Utility Regulator (Support for Decarbonisation Preparation) Bill

As Introduced

CONTENTS

1.Preparation for decarbonisation of energy sector: role of Utility Regulator

2. Commencement and short title

A Bill to confer functions on the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation to assist the Department for the Economy in developing plans for the decarbonisation of the energy sector.

Be it enacted by being passed by the Northern Ireland Assembly and assented to by His Majesty as follows:

Preparation for decarbonisation of energy sector: role of Utility Regulator

1.—(1) The Utility Regulator may provide advice, information or assistance to the Department for the purposes of or in connection with the development of any proposal, policy, strategy or plan relating to the energy sector that the Department is required, or considers it appropriate, to develop under the 2022 Act.
(2) The Utility Regulator must, so far as reasonably practicable, comply with any reasonable request by the Department that it exercise its powers under subsection (1) in relation to any particular matter.
(3) In this section—

“the 2022 Act” means the Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022,
“the Department” means the Department for the Economy,
“the energy sector” means anything to do with the production, supply or consumption of energy (of any kind),
“the Utility Regulator” means the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation.

Commencement and short title

2.—(1) This Act comes into operation on the day after Royal Assent.
(2) This Act may be cited as the Utility Regulator (Support for Decarbonisation Preparation) Act (Northern Ireland) 2026.