IT'S the scandal that brought down the north's power-sharing government, but as the RHI inquiry formally opened yesterday morning at Stormont, the atmosphere was hardly electric.
For any tourists visiting, it wouldn't have looked like anything significant was going on.
Outside, walkers ambled around the expansive Stormont estate as usual, while inside parliament buildings was devoid of commotion.
In the senate chamber, the start of oral hearings for the RHI inquiry quietly got under way.
It was nearly a year ago that controversy around the Renewable Heat Incentive reached its height. The terms RHI, 'cash for ash', and 'the more you burn, the more you earn' all came into common parlance.
The fallout over the flawed green energy scheme led to the executive's collapse, a snap assembly election and the north's continuing political deadlock.
A few preliminary hearings have already been held this year, but despite the continuing impact of the RHI controversy, yesterday's milestone was met with relatively little fanfare.
Around 30 people attended the hearing, mostly inquiry officials and legal representatives. A handful of journalists sat on the benches reserved for press, but most of the space remained unfilled.
On public benches in the opposite corner of the chamber, a few MLAs attended briefly to listen to proceedings.
Sitting in the back row was Andrew McCormick – the senior civil servant who sensationally told MLAs in January that he understood ex-DUP special adviser Andrew Crawford exerted influence over the botched scheme. Mr Crawford has always denied wrongdoing.
Some press photographers were permitted to take pictures of the inquiry panel before the proceedings began.
The senior counsel to the inquiry, David Scoffield QC, began his opening statement, which is expected to continue for most of this week.
He provided a summary of the RHI controversy and the remit of the inquiry, but much of the information has already been well played out in the public domain.
Perhaps aware of this, he said he wished to "apologise in advance of any tedium" and the "mundane nature" of his opening scene-setter.
"I'm sure the assembled media were looking for something a little more exciting," he added.
In a brief quip, Mr Scoffield outlined how hearings will be streamed online, before lamenting that he's been reliably informed "the camera does indeed add 10 pounds". Those listening gave a rather generous chuckle.
The 'box office' hearings won't come until next year, with former DUP ministers Arlene Foster and Jonathan Bell only due to give evidence towards the end of the oral hearings.
Inquiry chair Sir Patrick Coghlin has previously warned that "no time limit has been set" for his inquiry and giving a timescale for its conclusion is "simply not possible".
In draft budget proposals published earlier this year by Secretary of State James Brokenshire, £4.3m is set aside for the RHI inquiry during this financial year alone.
