PART IIN.I.NEW REGULATORY ARRANGEMENTS

The Northern Ireland Authority for Energy RegulationN.I.

Powers of Authority in relation to external mattersN.I.

8.—(1) The Authority may liaise, co-operate and enter into arrangements with relevant persons in—

(a)any other part of the United Kingdom;

F1(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(c)any other State in which there is a gas pipe-line or electricity transmission system which is or may be connected (directly or indirectly) to a gas pipe-line or electricity transmission system in Northern Ireland.

[F2(1A) The Authority may consult and co-operate with the Agency.]

[F3(1B) The Authority may, in relation to electricity, liaise, co-operate and enter into arrangements with relevant persons in any member State.

(1C) The Authority may in particular enter into arrangements with the designated regulatory authority of any member State for the purpose of issuing joint binding decisions as referred to in Article 62(2)(c) of the Electricity Directive.]

(2) In [F4paragraphs (1) and (1B).] “relevant persons” means—

(a)persons exercising functions in relation to electricity or gas which correspond to any of those of the Authority or the Department; and

(b) persons whose activities consist of or include—

(i)generating, supplying [F5, distributing] or participating in the transmission of electricity; or

(ii)storing, supplying or participating in the conveyance of gas.

F2Art. 8(1A) inserted (temp.) (16.12.2020) by virtue of The Gas (Internal Markets) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (S.R. 2020/279), regs. 1, 15 (with reg. 19)