Brussels, 28/02/2002 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has given the green light to aid decided upon by the British government for Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) to cover stranded costs related to long-term power purchase agreements with four electricity generators. Following the liberalisation of the UK electricity sector at the beginning of the 90s, long-term fixed price power purchase agreements were signed by the NIE with the four electricity generators in Northern Ireland. Due to the fixed prices, these power purchase agreements may result in stranded costs for NIE in the years to come, of up to UK£ 50 million a year. In order to cover these potential stranded costs, a levy will be imposed on all end consumers and transferred to NIE. The Commission concluded that the levy did not include any transfer of state resources whatsoever and was therefore not state aid.