Economy Committee Calls for Evidence on RHI Closure Bill

Session: Session currently unavailable

Date: 22 October 2025

Reference: CfE 01/25/26

The Northern Ireland Assembly's Committee for the Economy has launched a call for evidence as it begins its scrutiny of the RHI (Closure of Non-Domestic Scheme) Bill.

The Bill completed its Second Stage on 20 October 2025.

The Bill is designed to enable the Department for the Economy to make regulations to formally close the RHI scheme and establish a new framework for legacy payments.

Economy Committee Chairperson Phillip Brett, MLA, said:

"Members are keen to thoroughly examine the details of this legislation and understand its consequences. The Committee would therefore encourage all interested stakeholders to submit their views to help us scrutinize the Bill."

The call for evidence stage will run from Wednesday 22 October 2025 until Monday 1 December 2025. Submissions can be made online at https://consult.nia-yourassembly.org.uk/economy/rhi-closure-bill/

The Committee expects to publish its report on the RHI (Closure of Non-Domestic Scheme) Bill in February 2026.

More details on the work of the Economy Committee can be found here: Committee for the Economy

 

ENDS

 

 

For any media enquiries, please contact: Maureen Heaney, Communications Office, Northern Ireland Assembly. Email: maureen.heaney@niassembly.gov.uk Phone: 028 9052 5938

 

Notes to editors

  • The Northern Ireland Non-Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme was launched in 2011 and closed to new applicants on February 29, 2016. Plans to close the schemes were included in the New Decade New Approach agreement in 2020.
  • The RHI (Closure of Non-Domestic Scheme) Bill was formally introduced to the Assembly on 6 October 2025 by the Economy Minister and completed its Second Stage on 20 October 2025.
  • The Committee Stage of the Bill will include gathering responses to the call for evidence and consideration of oral and written evidence from stakeholders. The Committee will then consider its views and may propose amendments as appropriate. It will publish a report on the Committee Stage in early 2026.