Robin Newton MBE MLA

ROBIN Newton East Belfast DUP MLA and member of the Assembly's Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee has welcomed the ruling of the Competition Commission in the difference of opinion between Phoenix Natural Gas and the Utility Regulator. Robin Newton said,
 
"I welcome the decision of the Competition Commission to provisionally establish the price control and guarantee both regulatory certainty and give confidence in the development of the natural gas industry across Northern Ireland.  The points of difference between the Utility Regulator and Phoenix Natural Gas had to be settled; they were serving little purpose except to inhibit further development of the gas network.  The totally independent role of the London based Competition Commission was crucial in bringing about a settlement.
 
There is a need to build customer confidence in the long-term supply of gas as an energy choice.  This has to be balanced with future investment in the industry.  Northern Ireland has the highest energy costs in the UK and energy choice for customers is limited.  Given the necessary investment in supplying energy and enabling customer choice a failure to get a settlement would have worked against the development of the natural gas network.  This would have disadvantaged customers.
 
The process for the next required financial investment and opening out of the natural gas network is now underway.  Stability and assurances are necessary for this development phase.  The ruling of the Competition Commission provides the steadiness that investors need and the confidence in natural gas as an energy choice sought by customers."