Consultation
3.The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (“the Department”) consulted extensively on the provisions included in the Energy Order. An initial consultation paper entitled “Realising the Potential” (October 2001) focused on the role of renewable energy in Northern Ireland. The responses indicated support for the implementation of a renewables obligation mechanism. A further consultation paper entitled “Towards a New Energy Market Strategy for Northern Ireland” published on 6 March 2002 sought views on the direction of a new energy market strategy for Northern Ireland and priority energy issues requiring legislation. The main priorities identified by the Department in that paper were changes to the regulatory and consumer representation arrangements and postalisation of gas conveyance charges to enable a major project to extend the gas network in Northern Ireland to proceed. These priorities were supported by responses to the consultation paper. All the above consultation papers can be viewed in the energy area of the Department’s website, located at “www.detini.gov.uk/energy”.
