The Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) has announced that it no longer has responsibility for the Net Billing Programme.

The net billing system, which was introduced in 2012, allows persons who own renewable energy generators to generate electricity for personal use, and sell excess energy to the national grid.

This process was being led by the OUR.

However, the OUR says the deletion of Condition 18 of the Amended and Restated All-Island Electric Licence and  the provisions in the Electricity Act, 2015, which came into effect in August, means that it no longer has authority to lawfully engage in the addition of generating capacity to the national grid.

It says Section 9 (2) of the Electricity Act specifically excludes the OUR’s involvement in accepting applications and making recommendations to the Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining for licences.

The OUR says that section provides that the Minister has exclusive authority over the issuing of licences.

The OUR says as a result it cannot lawfully assume responsibility for the licensing process and therefore it considers its substantive role in the Net Billing Programme at an end.