§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what regulations on interruptions to domestic electricity supplies will apply from April 2002; and what compensation will be available to residents whose supply is significantly interrupted after that date. [157583]
§ Mr. HainRegulations 17 and 23(1) of the Electricity Supply Regulations 1988, as amended, cover interruptions to domestic electricity supplies. Regulation 17 relates to the sufficiency of an electricity supplier's works and regulation 23(1) relates to the precautions, which a supplier has to take against supply failure. These requirements are to be carried forward in the draft Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2001. These draft regulations, which are currently at the public consultation stage, are expected to be in force by the end of this year.
Compensation payable to a resident if supply is not restored in a given time is covered by the Office of Gas and Electricity Market's (OFGEM's) Guaranteed Standards of performance. This is currently £50 plus £25 for each additional 12 hours if electricity supply is not restored within 18 hours of a fault. It is recognised, however, that changes to the Guaranteed Standards will be required from April 2002 but this is a matter that is currently under discussion. Also under consideration is a new Guaranteed Standard which covers the level of compensation payable to residents who have suffered more than a specified number of interruptions in a given period of time. That standard will apply from April 2002.