THE lowest number of disconnections ever reported by Northern Electric was announced today.

The company, many of whose 1.4 million domestic customers live in North Yorkshire, cut off just 27 people for non-payment of electricity supply last year - a drop of as much as 60 per cent on the 1996 figure of 68 and a record low.

Adrian Hinchcliffe, Northern Electric's director of customer billing and information services said it was company policy to avoid disconnections when possible.

He said: "It is in nobody's interests for disconnection to take place and we always try to take an understanding position with customers who may be going through a period of financial hardship, particularly those with young children or the elderly and infirm.

"We will always offer customers an alternative payment arrangement or a prepayment meter to help them make payments for their supplies at a rate they can afford.

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