of the 1st of June 2017.
The current central gas system, UKLink has been subject to a large number of modifications over the years and the industry decided that the overall network was in need of a full upgrade. UKLink was not completely compatible with new technology such as smart metering, nor did it have the capacity for improved switching; as a result a set of Business Requirement Documents were produced.
The existing systems are managed by Xoserve who were given £90m by Ofgem to secure an alternative; SAP (ISU R6) was eventually chosen as that alternative.
Independent Gas Transporters (IGTs) will be required to use central systems, previously operating independently, making the management of sites much more complicated and expensive. The use of a centralised network should enable IGT's to provide a higher level of support to its customers.
Under the new system, Xoserve will also validate any reads submitted to them so they are eligible for any subsequent processes, providing improved market protection.
In addition, four new customer classes will be created which are as follows:
- Class 1 is compulsory for daily metered mandatory sites
- Class 2 is specific to voluntary and elective daily metered sites
- Class 3 is a new class which covers daily reads which are sent periodically. I.E. sent in bulk weekly or monthly.
- Class 4 is a mirror for current non-daily metered sites I.E. annual and monthly reads.
As well as the new launch date, Ofgem have also issued a one month contingency plan which would move the launch date of Project Nexus to the 1st of July 2017 if triggered. If you would like to be kept up-to-date on development in regards to Project Nexus follow us on Twitter and Facebook.