Committee for the Economy

Committee stage - Utility Regulator (Support for Decarbonisation Preparation) Bill

The Utility Regulator (Support for Decarbonisation Preparation) Bill was introduced by the Minister for the Economy on 20 April 2026.  The Bill completed its Second Stage on 28 April 2026.

The purpose of the Bill is to enable the Utility Regulator to support the Department in developing policies essential to the decarbonisation of the electricity and gas sectors, and support delivery of The Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 objectives.

 Further information on the Bill can be found by following the links below:

• Read the Bill as introduced
• Read the Bill's Explanatory and Financial Memorandum

As part of the Assembly’s legislative processes, the Utility Regulator (Support for Decarbonisation Preparation) Bill has been referred to the Assembly’s Committee for the Economy so that the Committee can consider and take evidence on the Bill and report its opinion to the Assembly.

Call for Evidence

As part of the Committee Stage, the Committee sought views from stakeholders on the objectives, proposals and potential consequences of the Bill and welcomed your views and comments on its contents.

The Committee launched its consultation, inviting you to have your say on the Bill's content. The consultation took the form of an online survey, hosted on our Citizen Space website.

Your views will help to inform the Committee's consideration of the Bill and any recommendations it may suggest as it moves to the next stage of the legislative process.

The closing date for completing the survey was 1 July 2026.

If you have any questions, please get in touch using the contact details below.

Useful Information

• View the current progress of the Bill and all related information
• Guide to submitting evidence to Assembly Committees in written or other formats
• Understanding a Bill: a guide for stakeholders
• Assembly Committees Privacy Notice

Quick Links

• Minutes of Proceedings relating to the Bill
• Minutes of Evidence (Official Report)
• Departmental Papers and Correspondence 
• Other Papers 
• Written Submissions

Contact us

If you have any queries or require any further information about the call for evidence or the Committee Stage of the Utility Regulator (Support for Decarbonisation Preparation) Bill, please contact the Committee Clerk:

Address: Room 245, Parliament Buildings,
Ballymiscaw,Stormont,
Belfast, BT4 3XX

Email: Committee.Economy@niassembly.gov.uk 

Telephone: (028) 905 21821