2—(1) Any dispute arising under section 1 or regulations made under that section—
[F1(a)may be referred to the Authority by either party or, with the agreement of either party, by the General Consumer Council, and such a reference shall be accompanied by such information as is necessary or expedient to allow a determination to be made in relation to the dispute; and]
(b)on such a reference, shall be determined by order made by the Authority.
(2) The Authority shall include in the order its reasons for reaching its decision with respect to the dispute.
(3) [F2Subject to subsection (3A), the practice and procedure] to be followed in connection with any such determination shall be such as may be prescribed by regulations made by the Department.
[F3(3A) The procedures established under subsection (3) shall provide for the determination of the dispute to be notified to the party making the reference within the requisite period or such longer period as the Authority may agree with that person.
(3B) For the purposes of subsection (3A) the requisite period in any case means—
(a)the period of 2 months from the date when the dispute was referred to the Authority; or
(b)where the information sent to the Authority under subsection (1)(a) was in its opinion insufficient to enable it to make a determination, the period of 4 months from the date the dispute was referred to the Authority.]
(4) An order under subsection (1) shall be final and shall be enforceable as if it were a judgment of a county court.
Textual Amendments
F1S. 2(1)(a) substituted (15.4.2011) by Gas and Electricity (Internal Markets) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011 (S.R. 2011/155), reg. 9(2)
F2Words in s. 2(3) substituted (15.4.2011) by Gas and Electricity (Internal Markets) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011 (S.R. 2011/155), reg. 9(3)