Comp-G-734 Complaint Determination
| Year | 2022 |
| Published date | 11 March 2022 |
| Energy Sector | Gas networks |
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24 February 2022
DISPUTE REFERRED TO THE UTILITY REGULATOR IN RELATION TO A BILLING
DISPUTE WITH SSE AIRTRICITY GAS NI LTD
FINAL DETERMINATION
24 February 2022
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24 February 2022
Contents
1 SECTION ONE - INTRODUCTION .................................................................. 3
2 SECTION TWO: THE PARTIES ..................................................................... 6
3 SECTION THREE: LEGAL AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK .................................... 7
4 SECTION FOUR: FACTUAL BACKGROUND TO THE DISPUTE AND THE RESPECTIVE VIEWS
OF THE PARTIES........................................................................................ 11
5 SECTION FIVE: ISSUES TO BE DETERMINED .................................................... 25
6 SECTION SIX: DETERMINATION .................................................................. 26
7 SECTION SEVEN: THE ORDER.................................................................... 41
8. SECTION EIGHT: CLOSING OBSERVATIONS .................................................... 42
Appendix 1 – Bundle of Documents ................................................................. 44
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24 February 2022
1 SECTION ONE - INTRODUCTION
1.1 On 11 August 2021, the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation (hereafter, the
Utility Regulator) received notification of a billing dispute (the Dispute) between
and SSE Airtricity Gas (NI) Limited (SSE): together, the Parties.
1.2 The Dispute between the Parties relates to charges levied by SSE for the supply of
gas to a domestic property owned by at , Belfast (the
Premises).
1.3 The Utility Regulator has accepted and determines the Dispute in accordance with (i)
the provisions of Art 24B of the Gas (NI) Order 1996, as amended (the 1996 Order)
and (ii) its Policy (the Disputes Policy) on the Resolution of Complaints, Disputes and
Appeals: Guide for Applicants dated 20 August 2018 (A3).
1.4 The Parties have been advised as to (i) the Utility Regulator’s decision to determine
the Dispute and (ii) the timetable to be applied in making that determination: see B96
and B98 respectively.1
1.5 The Utility Regulator has appointed myself, Mr Jody O’Boyle (Manager, Networks) to
determine the dispute (the Decision-Maker) (B93). I do so as a delegate of the Utility
Regulator and on its behalf.
1.6 This document is my Final Determination in respect of the Dispute and includes the
(final) Order I make under Art 24B (8) of the 1996 Order.
1.7 In making this Final Determination, I have reviewed and considered the following
materials and documents –
a) A Statement of Case (the Statement)(B125) prepared for me by the case
management team – the Statement sets out an overview of the background to the
Dispute, the applicable statutory and regulatory framework, the views of the
Parties in respect of the Dispute and the issues to be determined.
b) The documents which accompanied the Statement (and also copied to the
Parties), which include all of the submissions of the Parties.
1 That timetable has been adjusted as per the agreement of the Complainant reflected in document
B128
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