News story

We review pension costs for Northern Ireland Utility Regulator

GAD advised the Utility Regulator of Northern Ireland about pension costs of the electricity company over a 6-year period

Credit: iStockPhoto

We have reviewed the pension costs of the Northern Ireland Electricity Networks Limited (NIEN) for (UREGNI).

The regulator oversees Northern Irelands electricity network and determines whether certain historic pension costs should be passed onto consumers and that ongoing costs are reasonable.

As part of its regulatory function UREGNI asked the Government Actuarys Department (GAD) to look at NIEN pensions costs and the .

GADs assessment

Regulated companies have historically passed on pensions costs to consumers. At this review, the proposal was to refund consumers, which was reflective of the improved funding environment.

GAD reviewed NIENs proposal to refund consumers and future pension cost allowances over a 6-year period. The (PDF, 1267KB) analysed the principal factors which determine NIENs cash pension contributions, and the pension cost allowances requested for RP7.

We checked that the proposal to reimburse consumers was reasonable and that NIEN has behaved in a competitive way.

Many regulators have the power to set the price which is charged to consumers. Where charges are deemed to be excessive, they can restrict the level of pension costs due to be passed on.

Credit: iStockPhoto

Supporting regulators

GAD undertook benchmarking on defined benefit and defined contribution pension scheme benefits. This work for UREGNI is just one of a number of regulators we support. As a tool, benchmarking against other, similar schemes can help support regulators decisions, and GADs reviews can explore:

  • benefit design
  • investment strategy
  • funding strategy
  • pensions policy
  • the context of defined benefit (DB) funding regulation

We benchmarked pension scheme expenses and assumptions underlying the latest DB valuation, considering scheme-specific features, and taking account NIENs circumstances and position.

Review conclusion

Actuary Simon Gray led the project and said: We review the pension costs associated with NIENs business plan at the start of each reporting cycle, which is typically every 6 years. Our advice to UREGNI in this report focuses on NIENs pension scheme.

Updates to this page

Published 19 December 2024