Level 1 in the supply of gas – no reduction in delivery to industrial customers

Photo of the article In connection with the stable situation in the field of gas transmission, the Gas Transmission Operator GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. has announced level 1 in the supply of natural gas from 10.00 a.m. until 10.00 p.m. on 8 January 2009.

Level 1 signifies that gas can be off-taken by customers according to the planned level, as agreed in the contract, and this does not involve any reduction in the supply of gas.
 On 7 January 2009, the regulation of the Council of Ministers on the introduction of restrictions within the territory of the Republic of Poland in the off-take of natural gas for certain customers” entered into force.
These restrictions are only applicable to industrial customers listed in the restriction implementation plans approved by the President of the Energy Regulatory Office.
The introduced level of restrictions announced by the National Gas Dispatching Division of GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. will depend on a situation analysis in the scope of the imported gas supply, the level of consumption of gas reserves stored in Underground Gas Storage facilities as well as the current demand of customers.
Information on the binding levels of supply shall be provided via announcements broadcast by Program I of Polskie Radio at approx. 8.00 a.m. and 8 p.m. and shall be posted on the Company website: www.gaz-system.pl
The gas supply levels shall be announced on a scale of 1 to 10. At present, GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. is planning to announce level 1 in the supply of gas from 10 p.m. on 8 January 2009, until 10 a.m. on 9 January 2009, which shall not cause a reduction in the off-take of gas by industrial customers. 
Actual restrictions in the off-take of gas are implemented by customers once a gas supply level ranging from 2 to 10 has been announced. The higher the level of supply, the less gas can be off-taken by industrial customers encompassed by the statutory restrictions.
The purpose of the possible introduction of statutory restrictions is to guarantee the security of gas system operations (transmission and distribution) and protect municipal and residential customers (e.g. domestic customers, schools, hospitals, as well as power plants providing electricity and heating to domestic customers).