Today, the Utility Regulator has published a Cost and Performance Report for gas transmission services in Northern Ireland.
This report, covering the period from October 2017 – September 2020, provides our assessment of the gas transmission system operators (TSOs) and the Gas Market Operator (GMO) for Northern Ireland’s performance during the first three years of our price control, GT17. We regulate the revenue that gas TSOs and the GMO for Northern Ireland receive through price controls, which identifies their expected levels of expenditure. The current price control, GT17, runs for five years from October 2017 to September 2022.
We use information returns and the Cost and Performance Report to account for delivery against the price control. In overall terms, the first three years of GT17 can be considered successful. Key points include:
- Both TSO’s and the GMO are delivering for less spend than allowed in GT17.
- The newly implemented GMO has been effective and delivered cost savings.
- Regulatory Instructions and Guidance (RIGs) reporting has commenced and has been useful in providing clarity on costs and outputs.
- Mutual Energy Limited (MEL) has made good progress against its scheduled projects as well as undertaking some unscheduled work.
- Gas Network Ireland (UK) (GNI UK) has experienced some problems in relation to asset replacement schemes, however COVID has impacted on project delivery.
The supporting guidance documents and cost tables can be accessed here.