The Utility Regulator today publishes its Decision Paper on the Marketing Code of Practice (The Code) for regulated energy suppliers in Northern Ireland.
Compliance with the new code will be mandatory and a licence requirement for all regulated electricity and gas suppliers in Northern Ireland. The Code will become effective on the 19th June, 3 months from the date of publication of this decision paper. All energy suppliers must be compliant with the Code by this date.
The Code has come as a direct result of the implementation of the EU’s Third Package of energy market Directives (IME3). One particular Directive modification required suppliers to comply with a Marketing Code of Practice which is a mandatory code prepared (and published from time to time) by the Utility Regulator. This decision sees the first publication of that Code.
The Code was the subject of a first round of consultation in February 2013. This was followed by direct engagement with stakeholders through a workshop as well as a number of individual bilateral meetings (both pre and post the first consultation closing). The first consultation closed in May 2013. There was significant detailed written feedback to this consultation received from stakeholders. All feedback was taken into consideration in the production of the second draft code and consultation which was published in October 2013 and closed on 20th December 2014. This included the separation of the Code into two for domestic and business customers. The UR received 6 responses to this second consultation.
A paper copy of the decision paper can be obtained from:
Nicola Sweeney
The Utility Regulator
Queens House
14 Queen Street
Belfast
BT1 6ED
E-mail: nicola.sweeney@uregni.gov.uk
Tel: 028 9031 6622
Copies of the document will be made available in a range of accessible formats on request.