OFREG invites views on its approach to fulfilling its statutory gas duties

Ofreg today published a consultation paper entitled “Ofreg’s regulation of the Northern Irish gas markets: principles and priorities”

The Northern Ireland gas industry is currently undergoing a period of major change and development. The purpose of this paper is to clarify Ofreg’s view of how it can best discharge its statutory duties on gas. The paper focuses on four major issues. It will not attempt to list all issues currently being worked on. Respondents will understand that there are many other work streams currently ongoing which are not mentioned in the paper because the purpose of the paper is not to set out detail.

This consultation seeks views on Ofreg’s approach to fulfilling its statutory gas duties, in particular on the prioritisation of work outlined in the paper and on the timetable and approach to Phoenix refinancing set out in Appendix 2 of that document

The paper isavailable on this page or paper copies are available from Sarah Brady, Ofreg, Queens House, 14 Queen Street, Belfast, BT1 6ER

Tel. 028 9031 1575, Fax 028 9031 1740.

Copies will be made available in large print, Braille, audio cassette and a variety of relevant minority languages if required.

Responses are required on or before Monday 28 August 2006 preferably by electronic mail to sarah brady@ofregni.gov.uk or by mail to sarah Brady at the above address.

Please indicate if your reply is confidential and therefore cannot be published.

Notes for Editors

1.OFREG (the Office for the Regulation of Electricity and Gas) supports the Northern Ireland Authority for Energy Regulation (NIAER) the regulator of the Electrcity and Gas industries in Northern Ireland. NIAER’s powers are derived from the Electricity (Northern Ireland) Order 1992, the Gas (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 both as amended by the Energy (Northern Ireland) Order 2003.

For further information contact Terry McErlane at Weber Shandwick Telephone 028 90761007 or 07770886911