The paper has been published following consideration of the responses to the Utility Regulator\u2019s consultation on \u2018Improving the Non-domestic Consumer Experience,\u2019 which was published in October 2024.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\nAs the implementation of three of the measures outlined within the position paper will require formal gas and electricity supply licence modifications, the Utility Regulator has also published consultations on the proposed\u00a0licence modifications, or \u2018Article 14 notices,\u2019\u00a0which reflect the suggested measures laid out in the paper.<\/p>\n
The proposed modifications include the introduction of a new requirement for electricity and gas suppliers to provide transparent price information for small business consumers on their websites.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A second licence modification\u00a0proposes a requirement for suppliers to identify whether there are alternative options to requesting a security deposit from small business consumers, and a requirement to provide these consumers with clear information about when their security deposit will be returned.<\/p>\n
The third licence modification proposal is the implementation of a requirement specifying that a\u00a0deemed\u00a0contract for non-domestic customers must not require the customer to give any form of notice before changing supplier.<\/p>\n
Other proposed changes within the position paper include a requirement for suppliers to publish information signposting to customer support services. This is to be introduced via a new \u2018Non-domestic Code of Practice on minimum standards on Payment of Bills\u2019. A draft Code of Practice is expected to be consulted upon in Autumn 2025.<\/p>\n
Colin Magee, Non-domestic Consumer Protection Manager at the Utility Regulator says: \u201cProtecting the interests of Northern Ireland\u2019s consumers of electricity, gas and water lies at the heart of our work here at the Utility Regulator.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe understand that rising energy costs are an ongoing challenge for small business consumers across Northern Ireland and as such, are delighted to introduce our \u2018Improving the Non-domestic Consumer Experience\u2019 position paper.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is hoped that modifications to the regulatory framework proposed within will lead to increased protections for non-domestic energy consumers.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe welcome responses to the associated licence modification consultations and hope that implementation of the proposed changes will\u00a0improve the retail energy market for non-domestic consumers.\u201d<\/p>\n
Responses to the consultations on the proposed licence modifications should be submitted by 5:00pm on 4 August 2025.<\/p>\n
To find out more about the \u2018Improving the Non-domestic Consumer Experience\u2019 position paper and how to respond to the consultations, visit:\u00a0www.uregni.gov.uk<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Utility Regulator has published its \u2018Improving the Non-domestic Consumer Experience\u2019 position paper, which aims to enhance protections…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":237362,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5011],"tags":[1144,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-237361","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-northern-ireland","8":"tag-northern-ireland","9":"tag-uk","10":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114794913011523890","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/237361","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=237361"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/237361\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/237362"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=237361"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=237361"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=237361"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}