Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what is the rate of interest applied by the Northern Ireland Electricity Service to overdue sums for current consumed;
(2) what is now the total interest due of overdue bills for electricity in Northern Ireland whether the interest due is added 221W to the overdue bills or divided over all bills issued and, if divided over all bills, what is the basis of the charge applied to each bill.
§ Mr. Concannon, pursuant to his replies [Official Report 5 February 1979; Vol. 962, c. 81], gave the following information:
222WThe Northern Ireland electricity service is not empowered to charge interest on overdue accounts and questions relating to the computation of such interest do not arise. The extra costs to the service imposed by arrears in payment of accounts have so far been borne by the Service, with assistance from public funds, and have not been reflected in its tariffs.