Utility Regulator publishes energy retail competition work programme

The Utility Regulator publishes an overview document which reviews the rationale for a programme of regulatory intervention to address entry barriers and enable choice. It sets out evidence about current consumer expectations in Northern Ireland, about the current legal framework for retail competition, and about costs and benefits so far. It also draws together international evidence about costs and benefits, since retail competition is a reality (in theory or reality) in many jurisdictions in the EU and around the world.

If you wish to express a view on the specific questions or other matters raised in this paper, we would welcome your response by 12:00 noon on Wednesday 1st July. Responses should be addressed to:

Elena Ardines
Utility Regulator
Queens House
14 Queen Street
Belfast BT1 6ER
e-mail: elena.ardines@niaur.gov.uk

Individual respondents may ask for their responses, in whole or in part, not to be published, or that their identity should be withheld from public disclosure. Where either of these is the case, we will ask respondents to also supply us with the redacted version of the response that can be published.

As a public body and non-ministerial Government department, we are bound by the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) which came into full force and effect on 1 January 2005. According to the remit of the Freedom of Information Act, it is possible that certain recorded information contained in consultation responses can be put into the public domain. Hence, it is now possible that all responses made to consultations will be discoverable under FOIA – even if respondents ask the Utility Regulator to treat responses as confidential. It is therefore important that respondents note these developments and in particular, when marking responses as confidential or asking the Utility Regulator to treat responses as confidential, should specify why they consider the information in question to be confidential.

If you have any queries concerning the issues raised in this document, please contact:

Kevin Shiels
Utility Regulator
Queens House
14 Queen Street
Belfast BT1 6ER
Tel: 02890 311575
e-mail: Kevin.shiels@niaur.gov.uk