Consultation published on licence modifications to introduce a new Code of Practice for Consumers in Vulnerable Circumstances

The Utility Regulator has published a consultation on modifications to NIE Network’s distribution licence, all gas distribution licences, NI Water’s licence and all electricity and gas supply licences. A new licence condition is required to implement the Code of Practice (CoP) for Consumers in Vulnerable Circumstances. 

These licence modifications follow on from a previous consultation and the publication of our Best Practice Framework decision paper on the introduction of the new CoP. 

The objective of the new CoP is to better identify, support and protect consumers in vulnerable circumstances. 

In addition, as part of our ongoing commitment to being a best practice regulator, the relevance of NI Water’s licence conditions continue to be reviewed in conjunction with the company. Through this ongoing process, we have identified some non-contentious licence modifications (in addition to the best practice framework changes) that could be made to help reduce the regulatory burden and better align the licence with current regulatory processes and requirements. These are highlighted within the relevant consultation papers. 

The relevant Notices are being published for consultation to introduce the new licence conditions to implement the new Code of Practice for Consumers in Vulnerable Circumstances: 

• Notice under Article 14(2) of the Electricity (Northern Ireland) Order 1992; 
• Notice under Article 14(2) of the Gas (Northern Ireland) Order 1996; and 
• Notice under Article 20(2) of the Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006. 

This licence condition applies to NIE Network’s distribution licence, all gas conveyance (distribution) licences, NI Water’s licence and all electricity and gas supply licences.

• Copies of all documents will be made available in large print, Braille, audio cassette and a variety of relevant minority languages if required.
• 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 (FOIA), 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 consultation, including personal information, may be subject to publication or disclosure in accordance with the access to information regimes (these are primarily the FOIA and the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA)).
• 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.