Following analysis of responses to our call for evidence in relation to our review of the Northern Ireland Sustainable Energy Programme (NISEP), and in order to ensure continued support for energy efficiency measures pending the outcome of the review, we have agreed to extend NISEP for a further two years until March 2022. The amount of funding will remain the same as in previous years, as will the method of collection.
The results from the call for evidence will be published along with the review discussion paper, which is due to be published later this year.
All companies licensed by the Utility Regulator in Northern Ireland, as well as other organisations that meet the required criteria and have been approved as a Primary Bidder for NISEP 20/21, are eligible to bid for funds from the NISEP. A call for schemes in respect of the 2020-21 NISEP year will issue in September 2019. Successful schemes will be implemented between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021.
Any organisations that are interested in submitting schemes but have not yet registered to become a Primary Bidder should contact EST (028 9072 6006) as soon as possible to begin the registration process which can take as long as two months to complete.
The current criteria to become a Primary Bidder is set out in section 1.4 of the NISEP Framework Document, however, please note, the criteria to become a Primary Bidder and maintain Primary Bidder status is subject to change and will be published in the 2020/2021 NISEP Framework Document.