APPENDIX 3
Memorandum submitted by the Department
of Economic Development Northern Ireland
ENQUIRY INTO ELECTRICITY SUPPLY PROBLEMS IN NORTHERN
IRELAND OVER CHRISTMAS
1998 AND NEW YEAR 1999 PERIODS
1. The Department of Economic Development is
the Government Department responsible for energy matters in Northern
Ireland.
2. Following the restructuring of the electricity
industry in Northern Ireland in the early 1990's, statutory responsibility
for the protection of consumers in respect of continuity of supply
and quality of supply services provided rests with the independent
Director General of Electricity Supply for Northern Ireland ("the
Electricity Regulator"). The relevant provisions are contained
in the Electricity (Northern Ireland) Order 1992.
3. The severe storms which affected Northern
Ireland on 26 December 1998 and succeeding days caused widespread
disruption to the electricity system. Some 165,000 consumers were
off supply at the peak of the storm on Boxing Day.
4. The Regulator's Office wrote to Northern
Ireland Electricity (NIE) on 31 December 1998 (i) seeking detailed
information in the form of a questionnaire on the impact of the
power disruptions and the actions taken by the company to restore
supplies; and (ii) requesting a report on:
— the arrangements put in place to
keep customers informed during the emergency;
— the arrangements for customers with
special electrical needs and other vulnerable customers;
— the NIE assessment of the problems
with the use of emergency and helpline numbers;
— the NIE assessment of any problems
associated with lack of local knowledge amongst call handling
staff; and
— the actions planned following the
company's review of the emergency.
5. NIE submitted a preliminary response to the
Regulator on 14 January and a detailed final report on 27 January.
The Regulator plans, on completion of his analysis, to publish
the NIE report along with his conclusions on how NIE needs to
improve its systems, including those for providing information
to consumers, for dealing with future emergency situations.
6. The Secretary of State met Dr Patrick Haren,
Group Chief Executive, Viridian Group Plc (the holding company
of NIE Plc) on 6 January 1999. She expressed her concerns about
the problems encountered by consumers over the Christmas and New
Year holiday periods and requested a report on the company's response
to the widespread and lengthy disruptions by the end of January.
NIE agreed to provide the response requested by the Secretary
of State.
7. Ministers look forward to receiving the considered
views of the Regulator, following his analysis of the detailed
reports submitted by NIE, on the company's performance over the
Christmas and New Year periods and, in particular, on the measures
he wishes the company to take in the event of future emergency
situations to ensure (i) the physical impact on the network is
minimised; (ii) effective and timely arrangements to restore supply
are in place; and (iii) a revised and fully tested system for
informing consumers—individually and collectively—on
the supply situation is in place.
8. Ministers may wish to take an appropriate
opportunity to meet again with senior management in NIE to reiterate
the importance Government places in the company having flexible,
deliverable and customers focused plans for dealing with future
emergencies.
1 February 1999
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