Regulator consults on extension to the firmus gas licence area

Published:

Consultation opened on . Closing date at 18:00.

Summary

The Utility Regulator, under Article 8(4) of the Gas (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 as amended, proposes to extend the licence area of firmus energy (Distribution) Limited. The proposed extenstion will lead to the construction of pipeline infrastructure to bring gas to the Bushmills area.

The proposed extension is part of a larger investment package, totalling around £8 million, for the firmus licence area. The elements of the proposed investment package are:

• £1.5 million investment to make gas available to the Old Bushmills Distillery, around 400 existing residential properties and a further 45 properties in Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) estates in the Bushmills area, and a number of small and medium-sized commercial entities;
• £2.2 million to extend the gas distribution network to connect to new industrial customers in Ballymena and Coleraine and make gas available to other properties along the proposed pipeline route; and
• £4.4 million to facilitate new connections proposed by the NIHE in its properties. This investment will be in associated mains, connections and meters that should supply in excess of 2,000 properties. 

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