Regulation in New Natural Gas Markets : The Northern Ireland Experience

So far gas market liberalization has generally occurred in mature markets-particularly where much of the pipeline system has already been laid, as in Argentina, Britain, and the United States. In these cases a competitive structure is appropriate. In new markets, however, it may be difficult to introduce a competitive regime from the outset, and a different approach and form of regulation, such as a period of exclusive licenses, may be needed. In 1997 the Northern Ireland authorities awarded Phoenix Natural Gas an exclusive license for a limited period to develop a new gas market from scratch in the greater Belfast area. This Note explains the rationale for a period of exclusivity and describes Northern Ireland's approach to gas market regulation.

Bibliographic Details

Main Author:	Lehmann, Peter
Language:	English
Published:	World Bank, Washington, DC 1999-04
Subjects:	NATURAL GAS, MARKET LIBERALIZATION, NORTHERN IRELAND, GAS MARKET, REGULATORY FRAMEWORK, GAS PIPELINE, PIPELINE TRANSPORT, TRANSPORT COSTS, GAS SUPPLY, COMPETITIVENESS, GAS PRICES, GAS INDUSTRY, RESIDENTIAL AREAS COAL, CONSTRUCTION, FUEL, FUEL PRICES, FUELS, GAS, GAS AND ELECTRICITY, GAS INDUSTRIES, GAS MARKET LIBERALIZATION, GAS MARKET REGULATION, GAS MARKETS, GAS SALES, GAS SUPPLIERS, MONOPOLIES, NATURAL GAS MARKETS, OIL, PIPELINE, PIPELINE CONSTRUCTION, PIPELINE SYSTEM, PIPELINES, PIPES, PRESENT VALUE,
Online Access:	http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/1999/04/692837/regulation-new-natural-gas-markets-northern-ireland-experience https://hdl.handle.net/10986/11489
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