Commentary on provisions of Act Reduction of domestic energy bills in Northern Ireland Section 5: Domestic energy price reduction schemes for Northern Ireland
This section gives the Secretary of State power to establish the energy price guarantee schemes for electricity and for gas for Northern Ireland. These powers are similar to the sections in the EPG GB scheme. For Northern Ireland, these powers need to be in place to deliver the scheme in Northern Ireland since the Secretary of State has no common law powers, for example to enter into contracts, in respect of transferred matters. Energy policy is a transferred matter in Northern Ireland.
	Subsections (1) and (3) confer the powers to make the schemes. Subsections (2) and (4) define what the schemes are.
	Subsection (5) provides that the Secretary of State may amend or revoke a scheme for instance the eligible tariffs and the discount rate. The EPG contracts ("Scheme Documents") between the Secretary of State and energy suppliers will set out the circumstances in which the Secretary of State may make, modify and end the scheme.
	Subsection (6) constrains this power, so that it must be used consistently with the terms outlined in the Scheme Document.
	Subsection (7) provides the Secretary of State with the power to modify the Scheme Documents to prevent profiteering.