Timeline: Renewable Heat Incentive scandal
The Renewable heat Incentive (RHI) scheme was an energy initiative set up to encourage businesses in Northern Ireland to switch from fossil fuels to renewable sources.
But major flaws in its set-up and implementation meant the scheme risked going vastly over budget, with fears that the overspend could reach as much as £700m over 20 years. The scheme was shut in 2016 and deep cuts in subsidies introduced in 2017 and 2019 brought it within budget. A top civil servant has since told MPs that the overspend figure had actually been just over £33m before the measures to curb spending were introduced. BBC News NI outlines the history of the scheme and how it led to the collapse of devolution in Northern Ireland. November 2012 2013 Late 2014 January 2015 February 2016 July 2016 October 2016 8 December 2016 12 December 2016 14 December 2016 15 December 2016 21 December 2016 4 January 2017 5 January 2017 9 January 2017 10 January 2017 11 January 2017 13 January 2017 16 January 2017 19 January 2017 21 January 2017 23 January 2017 24 January 2017 1 March 2017 16 March 2017 6 April 2017 27 April 2017 8 May 2017 24 May 2017 30 June 2017 16 August 2017 8 September 2017 18 September 2017 October 2017 7 November 2017