Information relating to gas connections (ICPs) and gas consumption is routinely exchanged between gas market participants for a variety of reasons. Files are also exchanged between central IT systems such as the gas registry and gas allocation system as part of the orderly functioning of the gas market.
Specifying and standardising the format for information exchange creates efficiencies and allows participants to automate the production, transmission and receipt of information.
In 2010, Gas Industry Co appointed the Information Exchange File Formats Working Group (IEFFWG) to create file formats required under governance arrangements, propose changes to existing file formats and develop further protocols for exchanges of information between industry participants. There are currently four GIEPs, which can be found below.
While the file formats are not mandated under any regulatory arrangements, they are provided as a guideline, in order to support improvement of industry practices.
For more information, visit the Gas Information Exchange Protocols (GIEPs) work programme.
Consultation: 2025
On 13 May 2025, the consultation opened on the introduction of addition GIEPs and the review of existing GIEPs.
Some of the proposed GIEPs relate to gas industry developments, while others relate to areas where additional Electricity Information Exchange Protocols (EIEPs) have been developed, the equivalent of which in the gas industry may enhance the efficiency of gas industry processes.
The proposed GIEPs are in are in response to the following gas industry developments:
- Advanced gas meters
- Gas Consumer Care Guidelines
- Use of system agreements (UoSAs) between distributors and retailers
- Further alignment with Electricity Information Exchange Protocols
The consultation paper is available below and on the Gas Information Exchange Protocols (GIEPs) Developing work programme page.
Submissions should be forwarded to Gas Industry Co Consultations by 5.00pm on Friday 13 June 2025.