Member

In precise terms, what these regulations do is amend the time period in which Energy Prices Act powers are available to the Northern Ireland Department for the Economy. The effect is that that period will end in February 2030, as I have set out. Noble Lords may recall that, on 13 April, we discussed an instrument to extend the period in which an Energy Prices Act power was available to the Secretary of State. In that case, we could extend the power by only six months. The difference arises from a limit imposed by the Energy Prices Act for the Secretary of State’s power only.