The Utility Regulator is the economic regulator for electricity, gas and water in Northern Ireland. We are the only multi-sectoral economic regulator in the UK covering both energy and water.

We are an independent non-ministerial government department and our main duty is to promote and protect the short- and long-term interests of consumers.

Our role is to make sure that the energy and water utility industries in Northern Ireland are regulated, and developed within ministerial policy, as set out in our statutory duties.

We are governed by a Board of Directors and are accountable to the Northern Ireland Assembly.

We are based at Millennium House in Belfast. The Chief Executive and two Executive Directors lead teams in each of the main functional areas in the organisation: CEO Office; Price Controls, Networks and Energy Futures; and Markets and Consumer Protection.

Our work involves:

• issuing and maintaining licences for gas, electricity and water companies to operate in Northern Ireland;
• making sure that these companies meet relevant legislation and licence obligations;
• challenging these companies to keep the prices they charge as low as they can be;
• encouraging regulated companies to be more efficient and responsive to customers;
• working to encourage competition in the gas, electricity, water and sewerage services markets;
• setting the standards of service which regulated companies provide to customers in Northern Ireland; and
• acting as an adjudicator on certain customer complaints, disputes and appeals.

It takes all kinds of different minds, everyone is unique and we want you to use yours.

We want to be a diverse and inclusive organisation putting the “you are” in UR.

Our success is based on the diversity and uniqueness that each person brings to the organisation and on the willingness of staff to accept and value one another.

This approach helps us protect consumers to make a positive difference to all households and businesses in Northern Ireland.