Utilities Panel

The Utilities Technical Panel is made up of a group of Pipeline Industry experts with experience in the manufacture, operation, maintenance, design, construction, commissioning, decommissioning and health, safety, security and environmental aspects of utility pipeline engineering. Its members include practitioners, managers, legal representatives and consultants. The primary roles of the forum are as follows:

- To act as a focal point for technical issues related to utility pipelines on behalf of Guild Members and help in communicating on these to members (by e-mail and on the Guild’s website, by giving presentations at conferences and seminars and by arranging appropriate technical visits for Guild members)

- To maintain a matrix showing the network of expertise available to the Panel

- To meet on a regular basis and discuss current areas of concern to members (e.g. standard of installation on new developments, renovation of existing asset base, introduction of competition, the debate on the development of a national grid for water, foreign ownership of water assets, etc)

- To propose solutions to technical questions and issues both for individual members and for the Guild’s Board

- To provide information to allow lobbying of appropriate bodies on any utility pipeline-related issues

- To liaise with the Utilities and Offshore Panels on areas of common interest and to invite their representatives to attend the Onshore Panel

- To propose topics and assist with the organisation of annual Technical Forums on subjects of key interest to Guild Members

- To consider recent incidents from around the world and to assess whether the UK utility pipeline industry is taking sufficient precautions to prevent similar occurrences and to prevent damage – the most urgent of these is still the matter of establishing a central data reference system for all underground pipelines, cables and equipment (such as that being proposed by NUAG)

- To consider any forthcoming changes to legislation and standards and how that may impact on members e.g. the TMA

- To review presentations from external experts such as the Health & Safety Executive on possible future issues or areas of interest with a view to their inclusion in future Technical Forums.

- Representation on behalf of the Pipeline Industries Guild: VISTA, NUAG, Private Sewers Forum