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UTILITY WEEK | 17TH - 23RD JUNE 2016 | 15 Policy & Regulation On the referendum l Nobody knows what "out" looks like, and a "remain" vote is broadly favoured. l Brexit would hit the sector's ability to innovate, potentially stymieing investment from key technology suppliers and preventing access to important EU R&D funds. l Leaving the EU would make meeting the elements of the trilemma harder. A close relationship with Europe is key l The UK could be a driving force behind EU energy policy and regulation, but this must be acknowledged as an opportunity by Westminster – currently it is not. l Britain can lead technical standards development, but this requires time, commitment and expertise, which companies can ill-afford. l Closer involvement in the development of technical standards gives UK innovators "first mover" advantage in the development of new products and services. KEY POINTS: Stephen Parker, regulation director, Northern Gas Networks "There is an extra risk of regulations being imposed on the UK market, such as a change in the UK gas day. There is a risk of being part of this bigger entity, but I'd say the benefits outweigh those risks." John Scott, senior technical advisor at Pearlstone Energy "If we come out of Europe, we Angus MacNeil MP "If we find ourselves in a changing situation, we may get to repent the decision at our leisure… you'd have to work that bit harder to have your voice heard in the EU if we left." Phil Jones, chief executive, Northern Powergrid "In my experience it's hard enough to get anything agreed in Europe in the technical space. It's hard to see how we'd have any influence on that score in a world where we had voted to leave." got, which can only be a good thing. It's really important, and with a vote to leave, it will become more difficult to achieve that energy union." will still have to comply with EU standards but we won't be on the committees. We won't be able to shape the standards or get an early start using them, as we won't know what's coming down the pipeline."