Network Resilience

• Resilience and emergency planning groups

  We facilitate emergency planning through member-only groups, the Resilience and Emergency Coordination Group (RECG) and the Emergency Planning Managers’ Forum (EPMF), where resilience and emergency planning initiatives are continually improved to provide you with a reliable energy service during both normal and emergency conditions.

  Our members also facilitate various temporary sub-groups that are dedicated to maintaining and improving network resilience and response to network emergencies, including the network's Climate Change Resilience Working Group (CCRWG).

• Climate Change Adaptation Reporting Group

  The Climate Change Resilience Working Group (CCRWG) aims to establish standards, measures and processes to mitigate the impact of climate change on the network.

  The Climate Change Adaptation Reporting Group is a sub-group under the CCRWG that develops an adaptation report approximately every five years to highlight the mitigation progress of energy network operators against the short and long-term effects of climate change. The report highlights current network strategies and adaptation to growing risks to ensure effective resilience of the energy system.

  You can find the most recent reports here

• NEWSAC Mutual Aid

  The NEWSAC (North East South West Area Consortium) agreement details the application and co-ordination of mutual aid between network operators in the United Kingdom, Ireland and the Isle of Man during and after network electricity supply emergencies, for example major storms.

  Mutual aid includes the transfer of field resources and supplies between network operators in the United Kingdom, Ireland and the Isle of Man (including National Grid).

  The agreement is subject to reviews at NEWSAC meetings convened in the spring and autumn. The spring meeting considers any learning points from winter events and the autumn meeting is an opportunity to prepare for the winter ahead.

• National security risk assessment documents

  Companies are responsible for the safety and security of the electricity distribution network. If distribution plant and equipment are damaged or disrupted by natural hazard event or technical failure, it is the companies’ responsibility to restore supplies and carry out repairs as quickly and safely as possible.

  The National Security Risk Assessments detail the risk of these hazards, the likely impacts, and the planning and mitigation done to reduce these impacts. They are subject to annual updates and are reviewed following a severe event.

• Communication plans

  We oversee a number of documents especially related to communication with customers, government and industry regulators. Communication plans are critical to combating national and regional emergency incidents. They are important to the integrity of the networks and deliver robust business continuity and network resilience planning. These plans are key to providing guidance and procedures to enable network operators fast, coordinated and consistent messaging internally and externally regarding energy emergencies.

• National Energy Shortage Planning

  Rota Load Disconnection (RLD)

  In a national energy shortage there could be a need to reduce the amount of electricity being used. Power cuts because of an energy shortage are very rare and are only used when other less disruptive steps taken by the industry have not been able to ensure there is enough electricity to meet demand. They are designed to protect the electricity system from long-term damage.

   

  The electricity system in Great Britain is sectioned into blocks that can be temporarily switched on and off, typically for three-hour periods, until a shortage is resolved, and the network can safely go back to normal. A timetable would be made available indicating when each block letter will be switched off.

   

  Electricity Supply Emergency Code (ESEC)

  The ESEC contains the prescribed actions which the UK Government shall take in a prolonged national energy shortage scenario. In the event of an emergency, ESEC enables an equal distribution of electricity supply to customers as far as reasonably practicable, whilst ensuring that pre-designated Protected Sites maintain supplies for as long as possible.

  The actions within the ESEC are not meant for use in sudden shortfalls in generation, or to deal with day-to-day repair and recovery of faulty or damaged parts of the transmission and distribution networks. Such matters are handled by the system operator and network operators using powers available to them in the Grid Code and/or in company emergency recovery plans.

   

  Demand Control Rotation Protocol (DCRP)

  DCRP is a protocol under Operating Code No.6 (OC6) of the Gride Code that enables the National Energy System Operator (NESO) to instruct DNOs to reduce Demand on the National Electricity Transmission System to either avoid or relieve operational issues on the network in energy shortage scenarios.

  DCRP is a tool that can be used in a shorter timeframe than ESEC where there is not enough supply to meet demand. It is designed to be used at short notice and is more flexible than ESEC.

Other Industry and stakeholder engagement

Engagement with interested parties plays an important role in enabling the ENA to support our members in maintaining resilient networks. We work closely with the government through the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) Energy Emergencies Executive Committee (E3C) and its sub-groups to review and develop resilience planning and application.

E3C is made up of representatives from across industry and government including DESNZ, Ofgem, the National Energy System Operator (NESO), electricity distribution and transmission network operators, generators and suppliers, and gas distribution network operators.

We support the E3C by providing the secretariat for the Electricity Task Group (ETG), Strategic Telecommunications Task Group (STTG), Security Task Group (STG), Cyber Security Task Group (E3CC) and Communications Task Group (CTG).