Lights could go out in Northern Ireland under a no-deal Brexit

Households in Northern Ireland could be hit by electricity blackouts if there’s a no-deal Brexit, the UK government said on Friday.

The warning is contained in the latest batch 29 no-deal planning notices published by the Brexit department, which range from pet passports to diplomatic sanctions.

The document on electricity sets out the government’s plans to keep the lights on in the event the UK was locked out of the EU energy market because of a no-deal Brexit.

It says that there are measures are in place to “deliver continuity of supply” to Great Britain in the worst-case scenario, although states that changes to trading arrangements with Europe will become “less efficient.”

The Scottish government said that would see UK consumers facing higher electricity bills.

“The reality of a disastrous ‘no deal’ Brexit looms large in this latest guidance from the UK Government,” said Scottish minister Michael Russell.

Northern Ireland could be even harder hit because it is part of a single electricity market with the Republic of Ireland rather than the rest of the UK.

The government says it is working with the Irish government and European Commission to ensure that the joint Irish market continues under any scenario, but admits consumers could be affected.

“If such an agreement cannot be reached, there is a risk that the Single Electricity Market will be unable to continue, and the Northern Ireland market would become separated from that of Ireland,” the document states.

“Separate Ireland and Northern Ireland markets will be less efficient, with potential effects for producers and consumers on both sides of the border.”

Another major issue raised in notices is the future of trade deals with countries around the world.

The government says it is working to ensure that EU agreements are replicated so that tariff-free trade could continue in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

It is though highly unlikely that all deals, struck over decades of negotiations, could be replicated from day one and the document states that trade will take place on World Trade Organisation terms where there is no deal in place.

Other notices deal with more niche issues, such as the transport of horses used for racing or breeding between the UK and EU.

The government says “equine movement to the EU could not take place” under a no-deal Brexit.

The papers have been published just a week before an EU leaders’ summit which has been branded the “moment of truth” for Brexit negotiations.

EU Brexit chief Michel Barnier says “decisive progress” needs to be made in Brussels next Thursday and Friday on the issue of the Irish border ‘backstop.’

If progress is made, an emergency summit will be held in November to sign-off a deal.

EU budget commissioner Gunther Oettinger gave an upbeat assessment on negotiations on Friday.

“Last week preparatory talks were under way in order to have a smart deal and in order to do this we need to have a solution to the border issue and the way in which we can avoid checks at the border,” he said.

“That is something that is the focus of our work. It does appear possible that there will be a breakthrough.”