Today in the Assembly Economy Minister Dr introduced the Renewable
Electricity Generation Bill, a key milestone towards delivering
more local renewable electricity and supporting price stability
for households and businesses.
The Bill provides the legislative foundation of the Renewable
Electricity Price Guarantee (REPG) scheme, which is a fundamental
enabler for increasing locally produced renewable electricity,
providing longterm price stability for both consumers and
investors.
Following the introduction of the Bill, the Minister said: The
introduction of this Bill is central to securing more locally
produced renewable energy at a stable price, helping to protect
households and businesses from global energy price shocks.
As a region with an abundance of renewable energy resources, this
Bill sends a strong signal to industry, positioning the north as
a competitive and attractive destination for investment.
The Bill will establish the legal framework to run competitive
renewable electricity auctions at the appropriate time, with a
strong focus on local communities.
The Minister added: From the outset, I have been clear that any
scheme must deliver for local communities. The Bill allows
my department to put in place the necessary regulations so that
communities hosting REPG projects will benefit.
RenewableNI Director, Mark Richardson, welcomed the introduction
of the Bill as a significant step towards strengthening energy
security and delivering greater stability for homes and
businesses.
Generating more electricity from local renewables will provide
consumers with long-term protection from the volatility of global
energy markets, which drives the price spikes we all see on our
bills.
The Bill will provide the certainty needed by the renewable
sector to unlock significant investment, bringing jobs, long-term
rates income and community benefits that will be felt across the
region, particularly in rural areas.
Further legislation will be brought forward once the Bill becomes
law to set out how the REPG scheme will operate in practice.
Notes to editors:
- The Final Scheme Design was published in September 2025
is available: www.economy-ni.gov.uk/publications/final-scheme-design-renewable-electricity-support-scheme-northern-ireland-renewable-electricity-price-guarantee
- Introduction of the Bill is a key action of the Department's
Energy Strategy Action Plan 2026 available here: www.economy-ni.gov.uk/publications/energy-strategy-action-plan-2026-and-action-plan-report-2025
