Written question asked by Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 18 April 2019, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 24 April 2019. It was answered by Kelly Tolhurst (Conservative) on Wednesday, 1 May 2019 on behalf of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

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Electricity Interconnectors: Netherlands

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has held with his Dutch counterparts on the effect of the UK leaving the EU (a) with and (b) without a deal on the UK’s ability to receive gas and electricity flows from Dutch interconnectors; and whether the Government received assurances from the Dutch Government that there would be no disruption to energy flows from that country as a result of the UK leaving the EU.

Answer

If the UK were to leave the European Union without a deal, modified access rules for the electricity interconnector have been approved by both Ofgem and the Dutch regulator.[1] Modified access rules are not required for the gas interconnector. The Political Declaration on the future relationship sets out the parameters for the UK and EU’s future discussions on electricity and gas.[2]

[1] https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications-and-updates/approval-modified-access-rules-britned-interconnector-apply-event-uk-leaves-eu-without-deal

[2] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/withdrawal-agreement-and-political-declaration

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Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

245545

Session

2017-19

Subjects

Netherlands Electricity interconnectors Brexit

Link

View this Written question on www.parliament.uk