AQW 29978/17-22

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 18/02/2022
Answered On Date: 24/02/2022
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for the Economy how the current rise in energy prices will inform future energy policy.

Answer:

Throughout my time as Minister for the Economy, I have been clear that consumers in Northern Ireland must be at the heart of future energy policy. I will ensure that they are protected from unfair price rises while also reducing our carbon impact. To do this, we need to move away from dependency on fossil fuels, which has been the main cause of recent energy price increases.

The Executive published its new Energy Strategy on 16 December 2021, followed by an Action Plan on 20 January 2022. The plan contains a number of actions to help consumers increase energy efficiency and reduce energy consumption, thereby reducing consumer bills.

Other actions set out how we plan to decarbonise and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, such as increasing the use of electric vehicles, speeding up the deployment of renewable electricity generation, improving the energy efficiency of our homes and switching to low carbon heating systems.

A report on the delivery of the action plan will be published annually with a five-year strategic review due in 2025 and every five years thereafter.