The Consumer Council Northern Ireland Case Study

Explore our Consumer Council Northern Ireland case study to discover how MCC resolved critical inconsistencies in electricity cost data from leading sources. Our in-depth analysis provided clarity on whether electricity charges in Northern Ireland were the highest or lowest in the UK, equipping the Consumer Council with reliable insights to strengthen their advocacy efforts and better serve the public interest.

What the Client Needed?

In 2019, the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland (CCNI) sought MCC’s expertise to resolve inconsistencies in electricity cost data from three key sources including the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), and The Utility Regulator (UR). The conflicting data raised a critical question that were electricity charges in Northern Ireland the highest in the UK, as suggested by ONS? Or were they the lowest, as indicated by BEIS and UR?

How we Helped them?

Analysis of Electricity Costs

MCC conducted a rigorous analysis to address the client’s needs:

  1. Comprehensive Data Review:
    • Examined electricity cost data from ONS, BEIS, and UR to identify discrepancies and their potential causes.
    • Analyzed the methodologies and assumptions underlying each source to understand the root of the conflicting conclusions.
  2. Detailed Report:
    • Authored an 11-page paper that provided a clear comparison of the data, highlighted the key differences, and evaluated the reliability of each source.
    • Concluded which source offered the most accurate representation of electricity charges in Northern Ireland.
  3. Actionable Insights:
    • Delivered recommendations to CCNI, enabling them to use the findings to advocate effectively for consumers and address public concerns about electricity costs.

Our work empowered CCNI to confidently address conflicting narratives on electricity charges, ensuring transparency and fostering trust among stakeholders and the public.

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Click here to see the report we submitted to the Consumer Council. ​

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Head of Corporate Finance at CAA, UK

I am delighted to confirm that I worked with PJ on a retail project in 2015. The project helped stakeholders understand electricity costs and charges. Specifically, the project helped us explain to stakeholders, internally and externally, why electricity charges differed across the regions (GB, NI & Ireland). PJ was a key member on the project team, which helped deliver changes and improvements in the understanding of energy retail.

- Kevin Shiels
Director at Utility Regulator, Northern Ireland

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