Today we are launching a consultation to amend the licence fee methodology to introduce an annual fee of £2,000 for gas storage (to increase annually with the Retail Price Index ). There is currenly only one gas storage licensee – Islandmagee Energy Limited. This fee would similarly apply to any future gas storage licensees. We anticipate the introduction of this fee to apply from 1 April 2022 onwards.
Licensed utility companies in Northern Ireland are required to pay an annual fee under the terms of their licence. The actual mechanism by which such a fee is determined, is as outlined in our licence fee methodologies, the latest version of which was published in September 2016.
In relation to gas licensees, the 2016 methodology allows for licence fees for supply and conveyances licences, but not for storage licences.
The consultation closes on 27 May at 4 p.m. and responses should be sent to Gas_networks_responses@uregni.gov.uk with cc to ruairi.mccann@uregni.gov.uk. We have also published this consultation on the CitizenSpace online portal.