Today the Utility Regulator publishes its final decision for the ‘Back billing in the NI Retail Energy Market’ project.
Back bills have the potential to cause significant financial hardship, as well subjecting the recipients to varying degrees of inconvenience and stress. Where customers are not at fault, it is our view that they should be afforded some protection from long-term back bills.
The UR published a consultation seeking views on a proposal to limit back bills. After careful review of all responses, we have decided to proceed with the implementation of a 13 month limit on energy back bills. The obligation on suppliers will come into effect 1 September 2020, and will apply to domestic consumers and micro businesses, for both gas and electricity and across all payment types.
We have also published the proposed Licence Modifications (Article 14 notices) which reflect the decisions laid out in the in the final determination.
Responses to the proposed modifications may be submitted up to 12pm on 11 February 2020 to;
Colin Magee
Utility Regulator
Queens House
14 Queen Street
Belfast, BT1 6ED
email: colin.magee@uregni.gov.uk