Energy regulator will not change rules

THE energy regulator has thrown out proposals to stop electricity customers switching suppliers to avoid being cut off for unpaid bills.

The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) said over the weekend that it would not change rules governing the power market to prevent customers in arrears from signing up with a different supplier.

It told power supply companies to come up with other ways of ensuring that customers paid up. The electricity supply market was fully opened up to competition earlier this year, allowing new suppliers to challenge the ESB and provide electricity to household customers.