THE director general of Electricity Supply for Northern Ireland, Mr Douglas McIldoon, will also regulate the new gas industry in the region. The announcement was made by the Economy Minister, Baroness Denton, who said his wide knowledge of local energy matters and experience as electricity regulator made him the ideal choice.

"Mr McIldoon will have a crucial role in overseeing the development of the new natural gas industry in Northern Ireland," she said. The two regulatory roles would complement each other, as the conversion of Ballylumford power station to gas firing would result in about half Northern Ireland's electricity supply being generated from gas. Mr McIldoon described the introduction of natural gas as "the most important single development in energy in Northern Ireland since the Second World War", offering the consumer a cleaner environment and more choice.