Summary

  • Renewable Heat Incentive Inquiry examining botched energy scheme

  • Former DETI official Peter Hutchinson returns for a full day's questioning

  • Inquiry set up after public concern over scheme's huge projected overspend

  • Retired Court of Appeal judge Sir Patrick Coghlin chairing inquiry at Stormont

  • Public evidence sessions expected to last until well into 2018

Live Reporting

Robin Sheeran and Simon Hunter

  1. RHI scheme - the flaws

    There were critical flaws in the way the RHI scheme was set up that left it open to abuse and that later saw its budget spiral out of control.

    Crucial cost curbs that existed in a similar scheme in Great Britain were not replicated and claimants could effectively earn more money the more fuel they burned.

    BoilerGetty Images

    That was because the subsidies on offer for renewable fuels were far greater than the cost of the fuels themselves - the scheme was later nicknamed "cash-for-ash" for that very reason.

    As a result, the scheme racked up a huge projected overspend, if permanent cost controls are not introduced - and the bill will have to be picked up by the Northern Ireland taxpayer.

  2. RHI scheme - what was it?

    Need a quick refresher on the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme? Well, we're here to help...

    It came to the fore of the Northern Ireland public's knowledge in autumn last year - few people, if anyone, would have expected it to have the consequences it has done in the months that followed.

    Burning pellets

    It was set up by the Northern Ireland Executive in 2012, as a way of encouraging businesses to switch from using fossil fuels to renewable sources for generating their heat.

    Those who signed up were offered financial incentives to buy new heating systems and the fuel to run them.

  3. Good Morning

    The Inquiry in sessionPacemaker

    Welcome back to Stormont for the for the first RHI evidence session since the mid-term break.

    We have a familiar face giving evidence today.

    Former DETI official Peter Hutchinson was one of the small group of civil servants involved in the RHI scheme at the time of its inception.

    He featured in several evidence sessions before Christmas.