Electricity (Standards of Performance) (Amendment) Regulations 1999

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regualtions.)

These Regulations amend the Electricity (Standards of Performance) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1993 (“the principal Regulations”). In addition to minor and drafting of amendments, they make the amendments set out below.

Regulation 5 introduces a new regulation 8A and a new regulation 8B into the principal Regulations. Regulation 8A provides that where a supplier is informed that a meter may be operating outside the permitted limits of variation, the supplier must pay a prescribed sum (where an inspection is needed) if no offer to visit the customer’s premises is made within a prescribed period or the supplier fails to keep an appointment, or (where no inspection is necessary) if the supplier does not respond within a prescribed period. Regulation 8B requires a supplier to pay a prescribed sum if an appropriate person fails to attend a customer’s premises within a prescribed period in order to repair or replace a prepayment meter which has been notified to it (otherwise than by post) as defective.

Regulation 6 introduces into regulation 9 of the principal Regulations an additional requirement, where a supplier’s response to a customer’s query in relation to the correctness of an account states that a payment is due from the supplier to the customer, to pay the amount due within a prescribed period and to make a payment of a prescribed sum on failure to do so.

Regulations 7 and 9 make consequential amendments.

Regulation 8 amends regulation 13 of the principal Regulations by imposing a new requirement on a supplier. Where the supplier has notified the customer that a payment under the principal Regulations is due to the customer, the supplier must, in addition to the notification, pay the sum due to the customer within the prescribed period and make a payment of the prescribed sum on failure to do so.

Regulation 10 removes from regulation 15 of the principal Regulations provision providing that certain information held in a supplier’s records shall, unless the contrary is proved, be presumed to be correct.

Regulation 11 substitutes a new Schedule of prescribed periods and prescribed sums. It also defines working hours as the period between 7.00 a.m. and 7.00 p.m. on working days and between 9.00 am and 5.00 pm on any other day.