AQW 9065/16-21

Ms Kellie Armstrong
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 19/12/2016
Answered On Date: 19/01/2017
Priority Written: Yes

Question:
To ask the Minister for the Economy for his assessment on the impact of the revocation of Open Electric’s licence on (i) their consumers; and (ii) the wider energy market.

Answer:

The actions taken by the Utility Regulator, Power NI and Northern Ireland Electricity Networks under the “Supplier of Last Resort” process have ensured no disruption to supply for the former customers of Open Electric. Power NI will write to all those affected providing a transfer pack containing essential information and the Regulator has published question and answer guidance on its website. Customers who have transferred may elect to remain with Power NI or switch to another supplier.

While Open Electric’s exit from the electricity supply market means one less supply option for customers it is important to put that into perspective. As a supplier that entered the market just over one year ago, it served just over one thousand customers.

With its exit from the market there are still five domestic electricity suppliers and eight active suppliers in the industrial and commercial market.