Consultation on Short Term Vacant Premises Market Change (Request 1178)

The Utility Regulator is issuing a consultation paper to seek views on a proposed solution for how electricity suppliers and NIE Networks treat premises that are deemed vacant for a short period of time.

In line with the Market Registration Code (MRC) Change Control Procedure, we have been asked by the Central Design Authority (CDA) to approve (or otherwise) Market Change Request 1178 (MCR1178).

MCR1178 is a market change request that offers a solution for categorising and monitoring premises in Northern Ireland which are deemed vacant. When a customer moves out of a premises or a premises is deemed vacant via a different method, a six-month monitoring period will begin that can result in de-energisation of the premises if no consumption is recorded during this time.

This MCR is being consulted on as the changes could affect multiple stakeholders regarding the categorisation of vacant premises and subsequent de-energisation, if that is deemed necessary.

MCR1178 could potentially impact a variety of stakeholders involved in the supply and consumption of electricity in Northern Ireland. 

It is important that views from all stakeholders in relation to this Change Request are considered by us prior to a decision being made.

Further 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 consultation, 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. 

Ways to respond