PART IIN.I.ELECTRICITY SUPPLY

Consumer protection: standards of performanceN.I.

[F1Standards of performance in individual cases: disputesN.I.

42A.—(1) Any dispute arising under Article 42 or regulations made under that Article—

[F2(a)may be referred to the Authority by either party or, with the agreement of either party, by the General Consumer Council, and such a reference shall be accompanied by such information as is necessary or expedient to allow a determination to be made in relation to the dispute; and]

(b)on such a reference, shall be determined by order made by the Authority.

(2) A person making an order under paragraph (1) shall include in the order his reasons for reaching his decision with respect to the dispute.

(3) [F3Subject to paragraph (3A), the practice and procedure] to be followed in connection with any such determination shall be such as may be prescribed.

[F4(3A) The procedures established under paragraph (3) shall provide for the determination of the dispute to be notified to the person making the reference within the requisite period or such longer period as the Authority may agree with that person.

(3B) For the purposes of paragraph (3A), 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 sent to the Authority under paragraph (1)(a) was in its opinion insufficient to enable it to make a determination, the period of 4 months from the date when the dispute was referred to the Authority.]

(4) An order under paragraph (1) shall be final and shall be enforceable as if it were a judgment of a county court.]

F1Arts. 42, 42A, 43, 43A, 43B substituted (3.7.2007 for art. 43B for certain purposes otherwise 1.11.2007) for arts. 42, 43 by Electricity Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 (S.R. 2007/321), regs. 1(2)(3), 10 (with transitional provisions in Pt. IV)