Introduction to the NEDeRS Scheme

All the DNOs (Distribution Network Operators) in the UK as well as National Grid, several utility service providers and industrial users participate in the National Equipment Defect Reporting Scheme (NEDeRS). The NEDeRS scheme is open to asset owners and network operators but not manufacturers. It is controlled and administered by the Energy Networks Association to coordinate safety and reliability information.

Brief Description of the Scheme

The scheme enables subscribers to share their UK and Continental manufactured plant problems through an automated web-based system. The DNOs make up the full members - remaining subscribers are affiliate-members. Having subscribed to the scheme user logins are issued and users are emailed incident information when new incidents (DIN, SOP or NEDeR) are issued. Members can log on via the web and carry out powerful historic searches by numerous criteria including plant type and manufacturer. The system contains photographs, diagrams, associated documentation and contact numbers for the majority of the plant items registered within each incident submission.

Definitions (from ENA ER G28/4: NEDeRS^® - Notes of Guidance)

• Dangerous Incident Notification (DIN) - A dangerous incident is one where the incident resulted or could have resulted in a fatality or serious injury.
• Suspension of Operational Practice (SOP) - A notification of a suspension /change in some operational practice or procedure with an item of plant very often subsequent to a DIN.
• National Equipment Defect Report (NEDeR) - A notification of a design or manufacturing defect with an item of plant.
• Defect - A plant defect, which could have gone on to become a DIN or NEDER but is identified before it causes an incident. Defect incidents are not distributed by email but are returned in online searches.

Benefits

• An aid to staff safety.
• Provides important reliability and maintenance related information.
• Removes delays in receiving notification of potential problems thus saving money, customer outage and production time.
• Access to the system knowledge base, which includes: equipment, contact details, pictures and schematic views of the plant.
• Powerful, flexible report generation facilities.
• Fast, secure access via a high speed dedicated web server.
• Full functionality to any authorised user with Internet access from any location.

Contact

For subscription enquiries or further information, please contact Bernard Pentecost (e. bernard.pentecost@energynetworks.org | t. 020 7706 5100).