Republican News · Thursday 23 January 2003

NIE meter scheme slammed

Lisburn Sinn Féin councillor Michael Ferguson has criticised an attempt by Northern Ireland Electricity to install new pay as you use meters in homes of people who have accumulated debts on electricity charges.

Ferguson has revealed that the new meters will be installed by engineers who will be guarded by members of the PSNI.

"People owing money to the NIE will initially be contacted by letter and should they fail to settle their accounts, employees of NIE will be empowered to enter homes alongside the PSNI and replace meters," said Ferguson.

Ferguson told An Phoblacht some NIE staff have contacted Sinn Féin to register their unesae at being involved in this exercise and of being accompanied by PSNI members.

The Sinn Féin man accused the NIE of placing their own workers in a scandalous position and of foisting further hardship on many of the most impoverished in our communities.

"The NIE will be inflicting further hardship on the most disadvantaged in our society by installing these meters. Instead of focusing on how to boost their already substantial profits they should consider the current astronomical charges which people in the Six Counties have to pay. Electricity charges in the North are the highest in both Britain and Ireland."

He added the result of this scheme if it goes ahead will be that the financially disadvantaged will be left without electricity. "We need legislation which will cover senior citizens and people on benefit from having services withdrawn from their homes by the NIE, as the current legislation only covers homes where children under five reside."

Last year, television licence detector vans accompanied by members of the PSNI visited homes in West Belfast.