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18/09/2008
Power Probe Not Enough: SF
While a review is to be launched on rising power prices in NI, there has been a claim that the investigation wouldn't go far enough.
A Sinn Féin MLA has hit out at NI Economy Minister Arlene Foster over her plans for a review of rapidly rising electricity costs.
West Belfast MLA and Deputy Chairperson of the Assembly Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee, Jennifer McCann has said the proposed review of the electricity tariff setting process does not go far enough.
Speaking today Ms McCann said: "Sinn Féin would welcome the fact that Arlene Foster has finally gotten around to doing something with this pressing issue.
"Since meeting with the Utility Regulator before he approved the price hike, Arlene Foster has been practically invisible.
"The proper way to instil public confidence would have been for the DUP Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment to ask the Enterprise Trade and Investment Committee to initiate the review instead of the Regulator.
"Sinn Féin are concerned that public trust and confidence will not deliver through this review and feel that the Consumer Council and the DETI Committee need to be involved in setting the terms of reference and agreed objectives of the review."
However, Ms Foster, in announcing the review of escalating costs, which are set to rise by as much as a third within weeks, said: "The Utility Regulator has proposed terms of reference for this review which I believe are sufficiently wide to address major concerns."
She also commented that the recent price increases were of a scale that caused consumers "real anxiety".
(BMcC)
A Sinn Féin MLA has hit out at NI Economy Minister Arlene Foster over her plans for a review of rapidly rising electricity costs.
West Belfast MLA and Deputy Chairperson of the Assembly Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee, Jennifer McCann has said the proposed review of the electricity tariff setting process does not go far enough.
Speaking today Ms McCann said: "Sinn Féin would welcome the fact that Arlene Foster has finally gotten around to doing something with this pressing issue.
"Since meeting with the Utility Regulator before he approved the price hike, Arlene Foster has been practically invisible.
"The proper way to instil public confidence would have been for the DUP Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment to ask the Enterprise Trade and Investment Committee to initiate the review instead of the Regulator.
"Sinn Féin are concerned that public trust and confidence will not deliver through this review and feel that the Consumer Council and the DETI Committee need to be involved in setting the terms of reference and agreed objectives of the review."
However, Ms Foster, in announcing the review of escalating costs, which are set to rise by as much as a third within weeks, said: "The Utility Regulator has proposed terms of reference for this review which I believe are sufficiently wide to address major concerns."
She also commented that the recent price increases were of a scale that caused consumers "real anxiety".
(BMcC)
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