Requirements for Market Participation
It is a requirement that all
customers connected to the Distribution network
have a Connection Agreement in place with NIE
T&D. The following diagram shows the
contractual relationship between customers, their
chosen supplier and NIE T&D business, who own the network.
Low
Voltage (LV) Customers:
NIE T&D Standard Connection Terms and Conditions will apply to all customers (domestic and non-domestic) supplied at less than 650 volts through the agreement they enter into with their selected electricity supplier. Please click below to download a copy of NIE T&D’s current
Standard Connection Terms and Conditions. The current conditions were approved by the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation on 23 October 2007.
NIE
T&D Standard Connection Terms and Conditions in PDF
format (119 KB)
High
Voltage (HV) Customers:
All
customers supplied at more than 650 volts require
to have a site specific
connection agreement
directly with NIE T&D. Please click below to download a
copy of a sample HV Connection Agreement
and
associated Health and Safety
rules
(SRG 4).
HV
Connection Agreement in PDF format (266 KB)
Associated
Health and Safety Rules in PDF format (494 KB)
Connection
Agreements for Customers with Generation:
Customers
who wish to connect generation that operates in parallel with the NIE
T&D Network are required, under
The Electricity Supply Regulations, to have the written agreement of
NIE T&D.
To make a formal application to NIE
T&D, to obtain written consent to
operate your generation in parallel with the NIE
T&D network,
please register your scheme via the NIE online registration system
http://www.nie.co.uk/genconnect/
and download the necessary forms, which should be completed and returned to NIE.
We would emphasize that you must not connect generating plant, that is designed for
operation in parallel with the NIE T&D system, without the prior written agreement
of NIE T&D.
The Central Design Authority (CDA)
The CDA, is an NIE
T&D appointed body responsible for coordinating
and supporting
the overall design
of the new Retail Market Arrangements in
the Northern Ireland
non-domestic electricity market.
The opening of full retail competition in the Northern Ireland non-domestic
electricity
market represents a challenge for the industry. Coupled with the
challenge of
designing and implementing the arrangements
that will support
the competitive market,
is the challenge of ensuring consistency between all
market
design components.
The market design consists of a number of key
components (configuration items)
that are relevant to the industry as a
whole. These components include, market
procedures, legal documentation and market message definitions.
The CDA performs an administrative, industry-facing role, which supports and
coordinates, the overall
market design including the Market Registration Code (MRC). The MRC commenced on 11 September 2006,
after the original parties signed the Market Registration Framework Agreement
Central Design Authority Board
On the MRC Commencement Date the Central Design Authority Board was established and
became operational. The functions of the Central Design Authority Board are to consider
and make decisions in relation to Issues and Code Change Proposals, as provided for
under the MRC Change Procedures. NIE and each Supplier have the right to appoint, by
notice in writing to the Central Design Authority, one person each to the Central
Design Authority Board.
Central Design Authority Board Meetings
Board meetings are convened normally every month. Change Control Board members receive
all relevant information from the CDA, including minutes of the previous meeting, five
working days before the meeting. The frequency of meetings can be amended accordingly
to reflect the volume as well as urgency of change requests. The CDA will advise the
Change Control Board members of any changes to the meetings.
Change Control Board meetings review newly raised change requests, change request impact
assessments and determine change request recommendations. The Change Control Board
meetings are chaired by the CDA and Ofreg/NIAER attend these meetings as an observer.
Market Design Baseline Management Overview
Key to managing market design changes and ensuring consistency between all market design
components is the establishment of the MRC baseline. The MRC baseline consists of a set
of component documents that are mutually consistent and are issued at a specific point
in time. Together, this set of components, describe all aspects of how the new retail
electricity market operates from a market participant perspective.
To review the current MRC Baseline document release for the new retail
market arrangements please click on the link below provided by Ofreg/NIAER:
http://ofreg.nics.gov.uk
Additional Market Documentation
NIE T&D will post documents (in PDF format) that will assist
market participants as and when they become
available.
Market System Communication Arrangements
To enable suppliers to obtain answers on any questions or concerns after implementation of the New Electricity Retail Market
Arrangements, please contact us at STS.query@nie.co.uk.
Market Design Communication Arrangements
To facilitate suppliers to submit Queries, Issues or Change Requests directly to the
Central Design Authority, please contact us at
CDA@nie.co.uk.
Market Design Query Resolutions
We will shortly provide an online search and submit facility to enable suppliers to
access CDA archived market design query resolutions etc.
Supplier Enquiry (Billing & Registration)
Should you have an enquiry about a customers account, please email us at
STSCustAccQuery@nie.co.uk.
Distribution Code
As part of the arrangements
for the SEM and the implementation of the IME
Directive, it has been necessary, through the
establishment of a Distribution Code, to separate
out the operation of the Distribution System from
the Transmission System. The Distribution Code is
designed to permit the development, maintenance
and operation of an efficient, co-ordinated and
economical NI Distribution System.
The
Distribution Code is a document in its own right,
but for the period following SEM Go-Live, it will
cross refer to the relevant Distribution System
related elements in the Grid Code. The relevant
provisions of the Grid Code are therefore
incorporated by cross references, which are
purposive rather than relating to specific
provisions in the Grid Code to reflect the fact
that Distribution related issues in the Grid Code
are dealt with as an integral part of the Grid
Code provisions.
This
Distribution code has been developed in
conjunction with the Northern Ireland Authority
for Utility Regulation (NIAUR) and has been the
subject of a public consultation. The Distribution
Code has been approved by NIAUR. A full
Distribution Code will be developed during the
course of 2008.
Please
click below to download a copy of Distribution
Code.
Distribution Code
NIE is
now establishing "The Northern Ireland
Distribution Code Review Panel" to take forward
the development of the full Distribution
Code. For further information click
here.
Northern Ireland Electricity Transmission and Distribution System Security and Planning Standards
Interface Agreements
NIE is party to two Interface
Agreements with NIE Energy Ltd as conditions of
its licence to participate in the transmission of
electricity.
-
the
PTIA is an agreement between NIE and NIE Energy
Ltd in its capacity as the Power Procurement
Business.
-
the
SuTIA is an agreement between NIE and NIE Energy
Ltd in its capacity as the holder of the NIE
Energy Supply Licence, but excluding where it is
acting in its capacity as the Power Procurement
Business.
The agreements were designated/approved by the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation (NIAUR) as part of the new market arrangements introduced on 1 November 2007.
Please click below to download a copy of either the PTIA or SuTIA as appropriate.
PTIA.pdf (67KB)
SuTIA.pdf
(67KB)
