Combined consultation on licence modification for 'Provision of Information'

This combined consultation represents a further consultation on the Provision of Information (POI) licence modifications. Having listened to respondents’ concerns raised and taken their views into account, we have decided to have a further consultation combining all relevant effected licences. This combined consultation seeks to provide (where possible) more information to help alleviate respondents concerns and expectations.

In late 2024, we brought forward two separate licence modification consultations on the ‘Provision of Information’ licence condition.

This first consultation ‘Notice and consultation on licence modification for ‘Provision of Information’, related to electricity and gas supply licences only and closed on 18 November 2024.  The second consultation ‘Additional Notice and Consultation on licence modification for Provision of Information (excluding Supply Licences)’ closed on 7 January 2025 and related to gas conveyance, electricity transmission, distribution, and interconnector licences together with the SEM Operator licence.

The current 'Provision of Information to the Authority' licence condition effectively provides that we may not request information from the licence holder for the purposes of the exercise of its functions under Article 7 of the Energy (Northern Ireland) Order 2003. 

Article 7 of the Energy Order provides that where it appears to us that the publication of any advice and information would promote the interests of consumers, we may publish that advice and information in such manner as we see fit. 

The purpose of these proposed licence modifications is to resolve the tension between the POI licence condition and Article 7 of the Energy (Northern Ireland) Order 2003. This licence change will support the maintenance and ongoing development of key publications that provide valuable insights for consumers and stakeholders in the Northern Ireland energy market.

Having listened to respondents’ concerns raised in the two 2024 consultations and taken their views into account, we have decided to have a further consultation combining all relevant effected licences.

Our preference is that responses are submitted by email to: REMM.Reporting@uregni.gov.uk

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