CUSTOMERS in the north who have installed or plan to add an electric vehicle charger are being urged to notify NIE Networks in order to help it improve the electricity network infrastructure.
It comes in response to statistics showing that although there are almost 3,500 electric vehicles registered in Northern Ireland, NIE Networks has only received notification of around 1,300 domestic charge points.
The utility needs to be notified if a customer plans to instal a domestic charge point, or even if they just plan to charge the vehicle via a normal 13amp plug, so it can invest in the electricity network where needed and ensure the network has sufficient capacity.
Its network development manager Ian Bailie says: “We want to see a continued rise in the uptake of electric vehicles, which is something we are very proud to play a role in facilitating.
“It is a crucial step towards building the energy sector of the future. We need to know where the new demand is and can build the network capacity that customers need.”
NIE Networks has 23,000 customers in Northern Ireland now generating energy from renewable sources and is investing £365 million in the network to facilitate green generation as the region works towards the target of a net zero carbon economy by 2050.
