Call for Evidence - Electricity Connection Policy Framework Review

Energy markets are evolving as we transition to a low carbon economy. The Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 and the NI Executive’s Energy Strategy set out ambitious climate reduction targets that will change both the supply and demand of electricity across Northern Ireland.

The current connection policy framework has helped meet renewable targets while keeping costs down for consumers. However, with new carbon reduction targets and developments within the electricity system as a whole, alongside the Department for the Economy, we are conducting a review of the connection framework to ensure it continues to serve the needs of all consumers.

Getting connected efficiently and at a fair price is important for domestic consumers, businesses and renewable generators alike.

This call for evidence represents the first step of our electricity connections policy framework review. We are seeking stakeholder evidence to assess potential changes to the current connections policy framework in NI and and the costs and benefits of those potential changes.

One aspect of this call for evidence identifies a range of options, including the potential to move to a policy framework that would place a greater proportion of connection costs on business and domestic consumers via their electricity bills. This would mean a lower proportion of connection costs are paid by the connecting party.

Responses to this consultation can also be made via Citizen Space.

Additional information:

• Your response may be made public by the Utility Regulator. If you do not want all or part of your response or name made public, please state this clearly in the response by marking your response as ‘CONFIDENTIAL’.
• If you want other information that you provide to be treated as confidential, please be aware that, under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, there is a statutory Code of Practice with which public authorities must comply and which deals, amongst other things, with obligations of confidence. In view of this, it would be helpful if you could explain to us why you regard the information you have provided as confidential.
• Information provided in response to this Call for Evidence, including personal information, may be subject to publication or disclosure in accordance with the access to information regimes (these are primarily the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Data Protection Act 2018.
• As stated in the GDPR  Privacy Statement for consumers and stakeholders, any personal data contained within your response will be deleted once the matter being consulted on has been concluded though the substance of the response may be retained. 
• Copies of all documents will be made available in large print, Braille, audio cassette and a variety of relevant minority languages if required.