Consumer protection: miscellaneousN.I.
Functions with respect to competitionN.I.
23. Para. (1) rep. by 2002 c. 40
[F1(2) The functions to which paragraph (2A) applies shall be concurrent functions of the Director and the Office of Fair Trading.
(2A) This paragraph applies to the functions of the Office of Fair Trading under Part 4 of the Enterprise Act 2002 (other than sections 166 and 171) so far as relating to commercial activities connected with the conveyance, storage or supply of gas.
(2B) So far as necessary for the purposes of, or in connection with, paragraphs (2) and (2A), references in Part 4 of the Act of 2002 to the Office of Fair Trading (including references in provisions of that Act applied by that Part) shall be construed as including references to the Director (except in sections 166 and 171 of that Act and in any other provision of that Act where the context otherwise requires).]
[F2[F3(3) The Director shall be entitled to exercise, concurrently with the Office of Fair Trading, the functions of the Office of Fair Trading under the provisions of Part 1 of the Competition Act 1998 (other than sections 31D(1) to (6), 38(1) to (6) and 51), so far as relating to—
(a)agreements, decisions or concerted practices of the kind mentioned in section 2(1) of that Act,
(b)conduct of the kind mentioned in section 18(1) of that Act,
(c)agreements, decisions or concerted practices of the kind mentioned in Article 81(1) of the treaty establishing the European Community, or
(d)conduct which amounts to abuse of the kind mentioned in Article 82 of the treaty establishing the European Community,
connected with the conveyance, storage or supply of gas.]
(3A) So far as necessary for the purposes of , or in connection with, the provisions of paragraph (3), references in Part I of the Competition Act 1998 to[F1 the Office of Fair Trading] are to be read as including a reference to the Director ([F3 except in sections 31D(1) to (6), 38(1) to (6)], 51, 52(6) and (8) and 54 of that Act and in any other provision of that Act where the context otherwise requires).]
[F1(4) Before the Office of Fair Trading or the Director first exercises in relation to any matter functions which are exercisable concurrently by virtue of paragraph (2), it or he shall consult the other.
(4A) Neither the Office of Fair Trading nor the Director shall exercise in relation to any matter functions which are exercisable concurrently by virtue of paragraph (2) if functions which are so exercisable have been exercised in relation to that matter by the other.]
(5) It shall be the duty of the Director, for the purpose of assisting the[F4 Competition Commission] in carrying out an investigation on a reference made to them by the Director by virtue of paragraph (2)F5. . . , to give to the Commission—
(a)any information which is in his possession and which relates to matters falling within the scope of the investigation and—
(i)is requested by the Commission for that purpose; or
(ii)is information which in his opinion it would be appropriate for that purpose to give to the Commission without any such request; and
(b)any other assistance which the Commission may require and which it is within his power to give, in relation to any such matters,
and the Commission shall, for the purposes of carrying out any such investigation, take into account any information given to them for that purpose under this paragraph.
(6) If any question arises as to whether paragraph (2) or (3) applies to any particular case, that question shall be referred to and determined by the Department; and no objection shall be taken to anything done under—
(a)[F1Part 4 of the Enterprise Act 2002] (reports of[F4 Competition Commission]); or
[F2(b)Part I of the Competition Act 1998 ([F3 other than sections 31D(1) to (6), 38(1) to (6)] and 51),]
by or in relation to the Director on the ground that it should have been done by or in relation to[F1 the Office of Fair Trading].
[F1(7) Section 117 of the Enterprise Act 2002 (offences of supplying false or misleading information) as applied by section 180 of that Act shall have effect so far as relating to functions exercisable by the Director by virtue of paragraph (2) as if the references in section 117(1)(a) and (2) to the Office of Fair Trading included references to the Director.]
Para. (8) rep. by 2002 c. 40
(9) References in this Part to functions of the Director under this Part include references to functions[F2[F1 exercisable by the Director by virtue of paragraph (2) or (3)].]
Fixing of maximum charges for reselling gasN.I.
24.—(1) This Article applies to gas supplied to a consumer's premises by an authorised gas supplier, that is to say, a person who is authorised by a licence or exemption to supply gas to those premises.
(2) The Director shall from time to time direct that the maximum prices at which gas to which this Article applies may be resold—
(a)shall be such as may be specified in the direction; or
(b)shall be calculated by such method and by reference to such matters as may be so specified,
and shall publish directions under this Article in such manner as in his opinion will secure adequate publicity for them.
(3) A direction under this Article may—
(a)require any person who resells gas to which this Article applies to furnish the purchaser with such information as may be specified or described in the direction; and
(b)provide that, in the event of his failing to do so, the maximum price applicable to the resale shall be such as may be specified in the direction or shall be reduced by such amount or such percentage as may be so specified.
(4) Different directions may be given under this Article in different classes of cases, which may be defined by reference to areas, tariffs applicable to gas supplied by the authorised gas suppliers or any other relevant circumstances.
(5) If any person resells gas to which this Article applies at a price exceeding the maximum price determined by or under a direction under this Article and applicable to the resale—
(a)the amount of the excess; and
(b)if the direction so provides, interest on that amount at a rate specified or described in the direction,
shall be recoverable by the purchaser.
(6) Nothing in this Article shall apply in relation to the resale of gas for use in a motor vehicle which is constructed or adapted to use gas as fuel for its propulsion.
[F6Suppliers of Last ResortN.I.
24A.—(1) Where it appears to the Authority that—
(a)circumstances have arisen which would entitle it to revoke the licence of a gas supplier (“the defaulting supplier”); and
(b)another gas supplier could comply with a direction under paragraph (2) without significantly prejudicing his ability—
(i)to continue to supply his customers; and
(ii)to fulfil his contractual obligations for the supply of gas,
the Authority may give such a direction to that supplier (“the designated supplier”).
(2) A direction under this paragraph—
(a)shall require the designated supplier to supply gas to such customers of the defaulting supplier in such premises as are specified or described in the direction; and
(b)may include such other requirements or prohibitions as are, in the opinion of the Authority, reasonably incidental or to consequential upon the requirement to supply.
(3) A direction under paragraph (2) shall specify the terms and conditions under which the designated supplier shall supply gas to any other customer to which the direction relates, including in particular the terms and conditions in relation to—
(a)the termination of supply; and
(b)the method for calculating the charges for supply:
and may specify the terms and conditions under which the designated supplier shall do anything else in pursuance of the direction.
(4) A direction under paragraph (2) may also modify the supply licence of the designated supplier or the conditions included in that licence where it is necessary or expedient for the purposes of ensuring that the supplier can comply with any requirement or prohibition under that direction.
(5) Upon being given a direction under paragraph (2) the designated supplier shall send a notice to those customers of the defaulting supplier to which the direction relates giving such particulars and containing such information as the Authority may specify in the direction.
(6) Where the customer is supplied by gas by a designated supplier in pursuance of a direction under paragraph (2), a contract for the supply of gas shall be deemed to exist between the customer and the designated supplier from the date on which the supply of gas commenced to the date the direction ceases to have effect.
(7) A direction under paragraph (2) may be made subject to such conditions as the Authority may specify in the directions.
(8) A direction under paragraph (2) shall take effect from such date as may be specified in the direction and shall continue for such period (being no longer than six months) as may be specified in the direction and shall then cease to have effect.
(9) In this Article—
“gas supplier” means a person who is authorised by a licence to supply gas to specified persons or premises;
“customer” in relation to a gas supplier means the persons or the occupier of the premises so specified;
“licence” means a licence granted under Article 8(1)(c); and
“specified” has the same meaning as in Article 8(1).]
F6Art. 24A inserted (29.1.2010) by Gas (Supplier of Last Resort) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 (S.R. 2009/412), reg. 2(2)
Yn ddilys o 12/04/2013
[F7Billing disputesN.I.
24B.—(1) A billing dispute—
(a)may be referred by the customer who is party to the dispute to the Authority for determination in accordance with this Article; and
(b)on such a reference, shall be determined by order made by the Authority or, if the Authority thinks fit, an arbitrator appointed by the Authority.
(2) In this Article “billing dispute” means a dispute between the gas supplier and a customer concerning the amount of the charge which the supplier is entitled to recover from a customer in connection with the provision of gas supply services.
(3) The practice and procedure to be followed in connection with the determination of billing disputes shall be such as the Authority thinks appropriate and shall be published by the Authority.
(4) Except with the consent of the Authority, no billing dispute may be referred for determination under this Article—
(a)unless the matter in dispute has first been referred to the General Consumer Council pursuant to Article 22 of the Energy (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 and the matter has not been resolved to the satisfaction of the customer within 3 months of the matter being referred to the General Consumer Council;
(b)after the end of the period of 12 months after the end of the period in respect of which the charge which is the subject of the dispute applies.
(5) Where a billing dispute is referred to the Authority, an order under this Article shall be made and notified to the parties to the dispute within the requisite period or such longer periods as the Authority may agree with the person referring the dispute.
(6) For the purposes of paragraph (5), the requisite period in any case means—
(a)the period of 2 months from the date when the dispute was referred to the Authority; or
(b)where the information given to the Authority in relation to the dispute was in its opinion insufficient to enable a determination to be made, the period of 4 months from the date the dispute was referred to the Authority.
(7) A person making an order under this Article shall include in the order his reasons for reaching the decision with respect to the dispute.
(8) An order under this Article—
(a)may include provision requiring either party to the dispute to pay a sum in respect of the costs and expenses of the person making the order; and
(b)shall be final and enforceable as if it were a judgment of the county court.
(9) In including in an order under this Article any such provision as to costs or expenses as is mentioned in paragraph (8)(a), the person making the order shall have regard to the conduct and means of the parties and any other relevant circumstances.
(10) The Authority or the arbitrator appointed by him shall not determine any billing dispute which is the subject of proceedings before, or with respect to which judgment has been given by, any court.
(11) Neither party to any billing dispute which has been referred to the Authority for determination in accordance with this Article shall commence proceedings before any court in respect of that dispute pending the determination of the dispute in accordance with this Article.
(12) A gas supplier may not commence proceedings before any court in respect of any charge in connection with the provision by him of gas supply services unless, not less than 28 days before doing so, the customer concerned was informed by him, in such form and manner (if any) as may be required by any conditions of the gas supplier's licence, of—
(a)his intention to commence proceedings; and
(b)the customer's rights by virtue of this Article.
(13) The powers of the Authority under Article 30 shall also be exercisable for any purpose connected with the determination of any billing dispute referred to him in accordance with this Article as they are exercisable for a purpose mentioned in paragraph (1) of that Article.]
Arts. 25, 26 rep. by 2003 NI 6