Utility Regulator and CER publish Retail Competition Consultation Papers

Today we are issuing, in collaboration with CER, two further consultation papers and an accompanying joint cover note from both Regulatory Authorities (RAs)

* Joint Utility Regulator and CER Consultation Proposal
* K-Factor Review
* Retail Tariff Structure Review

The papers are concerned with examining options for the methods that the RAs might adopt in the electricity supply sector as future policy approaches to moving towards enhancing competition in energy supply in NI and the RoI. In particular the papers are concerned with examining options in relation to the ways that we currently regulate the existing incumbent electricity supply companies in areas such as: regulated tariff structures, methods for allowing efficient cost recovery during and between tariff periods, the appropriate return to allow regulated supply companies bearing in mind the risks they bear, RAs approach to allowable supply costs, etc.

The workstreams covered above, together with other related work projects within the retail unit, for example the work on developing the necessary customer switching systems to facilitate fuller supply competition, are together evidence of the Utility Regulators desire to foster fuller competition where it is effective and efficient to do so.

Responses to these consultations should be sent by no later than 11 September 2009 to:

Barbara Cantley
Utility Regulator
Queens House
14 Queen Street
Belfast
BT1 6ER

Email: barbara.cantley@niaur.gov.uk