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Energy Act 1983

Current text a fecha 1983-05-09

PART I — Electricity

Private generation and supply

Removal of restrictions on supply etc.

1

Section 23 of the Electric Lighting Act 1909 (which prohibits persons other than Electricity Boards from commencing to supply or distribute electricity) and section 11 of the Electricity (Supply) Act 1919 (which restricts the establishment and extension of generating stations) shall cease to have effect.

Notice of construction or extension of generating stations

2

shall give written notice of his proposal to the Area Board for the area in which the station is or will be or, if it is or will be within the district of a Scottish Board, to that Board.

Nuclear-powered generating stations

3

Hydro-electric generating stations in Scotland

4

Private generators and Electricity Boards

5

the Board shall offer to comply with the request unless on technical grounds it would not be reasonably practicable to do so.

Charges for supplies by Electricity Boards

6

Charges for purchases by Electricity Boards

7

Charges for use of transmission and distribution systems

8

the terms of the offer made by the Board under section 5 above shall specify the charge proposed by the Board and any arrangements proposed for its revision.

Disputes as to offers under section 5 etc.

9

may be referred to the Secretary of State for determination by him or, if he thinks fit, by an arbitrator (or in Scotland an arbiter) appointed by him.

Further provisions as to charges under sections 7 and 8

10

Arrangements between Electricity Boards

11

the request shall be treated as if it had been made to the second Board.

Meters to be of approved pattern

12

Duty of Boards to supply

13

In section 27 of the Schedule to the Electric Lighting (Clauses) Act 1899 as incorporated with the Electricity Act 1947 (duty to supply premises within fifty yards of a distributing main) after subsection (1) there shall be inserted—

(1A) Subsection (1) of this section shall not apply in relation to premises to which a supply of energy is already given, directly from electric lines belonging to the Undertakers, by a private supplier.

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Inspection and testing of lines etc.

14

Miscellaneous and general

Amendments relating to meters

15

The enactments mentioned in Schedule 1 to this Act shall have effect subject to the amendments specified in that Schedule.

Regulations relating to supply and safety

16

Charges for availability of supply

17

(4A) Tariffs fixed under this section may include charges in respect of the availability of a supply of electricity, and such a charge may vary according to the extent to which the supply is taken up. (4B) Where the Electricity Council is consulted as to a tariff which includes a charge of the kind referred to in subsection (4A) of this section, the Council shall consult the Secretary of State as to the methods by which and the principles on which the charge is to be made.

;

and section 23 of the Electricity (Supply) Act 1922 (annual payments for standby supplies) shall cease to have effect.

(3A) Tariffs fixed under this section may include charges in respect of the availability of a supply of electricity, and such a charge may vary according to the extent to which the supply is taken up. (3B) Before fixing under subsection (1) a tariff which includes a charge of the kind referred to in subsection (3A), a Board shall consult the Secretary of State as to the methods by which and the principles on which the charge is to be made.

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Purchases by Electricity Boards from local authorities

18

as it applies to disputes within section 9(1)(a) to (e).

Combined heat and power

19

(1) It shall be the duty of every Electricity Board to adopt and support schemes— (a) for the combined production of heat and electricity, and (b) for the use of heat produced in combination with electricity, or incidentally from its generation, for the heating of buildings or for other useful purposes. (2) Nothing in subsection (1) of this section— (a) shall remove the need for an Area Board to obtain the approval of the Secretary of State under section 6 of the Electricity Act 1957 to proposals for the generation of electricity by the Board, or (b) shall require an Electricity Board to undertake expenditure in connection with a scheme which does not meet the financial criteria applied by the Board in relation to other expenditure of the Board.

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(15) (1) It shall be the duty of each Board to adopt and support schemes— (a) for the combined production of heat and electricity, and (b) for the use of heat produced in combination with electricity, or incidentally from its generation, for the heating of buildings or for other useful purposes. (2) For the purposes of a scheme under subsection (1), a Board may, in accordance with a scheme submitted by them to the Secretary of State and approved by order made with or without modification by him, exercise the powers conferred by section 13(8) for the purposes of that section, and section 13(9) shall apply in relation to the manner in which the powers are exercisable. (3) Nothing in subsection (1) shall require a Board to undertake expenditure in connection with a scheme which does not meet the financial criteria applied by the Board in relation to other expenditure of the Board.

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Abolition of rights of entry

20

In the Schedule to the Electric Lighting (Clauses) Act 1899 (as incorporated with the Electricity Act 1947 or any other enactment), the following provisions (which give rights to enter premises for purposes connected with the supply and maintenance of meters) shall cease to have effect—

The Electricity Consumers' Council

21

Functions of other bodies in relation to Electricity Consumers' Council

22

(4A) Each of the said Councils— (a) may make representations to the Electricity Consumers' Council on any matter which has been considered by them under subsection (4) of this section and affects the interests of consumers or prospective consumers of electricity in the area or of any class of those consumers, and (b) shall consider and report to the Electricity Consumers' Council on any matter which may be referred to them by that Council.

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Offences

23

Regulations: general

24

Any power to make regulations conferred on the Secretary of State by this Part of this Act—

Amendments

25

The enactments mentioned in Schedule 3 to this Act shall have effect subject to the amendments specified in that Schedule (being minor amendments and amendments consequential on the preceding provisions of this Part of this Act).

Interpretation of Part I

26

In this Part of this Act—

PART II — Nuclear Installations

Limitation of operators' liability

27

(1A) The Secretary of State may with the approval of the Treasury by order increase or further increase either or both of the amounts specified in subsection (1) of this section; but an order under this subsection shall not affect liability in respect of any occurrence before (or beginning before) the order comes into force.

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(5A) The amount that a person may claim by virtue of subsection (5) of this section shall not exceed the amount of the payment made by him and, in the case of a claim made by virtue of paragraph (b) of that subsection, shall not exceed the amount applicable under section 16(1) or (2) of this Act to the person subject to the duty in question.

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(1A) In this section " the required amount", in relation to the provision to be made by a licensee in respect of a cover period, means an aggregate amount equal to the amount applicable under section 16(1) of this Act to the licensee, as licensee of the site in question, in respect of an occurrence within that period.

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(2A) When the amount applicable under section 16(1) of this Act to a licensee of a site changes as a result of— (a) the coming into force of an order under section 16(1A) or of regulations made for the purposes of section 16(1), or (b) an alteration relating to the site which brings it within, or takes it outside, the description prescribed by such regulations, the current cover period relating to him as licensee of that site shall end and a new cover period shall begin.

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General cover for compensation

28

(1A) The aggregate amount referred to in subsection (1) of this section is the equivalent in sterling of 300 million special drawing rights on— (a) the day (or first day) of the occurrence in question, or (b) if the Secretary of State certifies that another day has been fixed in relation to the occurrence in accordance with an international agreement, that other day. (1B) The Secretary of State may with the approval of the Treasury by order increase or further increase the sum expressed in special drawing rights in subsection (1A) of this section; but an order under this subsection shall not have effect in respect of an occurrence before (or beginning before) the order comes into force.

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(4) In relation to liability by virtue of any relevant foreign law, there shall be left out of account for the purposes of subsection (1) of this section any claim which, though made within the relevant period, was made after the expiration of any period of limitation imposed by that law and permitted by a relevant international agreement. (4A) Where— (a) a relevant foreign law provides in pursuance of a relevant international agreement for sums additional to those referred to in subsection (1)(a) of this section to be made available out of public funds, but (b) the maximum aggregate amount of compensation for which it provides in respect of an occurrence in pursuance of that agreement is less than that specified in subsection (1A) of this section, then, in relation to liability by virtue of that law in respect of the occurrence, subsection (1) of this section shall have effect as if for the reference to the amount so specified there were substituted a reference to the maximum aggregate amount so provided. (4B) Where a relevant foreign law does not make the provision mentioned in subsection (4A) (a) of this section, then in relation to liability by virtue of that law in respect of any occurrence— (a) subsection (1) of this section shall not have effect unless the person (or one of the persons) liable is a licensee, the Authority or the Crown ; and (b) if a licensee, the Authority or the Crown is liable, subsection (1) shall have effect as if for the reference to the amount specified in subsection (1A) there were substituted a reference to the amount which would be applicable to that person under section 16(1) of this Act in respect of the occurrence (or, if more than one such person is liable, to the aggregate of the amounts which would be so applicable) if it had constituted a breach of duty under section 7, 8 or 9 of this Act.

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Carriage of nuclear matter

29

(1A) The Secretary of State may with the approval of the Treasury by order increase or further increase the sum expressed in special drawing rights in subsection (1) of this section ; but an order under this subsection shall not have effect in respect of any occurrence before (or beginning before) the order comes into force.

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(4A) Subsection (3) of this section shall not apply where the carriage in question is wholly within the territorial limits of the United Kingdom.

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Provisions supplementary to sections 27 to 29

30

After section 25 of the 1965 Act there shall be inserted—

(25A) The power to make orders under section 16(1A). 18(1B) or 21(1A) of this Act shall be exercisable by statutory instrument; but no such order shall be made unless a draft of it has been laid before and approved by resolution of the House of Commons. (25B) (1) In this Act " special drawing rights " means special drawing rights as defined by the International Monetary Fund; and for the purpose of determining the equivalent in sterling on any day of a sum expressed in special drawing rights, one special drawing right shall be treated as equal to such a sum in sterling as the International Monetary Fund have fixed as being the equivalent of one special drawing right— (a) for that day, or (b) if no sum has been so fixed for that day, for the last day before that day for which a sum has been so fixed. (2) A certificate given by or on behalf of the Treasury stating— (a) that a particular sum in sterling has been so fixed for a particular day, or (b) that no sum has been so fixed for a particular day and that a particular sum in sterling has been so fixed for a day which is the last day for which a sum has been so fixed before the particular day, shall be conclusive evidence of those matters for the purposes of subsection (1) of this section ; and a document purporting to be such a certificate shall in any proceedings be received in evidence and, unless the contrary is proved, be deemed to be such a certificate. (3) The Treasury may charge a reasonable fee for any certificate given in pursuance of subsection (2) of this section and any fee received by the Treasury by virtue of this subsection shall be paid into the Consolidated Fund.

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Reciprocal enforcement of judgments

31

In subsection (5) of section 17 of the 1965 Act (foreign judgments), at the beginning there shall be inserted the words " Subject to subsection (5A) of this section " ; and after subsection (5) there shall be inserted—

(5A) Subsection (5) of this section shall not have effect where the judgment in question is enforceable in the United Kingdom in pursuance of an international agreement.

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Meaning of " excepted matter "

32

In section 26(1) of the 1965 Act (interpretation), in paragraph (a) of the definition of " excepted matter ", for the words " or scientific " there shall be substituted the words " scientific or educational " .

Extension to territories outside United Kingdom

33

The provisions in respect of which the power conferred by section 28 of the 1965 Act is exercisable shall include the provisions of that Act as amended by this Act.

United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority

34

Section 5(3) of the Atomic Energy Authority Act 1954 (which imposes a duty on the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority similar to that imposed by section 8 of the 1965 Act) shall cease to have effect.

PART III — General

Financial provisions

35

There shall be paid out of money provided by Parliament—

Repeals

36

The enactments mentioned in Schedule 4 to this Act are hereby repealed to the extent specified in the third column of that Schedule.

Commencement

37

Short title and extent

38

do not extend to Northern Ireland; but otherwise this Act does extend there.

SCHEDULE 1

The Electric Lighting (Clauses) Act 1899

1

The Schedule to the Electric Lighting (Clauses) Act 1899 (as incorporated with the Electricity Act 1947) shall be amended in accordance with paragraphs 2 to 14 below.

2

At the end of section 1 (interpretation) there shall be added—

the expression " private supplier " means a person other than an Electricity Board who supplies electricity generated otherwise than by an Electricity Board.

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3

In section 2 (definition of " the Undertakers ") the words from " forty-nine " to " fifty-eight" shall cease to have effect.

4

For section 49 there shall be substituted—

(49) (1) This section applies to— (a) a supply by the Undertakers to an ordinary consumer, and (b) a supply by a private supplier to a person (other than the Undertakers) who takes the supply directly from electric lines belonging to the Undertakers, unless otherwise agreed between the Undertakers and (in a case within paragraph (a) above), the consumer or (in a case within paragraph (b) above) the private supplier. (2) The value of a supply to which this section applies shall be ascertained by means of an appropriate meter duly certified under the provisions of this Schedule, and fixed and connected with the Undertakers' lines in some manner approved by the Secretary of State. (3) References in this section and the following sections to the value of a supply are references to the amount of energy supplied or (according to the method of charging) the electrical quantity contained in the supply.

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5

In section 50 (certification of meters) for the words " electric inspector appointed under this Schedule " there shall be substituted the words " authorised person " .

6

After section 50 there shall be inserted—

(50A) (1) The reference in section 50 above to an authorised person is a reference to— (a) a meter examiner appointed under the Electricity Supply (Meters) Act 1936, or (b) a person authorised by the Secretary of State under this section. (2) The Secretary of State may authorise a person who manufactures or repairs meters to certify, in accordance with section 50 above, meters manufactured or repaired by him. (3) An authorisation under this section may be given subject to such conditions as the Secretary of State thinks fit and may be withdrawn before the end of the period for which it is given if any of those conditions is not satisfied. (4) The Secretary of State may make regulations prescribing fees to be paid to him by applicants for or holders of authorisations under this section towards administrative expenses incurred by him by virtue of this section ; and different fees may be prescribed in relation to different areas and different cases. (50B) (1) If the Undertakers or a private supplier install a meter for the purpose of ascertaining the value of a supply to which section 49 above applies and that meter, at the time when it is installed, is not a certified meter, the Undertakers or the supplier shall be guilty of an offence. (2) Where a meter used for the purpose of ascertaining the value of a supply to which section 49 above applies ceases to be a certified meter, the person providing the supply shall as soon as practicable take all reasonable steps either for causing the meter to be recertified or for causing it to be removed or (if its removal is not reasonably practicable) for ceasing to supply energy through it. (3) A person who fails to take the steps required of him by subsection (2) above shall be guilty of an offence unless he shows that the meter ceased to be a duly certified meter by reason only of its being altered or moved without his knowledge. (4) A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 2 on the standard scale (within the meaning of section 75 of the Criminal Justice Act 1982). (5) Proceedings for an offence under this section shall not, in England and Wales, be instituted except by or with the consent of the Secretary of State or the Director of Public Prosecutions.

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7

In section 51 (meter examiners to certify meters)—

8

In section 52 (Undertakers to supply meters if required to do so) for the words " the supply " there shall be substituted the words " a supply by the Undertakers " .

9

For section 53 there shall be substituted—

(53) (1) No meter used or to be used for ascertaining the value of a supply to which section 49 above applies shall be connected with, or disconnected from, any electric line belonging to the Undertakers by the Undertakers, the person supplied (or to be supplied) with energy or, where the supply is by a private supplier, that supplier unless the person intending to connect or disconnect the meter has given to the other person or persons mentioned above not less than forty-eight hours' notice in writing of the intention to do so. (2) A person who contravenes this section shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 2 on the standard scale (within the meaning of section 75 of the Criminal Justice Act 1982).

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10

In section 54(1) (consumer to keep meters in order) for the words " the supply " there shall be substituted the words " a supply by the Undertakers " .

11

In section 55 (power of Undertakers to let meters) for the words " the supply " there shall be substituted the words " a supply of energy " .

12

In section 56 (Undertakers to keep meters let for hire in repair) for the words " the supply" there shall be substituted the words " a supply by the Undertakers " .

13

For section 57 there shall be substituted—

(57) (1) Any question— (a) whether a meter, by which there is ascertained the value of a supply to which section 49 above applies, is in proper order for correctly registering that value, or (b) whether the value of such a supply has been correctly registered by any meter, may be referred by any of the persons concerned to a meter examiner appointed under the Electricity Supply (Meters) Act 1936 for determination by him ; and in this section " the persons concerned " means the Undertakers, the person supplied and, where the supply is by a private supplier, that supplier. (2) Before determining a question referred to him under this section, the meter examiner shall give notice to the other person or persons concerned ; and his decision shall be final and binding upon all the persons concerned. (3) A meter examiner determining a question referred to him under this section may make awards of costs or expenses as between the persons concerned. (4) In the case of a supply by the Undertakers the register of the meter used to ascertain the value of the supply shall, except as provided by this section, be conclusive evidence in the absence of fraud of that value. (5) The Secretary of State may by regulations— (a) prescribe a fee to be paid to the Secretary of State by a person other than the Undertakers referring a question for determination under this section ; (b) specify circumstances in which the fee may be refunded ; and (c) make provision requiring the Undertakers to pay sums determined by the Secretary of State towards any administrative expenses incurred by him (and not recovered as mentioned in paragraph (a) above) in connection with the determination of questions under this section.

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14

For section 59 there shall be substituted—

(59) (1) Subject to subsection (2) below, the Undertakers may place upon the premises of any person supplied with energy directly from electric lines belonging to them such meter or other apparatus (in addition to any meter to ascertain the value of the supply) as they may desire for the purpose of ascertaining or regulating the amount of energy supplied to him, the number of hours during which the supply is given, the maximum power taken by him or any other quantity or time connected with the supply. (2) A meter or apparatus placed upon premises under this section— (a) shall be of a construction and pattern approved by the Secretary of State and shall be fixed and connected with the Undertakers' lines in a manner so approved ; (b) shall, where the supply of energy is by the Undertakers, be supplied and maintained entirely at the cost of the Undertakers ; and (c) shall be placed between the Undertakers' mains and the ends of the Undertakers' lines at which the supply of energy is delivered unless otherwise agreed between the Undertakers, the person supplied with energy and, where the supply is by a private supplier, that supplier.

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The Electricity Supply (Meters) Act 1936

15
16

The Electricity Act 1957

17

(4A) Where a person other than an Electricity Board submits a meter to a meter examiner for certification under the provisions of the Schedule of 1899, the meter examiner may certify the meter, notwithstanding that he has not himself examined or tested it, if— (a) the meter was manufactured or repaired by the person submitting it; (b) that person has obtained the consent of the Secretary of State to the submission ; and (c) any conditions subject to which the consent was given have been satisfied.

SCHEDULE 2

The chairman

1

If the Secretary of State so determines, there shall be paid to the chairman of the Council such remuneration as the Secretary of State may determine.

2

If the Secretary of State so determines in the case of a person who has been remunerated under paragraph 1 above, a pension shall De paid to or in respect of that person, or payments towards the provision of a pension to or in respect of that person shall be made, in accordance with the determination.

3

If a person in receipt of remuneration under paragraph 1 above as chairman ceases to hold that office, and it appears to the Secretary of State that there are special circumstances which make it right that that person should receive compensation, he shall be paid by way of compensation a sum of such amount as the Secretary of State may determine.

Administration, personnel, etc.

4

The Council may, subject to the approval of the Secretary of State as to numbers, appoint such officers as appear to the Council to be requisite for the performance of their functions.

5

The Secretary of State shall provide the Council with funds—

6

The Secretary of State may make arrangements for the Council to be provided with office accommodation.

7

Constitution and procedure

8
9

The validity of any proceedings of the Council shall not be affected by any vacancy amongst the members or by any defect in the appointment of a member.

Amendment of other Acts

10

In section 14(1) of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970, after the words " Electricity Consultative Councils " there shall be inserted the words " the Electricity Consumers' Council " .

11

In Part III of Schedule 1 to the House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975, there shall be inserted at the appropriate place in alphabetical order—

  • Chairman in receipt of remuneration of the Electricity Consumers' Council

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Supplementary

12

The consent of the Treasury shall be required for any determination or approval by the Secretary of State under this Schedule.

13

Any payments to be made under paragraphs 1 to 3 above shall be made by the Secretary of State, and they and any other payments made by him under this Schedule shall be defrayed out of money provided by Parliament.

14

In this Schedule " pension " includes an allowance or gratuity payable on retirement or otherwise.

SCHEDULE 3

The Electric Lighting Act 1882

1

In section 25 of the Electric Lighting Act 1882, for the words from " supplying " to " special Act" there shall be substituted the words " a supply of electricity (whether by the undertakers or any other person) directly through electric lines belonging to them " .

The Electric Lighting (Clauses) Act 1899

2

The Electricity Act 1947

3

(b) by agreement with any person other than an Electricity Board, acquire supplies of electricity from that person

; and

4
5

(1A) The prices to be charged by the Generating Board for any supply of electricity given in compliance with a request under section 5 of the Energy Act 1983 shall be in accordance with such tariffs as may be fixed from time to time by the Generating Board after consultation with the Electricity Council.

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6

In section 63 of that Act, after the words " the Electricity Act 1957 " there shall be inserted the words " or Part I of the Energy Act 1983 or regulations made thereunder " .

7

In subsections (1) and (2) of section 64 of that Act, after the word " Act" there shall be inserted the words " or by Part I of the Energy Act 1983 " .

8

In section 66(1) of that Act, after the words "the Electricity Act 1957 " there shall be added the words " or Part I of the Energy Act 1983 " .

The Clean Air Act 1956

9

In section 10(4) of the Clean Air Act 1956, for the words from " a generating " to the end there shall be substituted the words " an electricity generating station by an Electricity Board (as defined in section 26 of the Energy Act 1983) " .

The Electricity Act 1957

10

In section 2(7)(c) of the Electricity Act 1957, the words " under the preceding provisions of this section " shall cease to have effect.

The Clean Air Act 1968

11

In section 6(10) of the Clean Air Act 1968, for the words from " a generating " to the end there shall be substituted the words " an electricity generating station occupied by an Electricity Board (as defined in section 26 of the Energy Act 1983) " .

The Electricity (Scotland) Act 1979

12

In section 4 of the Electricity (Scotland) Act 1979, at the end of paragraph (c) there shall be added the words " and in complying with requests under section 5 of the Energy Act 1983 " .

13

For section 8(1) of that Act there shall be substituted—

(8) (1) Subject to this section and to section 9 either of the Boards may— (a) supply electricity to consumers in the district of the other Board, either— (i) in compliance with a request under section 5 of the Energy Act 1983 ; or (ii) by agreement with the other Board ; (b) by agreement with the other Board give to or acquire from the other Board bulk supplies of electricity; (c) by agreement with any person acquire from that person supplies of electricity; (d) by agreement with the Generating Board or with any person or body of persons carrying on an electricity undertaking outside Great Britain, provide bulk supplies of electricity for the Generating Board or for that undertaking.

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14

In section 22 of that Act—

15

In section 38(1) of that Act, after the words " the Act of 1957 " there shall be inserted the words " , Part I of the Energy Act 1983 " .

16

In section 40(6) of that Act—

17

In Schedule 9 to that Act, after the words " by this Act " there shall be inserted the words " or by or under Part I of the Energy Act 1983, or regulations made thereunder, " .

SCHEDULE 4

PART I — Electricity

PART II — Nuclear Installations