Gov to Seek Gas Disconnection Safeguarding Powers

The gov will propose urgent legislation aimed at providing CoMin with the ability to prevent disconnection for gas customers in certain circumstances.

The Bill will be moved at next week’s sitting of the House of Keys.

This power is intended as a safeguard to protect domestic gas customers from disconnection, for those households needing additional protection in key winter months.

Minister for the Cabinet Office, Kate Lord-Brennan will seek support to take the Gas Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2023 through each of its stages at Tuesday’s sitting

If approved, the Bill would then be immediately passed to the Legislative Council, where Bill Henderson MLC would also seek support to take the Bill through each of its stages in a single sitting.

The key measure is to give ministers the power to make an Order to specify circumstances where gas customers may not be disconnected for non-payment.  The intention in the making of any Order would relate to premises for domestic gas customers who may need additional protection.

Minister Lord-Brennan said: ‘There has been growing reports in recent weeks over customers being disconnected from their gas supply and in some cases this has caused great distress.  The Council of Ministers has viewed this with significant concern and sought to identify what action can be taken to better protect people.  It is clear that additional safeguards by way of legislative measures are now appropriate as a backstop, notwithstanding Isle of Man Energy publishing its disconnection policy.’

Any resulting Order, if able to be made by CoMin, is expected to at least mirror protections in the UK for certain identified groups determined to be more vulnerable or at risk.  Work on the policy and drafting of a potential order is underway.