Can I buy one and fit it myself right now?
You can buy the device: the product rules apply here, the same as the rest of the UK. We won’t arrange fitting until the connection and planning questions on our where it stands page are answered, because we don’t want to arrange something we can’t stand behind.
Why can’t I just follow the same rule as a house in England?
Because the electricity safety rule Great Britain relies on doesn’t extend to Northern Ireland, and NIE Networks isn’t the same operator as any Great Britain network company. Following England’s rule wouldn’t make you compliant here.
What about the England rule on timber balconies?
That change is England-only and doesn’t apply here. Northern Ireland’s own planning guidance doesn’t mention plug-in solar, balconies or timber at all, which is a different problem: not a specific rule to follow, but no rule written yet.
What happens once it’s resolved?
We’ll email everyone on our list what changed and what it means for them, then start arranging supply and fitting the way our sister firms already do across Great Britain.
Will you contact me about anything else?
No. One email when the position changes. Nothing sold, nothing passed to anyone else, no newsletter in the meantime.
Do you know when that will be?
No, and we won’t guess. The government has said only that applying the specification to Northern Ireland needs further consideration, with no date attached.
Want to know the day it's settled?
Email and postcode. One message when it changes.
- Belfast
- Derry
- Lisburn
- Newry
- Armagh
- Bangor
Be told the day it's settled
Your name, email and postcode, and where you'd hope to put a panel. When Northern Ireland's position is resolved, you get one email saying what changed and what you can do.
One email when it changes. No newsletter, nothing sold, nothing passed on.