Manx Gas has denied a government Minister’s claims that it didn’t ’positively engage’ over a new regulatory deal .

Tynwald last week unanimously approved a motion calling for gas regulation to be introduced, covering tariffs for all customers.

The move came after government and Manx Gas failed to finalise an agreement approved in principle last year.

A motion tabled by Douglas Central MHK Chris Thomas was amended by Middle MHK Bill Shimmins to include a deadline of April 30.

Policy and Reform Minister Ray Harmer said the signing of a new deal had not been possible ’due to the lack of positive engagement with Manx Gas’.

He said voluntary regulation was still an option but was looking ’increasingly unlikely’.

The Minister warned Manx Gas that ’the time for lobbying and aggressive correspondence was over’ and urged the utility not to use the rebate promised to customers as ’some form of blackmail’.

Mr Harmer gave his commitment that any agreement would be brought to Tynwald for approval before it is signed.

But he added: ’We will not be party to any agreement that does not provide the gas customers with the level of protection we feel is necessary’.

A Manx Gas spokesman said: ’We do not recognise the facts as presented by the Minister or the government.

’Following the Tynwald vote in November in support of the deal agreed between Manx Gas and the government, we have sought to engage with the Minister/senior cabinet officials on 29 occasions but received only a handful of acknowledgements and no response to repeated requests to meet.

’Voluntary regulation ensures a safe, secure supply of gas to the island, with lower prices from 2021 onwards and a rebate on last year’s bills.

’We stand ready and willing to formalise the agreement, and to pass refunds to the thousands of customers.’

The motion calls for the Communications and Regulatory Utilities Authority to introduce regulation covering the tariffs for the public supply of gas for all customers.

It also calls for ’rebalanced pricing of gas for all customers’.

Tynwald voted in November to accept the heads of terms of a new voluntary gas deal.

Under the previous regulatory agreement signed in 2015, Manx Gas was controversially guaranteed a 9.99% return.

Under the new terms, profits would be capped at just below 7% for accounts for domestic customers who would also receive a refund averaging at £93.

Royal Assent has been announced to the Gas Regulation (Amendment) Act 2021.