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Media Releases
2007

01 November
2007

Electrifying a unified market for Irish utilities

Leading UK law firm Shepherd and Wedderburn has advised the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) and the Northern Ireland Authority for Utilities Regulation (NIAUR) on significant aspects of the creation of a Single Electricity Market (SEM) for the whole island which begins trading today.

The SEM aims to promote greater competition, bringing economies and efficiencies of scale that will deliver long-term benefits to consumers in both countries.

Shepherd and Wedderburn, whose energy and utilities group has a vast amount of experience generally in the utilities sector including having advised the Water Industry Commission for Scotland on the legal framework of introducing competition into the water and sewage market, was instrumental in securing the creation of the SEM, advising on metering issues and bilateral forward purchasing contracts.

James Saunders, head of Shepherd and Wedderburn's energy and utilities group, said: "It was hugely exciting to be involved in such a flagship development. My team has gained valuable experience and our recent appointment to the panel of lawyers to the Northern Ireland Authority for Utilities Regulation will further strengthen our expertise not only in the Irish electricity sector but also in the overall utilities market."


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