Mr. John David Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the value of the deposit to be paid by a tenant to the Northern Ireland Electricity Service before the electricity supply is connected to (a) a flat owned by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and (b) a flat which is privately owned; and why there is a difference.
§ Mr. ButlerI am advised by the Northern Ireland Electricity Service that no deposit is payable by a tenant before electricity is connected to a flat owned by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive or to privately owned unfurnished premises, unless the tenant is known to be a credit risk. A security deposit of £75 is, however, normally payable in advance by tenants of furnished accommodation. The deposit is refundable and attracts interest during the term of deposit. This is similar to practice in Great576W Britain, and was introduced by the Northern Ireland Electricity Service to minimise the level of untraceable consumer debt.