Overall Standards of Performance for Gas

Pursuant to Section 4, subsection (2)(b) of the Energy Act (Northern Ireland) 2011, the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation (the Authority) hereby gives notice as follows:

1. It proposes, in accordance with Section 3 of the Energy Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 to introduce standards of overall performance in connection with the provision of gas supply services by gas suppliers and in connection with the activities of gas conveyors as, in the Authority’s opinion, ought to be achieved by them .  There are 11 proposed standards in total.

2. Following the consultation by the Authority on guaranteed standards of service dated 25 October 2013, details of the overall standards and associated targets that the Authority feels ought to be achieved by gas conveyors and suppliers can be found here. These were also outlined in the Guaranteed Service Standards in Gas: Final Proposals Paper.

3. These standards will help protect the interests of consumers of gas and improve the performance of gas conveyors and suppliers, through the setting of benchmarks for levels of service as ought to be achieved by gas companies in Northern Ireland. The Authority further considers that the determination of these proposed overall standards of performance is an appropriate course of action for it to take as it is in keeping with its principal statutory objective to promote the development and maintenance of an efficient, economic and co-ordinated gas industry in Northern Ireland.