§ Lord Bleaseasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will publish a strategic overview of their proposals for developments in the next 10 years to meet Northern Ireland's energy needs; and whether they will take into account in any such overview the study by the Department of Economic Development commissioned by the Director of Electricity Supply for Northern Ireland, the competition factors in the supply of electricity, the proposal for domestic electricity tariffs to be altered in favour of the larger industrial and commercial users, the potential for 45WA combined heat and power, and the planned electricity and gas pipeline linkages with Scotland.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland Office (Baroness Denton of Wakefield)The Department of Economic Development on 9 March 1992 published an energy strategy for Northern Ireland entitledEnergy for the 90's and Beyond.
Four strategic objectives were set for Northern Ireland—energy efficiency and the clean production and use of energy; lower costs and the protection of consumer interests; diversification of supply; and security of supply.
In support of these strategic objectives, the document described plans for the completion of the restructuring of the electricity industry; proposed new gas and electricity linkages; the benefits and the potential for improved energy efficiency; and the identification and development of commercially viable renewable energy resources, including the potential for combined heat and power (CHP).
The Director General of Electricity Supply for Northern Ireland has responsibility for the development of competition in the supply of electricity. The director general set out his plans for this on 16 December 1993 in a report entitled Competition in the Northern Ireland Electricity Market. A copy of his report can be obtained from the Office of Electricity Regulation Northern Ireland.