Brexit could end cross-border electricity supply, British Government warns

Cross-border electricity supply between Ireland and Northern Ireland could be left "without any legal basis" and unable to continue in the event of a no-deal Brexit, the British government has warned.

In a technical note on the sector published on Friday, it insisted it would do what it could to maintain current arrangements but said it had to prepare for the worst.

Northern Ireland shares a wholesale electricity market with Ireland, the Single Electricity Market, which operates under EU law. Negotiations have “already made good progress” on maintaining this arrangement as part of a future withdrawal agreement.

However, EU rules will cease to apply in Northern Ireland once the UK departs.

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“Given the benefits to consumers and the economy of the more efficient, shared market, it is strongly in the interests of all parties to agree to a means to avoid the split of the market,” the document said.

The UK therefore intends on maintaining the single market, in conjunction with the Irish Government and EU, even in the event no deal is reached.

“However, if such an agreement cannot be reached, there is a risk that the Single Electricity Market will be unable to continue, and the Northern Ireland market would become separated from that of Ireland,” it said.

“Separate Ireland and Northern Ireland markets will be less efficient, with potential effects for producers and consumers on both sides of the border.”

In such a scenario, the document explains, the Northern Ireland Utility Regulator and SONI, the Northern Ireland Transmission System Operator, will take action to mitigate the risks in Northern Ireland.

SONI, it continued, may have to rely on fall-back arrangements to ensure power can flow over the Great Britain-Northern Ireland interconnector.

As things stand, the UK’s electricity markets are “coupled” with the EU and governed by common rules.

Significant cross-border flows of electricity take place between Northern Ireland and Ireland, the UK and the island of Ireland and between continental Europe and the UK.

In its advice concerning a potential “no deal” scenario, the UK has said interconnector owners and operators will need to work with stakeholders to prepare alternative trading arrangements and updated rules.

“In Northern Ireland, electricity market participants should continue using the Single Electricity Market processes and arrangements,” it said.

“However, market participants should be aware of the risk that the Single Electricity Market may not be able to continue, in which case government and the Northern Ireland Utility Regulator will take action to seek to ensure continued security of supply and market stability.”