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Contestability

  • Contestability, or competition in connections, means that other accredited companies (called an Independent Connections Provider) can provide a quotation for, and build, certain elements (called contestable works) of a new connection once you have applied for and received a dual offer for your connection from NIE Networks. For these ‘contestable’ elements of the connection, you will have a choice whether to accept the quotation from us or to accept a quotation from an ICP.

  • Competition law has two primary objectives:

    • Regulating anti-competitive agreements (the “Chapter I / Art 101 Prohibition”)
    • Preventing “dominant” undertakings from abusing their position (the “Chapter II / Art 102 Prohibition”)

    Therefore NIE Networks must treat all ICPs fairly and equally, ensuring that they have full access to any information required to carry out connection works in Northern Ireland.

  • All new connections and increased loads where a new connection is required are open to contestability. This means that if you are submitting an application for a new domestic, commercial, generation or multi-site supply, then your application will be eligible to receive a dual offer. If you are submitting a load change form and your application is for an increased load which requires a new connection then you will receive a dual offer.

  • Housing sites with 12 or more dwellings will still be priced by multiplying the Standard Connection Charge by the number of houses to be connected. This price will make up the full works quotation (option 1) in the dual offer. The non contestable works quotation (option 2) will include costs for the non-contestable works, ICP design review, ICP inspections and ICP legal review only.

ICPs (Independent Connection Providers)

  • An Independent Connections Provider (ICP) is an accredited company that is entitled to build electricity networks to the specification and quality required for them to be adopted and then maintained by NIE Networks.

    In order to carry out contestable works, ICPs must be accredited under the Lloyds Register National Electricity Registration Scheme (NERS).

    To view a list of ICPs accredited to work in Northern Ireland: 

    1. Visit the Lloyd's website
    2. Scroll down to the list of providers
    3. Click on 'Toggle Filters'
    4. In 'Current Geographical Areas of Work' tick Northern Ireland
    5. Click 'Search'
  • No. You may only appoint an Independent Connections Provider (ICP) who is accredited to undertake the contestable works applicable to your offer. To view a list of ICPs accredited to work in Northern Ireland:

    1. Visit the Lloyds website
    2. Scroll down to the list of providers
    3. Click on 'Toggle Filters'
    4. In 'Current Geographical Areas of Work' tick Northern Ireland
    5. Click 'Search'
  • If you wish to appoint a different ICP, you should inform NIE Networks as soon as possible using the contact details on your Terms  Letter. You are liable to be charged for two design reviews if both the first and second ICPs submit designs for the connection to NIE Networks. NIE Networks shall at their discretion refund only part of your payment to cover costs incurred in dealing with the first ICP. 

  • To view a list of ICPs accredited to work in Northern Ireland: 

    1. Visit the Lloyds website
    2. Scroll down to the list of providers
    3. Click on 'Toggle Filters'
    4. In 'Current Geographical Areas of Work' tick Northern Ireland
    5. Click 'Search'
  • NIE Networks will send out a dual offer for the connection. You can then take this dual quote to an accredited ICP and receive their quotation to carry out the contestable works if they operate within your market segment.

    If you choose to appoint an ICP you should inform NIE Networks upon acceptance of option 2 in your dual offer by filling in the ICP Nomination Form included with your dual offer.

    You should return this ICP Nomination Form with your Acceptance of Terms. NIE Networks cannot offer advice or assistance in the appointment of an ICP.

  • The National Electricity Registration Scheme in Northern Ireland (NERS - NI) has been developed to allow contractors who fulfil scheme requirements to become registered as accredited NERS NI Providers.

    Any Provider contracting to carry out contestable work must be accredited, and registered, under this scheme. NIE Networks recognise this scheme and, provided that contractors hold the appropriate scope of accreditation, will allow that contractor to undertake contestable connection work. Once the work has been completed, NIE Networks will adopt the connection for the remainder of its lifetime, subject to the work being done satisfactorily and the Provider meeting the adoption requirements.

    To view a list of ICPs accredited to work in Northern Ireland: 

    1. Visit the Lloyds website
    2. Scroll down to the list of providers
    3. Click on 'Toggle Filters'
    4. In 'Current Geographical Areas of Work' tick Northern Ireland
    5. Click 'Search'
  • Timescale will vary dependent on the category and number of scope(s) requested. In general, for a medium size company the whole process from application to approval can take up to three months

  • More information can be found on the Lloyds Register website.

    Queries can be made to the Utilities Team on the Lloyds Register website or Telephone +44 (0) 121 817 4300.

Dual offers

  • When you apply to NIE Networks for a new connection, NIE Networks will determine the Point of Connection (POC) to the network, complete a design for the connection and create quotations for NIE Networks to perform either the full connection works or the non-contestable works only. You shall then receive a dual offer from NIE Networks with two options. You may only select one option when accepting the offer.

    • Option 1 – NIE Networks will complete the full works
    • Option 2 – NIE Networks will complete the non-contestable works only
  • If you choose to appoint an ICP to carry out the contestable elements (contestable works) of your connection then you will be charged for a review of the ICP’s design, inspections of the ICP’s work and a review of any legal documentation associated with the contestable works e.g. wayleaves.  These costs will be included in your Quotation Summary for option 2 of the dual offer.

Contestable and Non-contestable works

Delivery of Contestable works

Post-adoption of Contestable works

  • As part of the Adoption Agreement, there is a warranty on all assets constructed by ICPs. Therefore, the ICP will be held liable for the cost to repair any malfunction of the assets for the length of the warranty period after its adoption. Whether the repairs are undertaken by NIE Networks or the ICP will be decided by NIE Networks on a case by case basis, but the ICP will always bear the cost.

Network issues

Legal Agreement with Third Party Landowners

  • NIE Networks will only ever pay the standard charge for a wayleave, easement or lease. When someone other than NIE Networks approaches a landowner to sign a NIE Networks wayleave (e.g. a customer or ICP) then they must explain to the customer that the NIE Networks wayleave payment will not change. If an ICP or customer decides to give a one-off payment to a landowner, or comes to some other alternative payment plan with the landowner, this will be in total separation from NIE Networks and will have no impact on our standard wayleave payment. This must be explained to the landowner by the ICP.