Searching the ERA web site

This Help guide explains how to locate information on the Economic Regulation Authority web site. There are three main ways to do this, by using the Navigation Structure, the Quick Links or the Search Options.

For accessibility information, please see the Accessibility page.

Using the Navigation Structure

The ERA’s web site is set up to facilitate the easy location of information from the Primary and Secondary Navigation Bars. The Primary Navigation Bar is the grey horizontal bar located just below the ERA logo, the Secondary Navigation Bar is the horizontal bar at the top of the page, above the ERA logo in the Header area of the web page. These Navigation Bars are available on every page on the web site and all pages on the web site can be found by using them.

Information on this web site is structured into the Authority’s activity areas (Licensing, Third Party Access, Investigations etc) rather than industry areas (electricity, gas, rail etc). To find information on Electricity Licensing via the Navigation Bar, for example, you would select the "Licensing" option on the Primary Navigation Bar, then "Electricity Licensing" from the sub page link below. To find information on Electricity Access you would select the "Third Party Access" option from the Primary Navigation Bar, then "Electricity" from the sub page link below.

You may notice that after selecting a Primary Navigation Bar option a vertical Navigation Bar appears on the left hand side of the web page (directly under the Primary Navigation Bar). This vertical Navigation Bar contains all the sub links contained in the Primary Navigation Bar option you selected.

Using Quick Links

Quick Links allow you to browse on a single page all the links in particular industry sectors (electricity, gas, rail and water) and investigations. The Quick Links shortcuts can be found in the Header area of every page. In order to use Quick links, please follow the directions below:

• Click on the arrow located at the right hand side of the "Quick Links" box.
• Select one of the options from the drop down list.
• Click on the "Go" button to the right of the quick links box.

This will take you to a page containing links to all of the areas on the web site for the industry sector you have chosen.

Using the Search Options

There are two different types of search options on the web site; a Simple Site Search, which searches for page content and documents on the web site simultaneously, and the Document Library Search which searches documents content only.

Simple Site Search

The simple site search function can be accessed from the "Search" box in the Header area at the top of every page. This search enables you to search for page content and documents at the same time.

• If you are searching for a specific page or document title then enter the text with quotation marks around it (the search will then only look for the whole string of words together instead of individually).
• Click on the "Go" button to the right of the text box.
• The results page will list the pages that match your search criteria first, followed by the documents that match the criteria.

Simple Site Search - Advanced Search

This advanced search allows you to narrow down the search area of the simple site search to particular areas of the web site. The link to this search is located below the "search" box in the Header area)

• Select one or more of the checkboxes to limit the search results to that specific area.
• If you select one of the top level checkboxes then all of the sub section checkboxes will also be automatically selected.
• If you wish to search the whole web site select the "All Sections" checkbox.
• To de-select a checkbox just click on it again.

Document Library Search

The Document Library search function allows you to easily search for a particular type of document (ie Notice or Public Submission). This search can be accessed from the "Document Library" option in the Header area at the top of every page.

• Click on the arrow to the right of the "Document Library" box.
• Select one of the document types from the drop down list (eg Notices).
• Click on the "Go" button.
• The results page will display a list of all documents on the web site of the type you selected.
• You can refine your search further by using the "Advanced Search" options listed below the results pane.

Document Library Search - Advanced Search

The Document Library advanced search gives you additional options for your search criteria. This search function can be accessed from the "Advanced Document Search" link beneath the "Document Library" box in the Header area at the top of every page, or from below the results pane of a standard Document Library Search.

• The default setting for searches is to search all industry areas, all document category, all dates, and to search on document title.
• You can use the "Keywords" text box to enter all or part of the document title that you require. Use quotation marks around the text if you want the search to look for the whole phrase.
• You can narrow your search down by selecting a specific document category, industry sector, activity or licence as appropriate from the "Document Categories" section.
• You can also select specific Regulated Infrastructure and Operators, Assessments, Reports and Investigations as required from the "Grouped Categories" section.
• You can select the year of publication or a particular date range from the "Publish Date" section.

If you have any problems locating information on the ERA web site please let us know by completing the Online Contact form.