Clause 39
Energy Bill
1:45 pm
Malcolm Wicks (Minister of State (Energy), Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform; Croydon North, Labour)
This clause allows smooth implementation of a reformed RO in Northern Ireland to allow us to achieve our preferred option of a unified approach to the RO across the UK. First, subsection (1) allows the authority, Ofgem, to carry out work in administering the RO on behalf of its opposite number in Northern Ireland, Ofreg. This is the arrangement at present, which works well. The amendments made by this clause ensure that the authority can continue to act on behalf of the Northern Ireland authority even if articles 52 to 55 are amended by an order under article 56 of the Energy (Northern Ireland) Order 2003.
Secondly, the clause ensures that there are no unnecessary legislative barriers to implementing the reforms in Northern Ireland. The provisions in subsection (2) ensure that the Northern Ireland authorities can pass an order under article 56 to take account of the amendments in this legislation as well as the original sections of the Electricity Act 1989. It will enable the operation of a UK-wide RO regime. While it maintains the requirement to consult in the Province, the clause allows that consultation to be done in advance of the article 56 order, thus allowing timely implementation of reforms.