The use of the national gas transmission network by multiple independent organisations generates large amounts of information which is processed and made available by different parties.
For example:
- Gas shippers need to confirm their supply points, make gas nominations.
- National Grid needs to know shippers' nominations, accepted On the Day Commodity Market (OCM) trades; measure gas flows and calculate daily imbalances.
- Each gas shipper needs to know National Grid's allocations and any information which concerns its own business, but should not be able to see other shippers' data.
To make this possible, National Grid developed a computer system for use by itself and the gas shippers. Known as UK Link, it is now operated and provided by National Grid and is used by shippers for many of their core functions.