Non-Standard Sites

What are Non-Standard Sites?

Non-Standard sites are unique gas sites that used to be maintained offline—but are now managed within UK Link.  

Non-Standard Sites are divided into these groups: 

• Shared Supply Meter Point (SSMP) sites – both National Transmission System (NTS) and Local Distribution Zone (LDZ) 
• Telemetered sites – NTS and LDZ 
• Optional tariffs – NTS Shorthaul and LDZ Shorthaul 
• Interconnector sites 
• Daily Metered Connected System Exit Point (DM CSEP) sites  
• Connected System Operator (CSO) sites 
• Twin stream (aggregated) sites 
• Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) sites 
• Independent Gas Transporter (iGT) CSEP sites 

Changes following the Central Switching Service (CSS)

The CSS launched on 18 July 2022.

View our training material below to find out what consequential changes there are to SPA processes.

View training material

Change of gas Shipper and/or Supplier 

When an end user switches Shipper or Supplier, the details need to be updated on our systems.

Following the implementation of the CSS, the majority of Shipper and Supplier switches will be requested by the Supplier through CSS systems. This will then update UK Link.

For non-CSS sites, the Nomination and Confirmation processes remain.

Non-Standard Sites will fall into either non-CSS or CSS sites. 

The sites that fall under non-CSS sites are: 

• Interconnectors
• National Transmission System (NTS) sites - including Capacity Discount
• NTS Connected System Operator (CSO) 
• LPG

The following sites can change between non-CSS and CSS as they are elected via the relevant confirmation process: 

• Local Distribution Zone (LDZ) shared supply meter points
• LDZ Supplier exempt sites

All other Non-Standard Sites not listed above will be classed as CSS sites. 

Email us at nonstandardsites@xoserve.com for more information on non-CSS to CSS/CSS to non-CSS processes.

Common tasks and processes 

Non-Standard Sites have specific processes to follow when completing tasks related to supply points and metering.  

These are explained for each site below. 

Shared Supply Meter Point (SSMP) sites 

All changes on SSMP sites need to follow the supply point administrations (SPA) process. Common changes include: 

• New Shippers 
• Leaving Shippers 
• Changes of Agent 
• Changes to and from LDZ Shorthaul 
• Changes in % share 

The administration of changes like these are automated for standard sites.   

On Non-Standard Sites like SSMPs, Shippers and/or Agents need to complete a template to start the SPA process. You must:  

1. Download the Shared Supply template   
2. Complete the template and email it to xoserveinterface@xoserveservices.com 

Read p23 of this document for more information on completing the template.  

What happens next? 

If your request is validated, each Shipper must send their confirmation using this CSS Template by email.  

If there’s no objection, Gemini will be updated and relevant files sent to all parties. Site changes will then go live on an agreed date.   

Shared Sites can’t make any changes, such as capacity referrals, without following the process outlined above.   

Telemetered sites – NTS and LDZ 

Telemetered sites use a variety of measuring equipment. 

They don’t send readings. Instead, energy values are sent directly to National Gas Transmission and this information is then sent to Gemini.  

All telemetered sites are held within – and invoiced through – UK Link. 

Any requests for contract changes from telemetered sites should follow the standard SPA processes outlined above. Use the relevant template to get started.  

Optional Tariffs – NTS Shorthaul and LDZ Shorthaul 

To ask for an Optional Tariff, or have it removed, follow the SPA process outlined above. Start your nomination by submitting a NOM file with a U70 record for NTS sites, or a U72 record for LDZ sites. 

To be eligible for Optional Tariffs: 

• NTS sites must be near an Entry Point (terminal) 
• LDZ sites must be close to the NTS pipeline 

Eligible sites can choose to take the following rates: 

• NTS sites can take NTS Optional Tariffs 
• LDZ sites can take NTS or LDZ Optional Tariffs 

Both charges are calculated based on the distance from the terminal or notional NTS Entry Point. 

Interconnector sites 

There are three interconnectors: 

• Bacton – ships gas to and from Belgium 
• Moffatt (IUK) – ships gas to Ireland and from Norway 
• BBL – ships gas to and from the Netherlands 

To register to an interconnector, you must complete the Interconnector Confirmation template.  

Interconnector requests don’t require a nomination, just a confirmation. There’s also no objection window. 

Choose the correct template from: 

• Confirmation process   
• Confirmation cancellation process   
• Withdrawal process   

Complete the template and email to nonstandardsites@xoserve.com.   

For more details on completing the template see p31 and 32 of this document.  

All interconnector sites are classed as telemetered in UK Link. 

Daily Metered Connected System Exit Point (DM CSEP) sites  

Sites located on an Independent Gas Transporter’s (iGT) Network are known as a CSEPs.  

They’re called DM CSEPs when the annual quantity of gas used is more than 58,600,000 kWh. Or when a site is an Interruptible Supply Point (DNI).  

Any requests related to these sites should follow the standard SPA processes shown above.

Connected System Operator (CSO) sites 

CSO sites are CSEP sites that operate under a different Transporter licence to an iGT.  

To set up a project on these sites, contact the Network. They’ll guide you through what’s required, including providing details of the project and creating an M Number.  

Twin stream (aggregated) sites 

A twin stream site has multiple meters attached to one Supply Meter Point. Each meter can have a convertor and daily read equipment (DRE/AMR) attached.   

Reads from each meter are received and stored as normal. The total volume and energy is then aggregated and stored in an ‘aggregate’ device.  

Twin stream assets can be configured and changed by:  

• asking Xoserve to investigate twin stream issues on existing sites. This includes when a twin stream meter isn’t reflected on UK Link 
• using RGMA flows from an ONUPD/ONJOB file  

Email nonstandardsites@xoserve.com to request these changes. 

Twin stream sites can be part of shared supply scenarios, telemetered and on Optional Tariffs.  

Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) sites 

LPG sites are part of small, independent systems serving communities not connected to the main gas system.  

There are independent systems in Scotland (Campbeltown, Oban, Thurso, Wick and Stornoway) and Wales (Llanfyllin and Llanwrtyd Wells). 

Independent Gas Transporter (IGT) (CSEP) sites 

IGT sites follow most of the processes for standard sites. The main difference is around site set-up.  

Find the right template

See which templates you need to request changes on SSMP and interconnector sites. 

Shipper and Agent templates for SSMP 

The table shows the templates and file formats required for SSMP sites.

Shipper templates for interconnectors 

The table shows the templates and file formats for interconnectors