Call for Information on future gas distribution and transmission price controls in Northern Ireland

This Call for Information asks for views from stakeholders on our future gas distribution and transmission price controls in Northern Ireland. It is intended that this Call for Information will act as a pre-curser to better inform future price control processes.

We are planning our future gas network price controls - GT27 for gas transmission and GD29 for gas distribution. These price controls are likely to run into the early-to-mid-2030s. The development of the frameworks for gas transmission and distribution network price controls takes time. We are conscious that these future price controls may cover an important period of change as decarbonisation unfolds.

The intent of this Call for Information is not to make decisions, or pre-empt decisions made by others which are outside of our control (e.g. Government policy). It is to begin to develop a picture of how energy transition issues may affect our price controls; and to ensure that our price controls can further the consumer interest whilst working coherently alongside wider developments which may take place.

Considering the potential issues affecting the future development of our gas networks, we want to ensure that we take proper account of the relevant strategic challenges and opportunities that lie ahead at an early point in the price control process.

We welcome feedback on the issues outlined in the paper and any other relevant concerns, emphasising their commitment to protecting consumer interests while adapting to future changes. 

We intend to host an online stakeholder event on 24 June at 11:00am that is aimed at providing a high-level overview of the Call for Information and to answer any initial questions. 

To register your interest in attending the online stakeholder event please respond by email to Gas_networks_responses@uregni.gov.uk by 5:00pm Friday 20 June.

Additional information 

• Your response may be made public by the Utility Regulator. If you do not want all or part of your response or name made public, please state this clearly in the response by marking your response as ‘CONFIDENTIAL.’
• If you want other information that you provide to be treated as confidential, please be aware that, under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, there is a statutory Code of Practice with which public authorities must comply and which deals, amongst other things, with obligations of confidence. In view of this, it would be helpful if you could explain to us why you regard the information you have provided as confidential.
• Information provided in response to this consultation, including personal information, may be subject to publication or disclosure in accordance with the access to information regimes (these are primarily the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Data Protection Act 2018.
• As stated in the GDPR Privacy Statement for consumers and stakeholders, any personal data contained within your response will be deleted once the matter being consulted on has been concluded, though the substance of the response may be retained. 
• Copies of all documents can be made available in large print, Braille, audio cassette and a variety of relevant minority languages if required.

Ways to respond