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The
Director General of Electricity Supply (DGES) outlines the next
steps towards increasing competition in the N.I. electricity
market
04
March 2003
Electricity
Regulator, Douglas McIldoon, today published a paper outlining the next
steps in relation to increasing competition in Northern Ireland’s
electricity market.
In a period
of increasing costs for the business community it is essential that
further steps are taken immediately to drive down electricity costs.
With the imminent arrival of more efficient generation capacity this
is the right time to press ahead with generation competition.
Commenting
Douglas McIldoon said:
"Care
must be taken to design a liberalised market that not only works to
put pressure on prices but also integrates the public policy objectives
of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and fuel poverty. As well as freeing
energy producers, suppliers and customers to trade more freely, customers
must be informed and empowered so that the market works for them.
It is particularly
important that we ensure that the liberalised market does not increase
pollution. Therefore it must be Combined Heat and Power and renewable
friendly and not exclusively fossil fuel focussed.
We must
also seek to reduce the cost of electricity generation by ensuring that
all generators are able to fully tap their potential".
The paper
stresses that an island-wide electricity market will only be in the
interests of customers here if it produces on a long-term basis even
lower cost cleaner energy than Northern Ireland can produce on its own.
OFREG will be exploring this area fully with its counterparts in the
Republic of Ireland over the next two years as the proposals contained
in today’s paper are implemented.
The
paper "Competition and Customer Empowerment: The next steps
in the Northern Ireland Electricity market" is available
by clicking HERE
or alternatively a paper copy may be obtained from Ofreg, Brookmount
Buildings, 42 Fountain St, Belfast BT1 5EE, Tel: 028 9031 1575,
Fax: 028 9031 1740.
Comments
on issues contained in the paper should be sent to Orla Mullan
at Ofreg, Brookmount Buildings, 42 Fountain Street, Belfast,
BT1 5EE or FAX 028 9031 1740 or (email orla.mullan@ofregni.gov.uk)
by 30 April 2003
Copies
will be made available in large print, Braille, audio cassette and a
variety of relevant minority languages if required.
Replies
will only be treated as confidential if the respondee clearly indicates
that they should be so treated
Notes
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