The Utility Regulator today publishes a reminder to those currently engaged in electricity distribution that they will require a licence from 30 April 2013.
Previously, the only regulated activities of electricity distribution in Northern Ireland were those under Northern Ireland Electricity’s (NIE) Participation in Transmission licence (NIE Transmission & Distribution licence). This new requirement is a result of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment’s (DETI) consultation on the ‘Implementation of the EU Third Internal Energy Package’ which noted that the distribution of electricity should be a separate licensable activity in Northern Ireland due to the potential for new market entrants. In these circumstances, regulation of distribution under the NIE Transmission & Distribution licence would no longer be sufficient to ensure effective regulation in Northern Ireland.
This copy of a generic electricity distribution licence is for illustrative purposes only.
If you would like further information on an electricity distribution licence, please contact Albert Shaw on 028 9031 6322 or by albert.shaw@uregni.gov.uk .