There are lots of data sets that local authorities can use to evidence their policies and projects and not all of them are well known or in regular use.
Coventry City Council has been working to access data that can support key activities that local authorities are working on. In this case it is all of the data associated with the gas network in the UK.
This survey is designed to understand the level of demand for such data. If there is sufficient interest, the work can be developed further.
The data and the organisations
Xoserve operate the national Gas Enquiry Service (GES). They manage all of the data associated with the gas network in the UK.
The Retail Energy Code Company (RECCo) commission and regulate the services offered via the Gas Enquiry Service.
Correla typically deliver the services (on behalf of Xoserve).
Coventry City Council has been working with Xoserve, RECCo and Correla to pilot the potential for developing specific services, via the GES, that support key activities that local authorities are involved in. As a result, local authorities have successfully been added as a specified “Data User” on the GES and this opens up the opportunity to access GES services.
Local authorities are less engaged with the activities of RECCo and not fluent in the technical language of the gas industry as most GES Data Users are. Also local authorities’ interests are related more to the location of the gas usage whilst the majority of GES Data Users interests’ are specific to assets they own or operate. As such the existing GES services are not really suited to be used by local authorities. We are therefore now exploring the potential for developing bespoke services that local authorities could access via the GES.
Coventry City Council have identified three examples of how the data can be used by local authorities. These have been approved in principle by RECCo for consideration for development. The next stage is for RECCo to understand the level of demand there is for these use cases to determine whether or not to develop them further.
Therefore, we are undertaking this survey to gather insight into the level of interest in the local authority sector. The three examples are as follows:
- Local Energy Strategy Data Service
- Fuel Poverty / Affordable Warmth Data Service
- Heat Network Zoning Data
In all three cases noted below, the key point for local authorities is that gas data is provided against a UPRN (Unique Property Reference Number) meaning it can be correlated against any other data set that also uses a UPRN. The same is true for any future use with access to a UPRN.
We are now seeking your views to understand the level of demand and relevance of each of these services to Local Authorities. Your feedback will help determine whether these services should be developed further.
