ESB Independent Energy says NIE's delays in adapting meters are frustrating its new customers, writes Ian Graham.

A war of words broke out yesterday between Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) and its southern counterpart over the supply of cheaper electricity to business customers in the North through the opening up of the market to competition.

ESB Independent Energy (ESBIE) accused NIE of delaying a switch-over by customers who want to buy their electricity from them at a lower price.

It claimed that, as a result, 500 businesses were losing out on energy savings. NIE branded the ESBIE accusation as "nonsense".

Mr Sean O'Loughlin, ESBIE Northern Ireland supply manager, said customers who chose to switch from NIE to his company often required an adjustment to their meter and that was done by NIE.

He said it was not putting enough resources in place to handle the number of customers who wanted to switch.

"We have been working with the electricity regulator and with NIE over the past number of months but, as yet, no satisfactory solution has been offered," he said.

Mr O'Loughlin added: "As it stands, we are in a situation where upwards of 500 business customers, who have signed over to ESBIE, are not only prevented by NIE practices from changing supplier, but must continue to pay higher electricity charges to NIE than they would otherwise be paying to ESBIE."

Following the intervention of the Regulator, NIE had agreed to raise the limit on installations in January and again in March next year, but this still fell far short of what was required, said ESB.

NIE estimated the existing backlog would not be cleared before August next year. Given that ESB would continue to sign new customers (currently 400 a month), the situation was "wholly unacceptable" on the eve of the full business market opening, said Mr O'Loughlin.

However, Mr Robin Greer, spokesman for NIE, dismissed the accusations. "This is nonsense. NIE is absolutely on top of its obligations in facilitating the registration of eligible customers," he said.

"ESB were part of the industry group that agreed the planned implementation of meters to facilitate market opening," he said. "Now they are asking for something different."Arrangements had been made to ensure that market opening would occur in a manner that was equitable to all electricity suppliers.

"Any change to these arrangements would be unfair to other suppliers who have planned marketing activities and resource levels according to the agreed plan. It will also impose additional costs on customers," said Mr Greer.

The Federation of Small Businesses urged greater progress in the opening up of the electricity market.