Legalize / United Kingdom / Public General Act

Electricity Act 1989

Type Public General Act

Publication 1989-07-27

Last updated 2026-07-30

State In force

Department Statute Law Database

Source legislation.gov.uk

PDF Download

articles 1

Reform history JSON API

(6) In including costs provision in an order under this section, the person making the order shall have regard to the conduct and means of the parties and any other relevant circumstances.

(7) Costs provision included in an order under this section shall be enforceable—

(a) in England and Wales, as if it were a judgment of the county court;

(b) in Scotland, as if it were an extract registered decree arbitral bearing a warrant for execution issued by the sheriff.

(8) Sections 25 to 28 have effect in relation to a person against whom a complaint is made as mentioned in section 44B(1)(a), and on whom a duty or other requirement is imposed by an order under this section—

(a) as if references in those sections to a relevant requirement (other than the reference in section 25(8)) included references to that duty or requirement;

(b) if the complaint is made against the person as mentioned in sub-paragraph (v) of section 44B(1)(a), also as if references in those sections to a regulated person included references to that person.

Time limit for determinations

44D

(1) An order determining a section 44B dispute (whether made under section 44C or made under or by virtue of any other provision of this Act) shall be made within the permitted period.

(2) Subject to subsection (3) ..., the permitted period is the period of two months beginning with the day on which the dispute is referred to the Authority.

(3) Where the person determining the dispute requests further information from anyone for the purposes of determining the dispute, the person may, by giving notice to the parties, extend the permitted period—

(a) by two months, or

(b) with the agreement of the complainant, by a longer period.

(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(6) If a person refers a dispute to the Authority, or purports to do so, and the Authority gives to that person a notice—

(a) specifying information which it requires in order to assess whether the dispute is a section 44B dispute, or whether there is a dispute at all, and

(b) requesting the person to provide that information,

the dispute shall be treated for the purposes of subsection (2) as not referred to the Authority until the information is provided.

Investigation of complaints

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

45

Consumer complaints.

46

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Power of Council to investigate other matters.

46A

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Other functions of Director

Annual report by Authority on security of electricity supply

47ZA

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

General functions.

47

(1) It shall be the duty of the Director, so far as it appears to him practicable from time to time to do so—

(a) to keep under review the carrying on both in Great Britain and elsewhere of activities to which this subsection applies; and

(b) to collect information with respect to those activities, and the persons by whom they are carried on, with a view to facilitating the exercise of his functions under this Part;

and this subsection applies to any activities connected with the generation, transmission and supply of electricity, including in particular activities connected with the supply to any premises of heat produced in association with electricity and steam produced from and air and water heated by such heat , to the performance of the function of code manager in relation to a designated electricity licence document , and to the provision of smart meter communication services.

(1A) The activities to which subsection (1) applies also include, in particular, activities connected with the generation of electricity by microgeneration or small-scale low-carbon generation or with the transmission and supply of electricity so generated.

(1B) In subsection (1A)—

“microgeneration” has the same meaning as in the Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Act 2006;

“small-scale low-carbon generation” has the same meaning as in section 41 of the Energy Act 2008.

(1C) The activities to which subsection (1) applies also include, in particular, the matters specified in the following provisions of the Electricity Directive as matters to be monitored—

(a) Article 26(3);

(b) Article 37(1)(g) to (k), (m) and (q) to (t); and

(1D) The references in subsection (1C) to the following provisions of the Electricity Directive are to be treated as references to those provisions with the following modifications—

(a) Article 37(1)(q) is to be read as if for “Regulation (EC) No 714/2009” there were substituted “ the Electricity Regulation ”;

(b) Article 37(1)(s) is to be read as if—

(i) the words “Community and third country” were omitted, and

(ii) after “operators” there were inserted “ in the United Kingdom and transmission system operators in countries outside the United Kingdom ”;

(c) Article 37(1)(t) is to be read as if the reference to Article 42 were to Article 42 with the omission of the words from “must cause” to “market and”;

(d) Article 37(3)(f) is to be read as if for “Regulation (EC) No 714/2009” there were substituted “ the Electricity Regulation ”.

(2) The Secretary of State may give general directions indicating—

(a) considerations to which the Director should have particular regard in determining the order of priority in which matters are to be brought under review in performing his duty under subsection (1)(a) or (b) above; and

(b) considerations to which, in cases where it appears to the Director that any of his functions under this Part are exercisable, he should have particular regard in determining whether to exercise those functions.

(3) It shall be the duty of the Director, where either he considers it expedient or he is requested by the Secretary of State or the CMA to do so, to give information, advice and assistance to the Secretary of State or the CMA with respect to any matter in respect of which any function of the Director under this Part is exercisable.

(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Power to require information etc for the purpose of monitoring

47A

(1) The Authority may, for the purpose of performing its duty under subsection (1)(a) or (b) of section 47 in relation to activities falling within subsection (1C) of that section, serve a notice under subsection (2) on any regulated person.

(2) A notice under this subsection is a notice signed by the Authority which—

(a) requires the person on whom it is served to produce, at a time and place specified in the notice, to the Authority any documents which are specified or described in the notice and are in that person’s custody or under that person’s control; or

(b) requires that person, if that person is carrying on a business, to furnish, at a time and place and in the form and manner specified in the notice, to the Authority such information as may be specified or described in the notice.

(3) In paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (2) the reference to the Authority includes a reference to a person appointed by the Authority for the purpose of exercising the power in question.

(4) Sections 25 to 27 have effect in relation to a person on whom a notice is served under subsection (2) as if references in those sections to a relevant requirement (other than the reference in section 25(8)) included references to a requirement of that notice.

(5) A person who intentionally alters, suppresses or destroys any document or record of information which that person has been required to produce by a notice under subsection (2) is liable—

(a) on summary conviction—

(i) in England and Wales, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, and

(ii) in Scotland, to a fine not exceeding £5,000; or

(b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine.

Publication of information and advice.

48

(1) If it appears to the Authority that the publication of any advice and information would promote the interests of consumers in relation to electricity conveyed by distribution systems or transmission systems, the Authority may publish that advice or information in such manner as it thinks fit.

(2) In publishing advice or information under this section the Authority shall have regard to the need for excluding, so far as that is practicable, any matter which relates to the affairs of a particular individual or body of persons (corporate or unincorporate), where publication of that matter would or might, in the opinion of the Authority, seriously and prejudicially affect the interests of that individual or body.

(2A) Before deciding to publish under this section any advice or information relating to a particular individual or body of persons the Authority shall consult that individual or body.

(3) The CMA shall consult the Director before publishing under section 6 of the Enterprise Act 2002 any information or advice which may be published by the Director under this section.

(4) In this section “consumers” includes both existing and future consumers.

Keeping of register.

49

(1) The Director shall, ... in such form as he may determine, maintain a register for the purposes of this Part.

(2) Subject to subsection (3) and to any direction given under subsection (4) below, the Director shall cause to be entered in the register the provisions of—

(a) every licence and every exemption granted to a particular person;

(b) every modification or revocation of a licence;

(d) every final or provisional order, every revocation of such an order and every notice under section 25(6) above ; and

(e) every penalty imposed under section 27A(1) and every notice under section 27A(5).

(3) The Authority may enter the provisions of anything in the register in a manner that excludes, so far as practicable, so much of the details of those provisions as it considers it appropriate to exclude for the purpose of maintaining the confidentiality of—

(a) matters relating to the affairs of an individual the publication of which would or might, in its opinion, seriously and prejudicially affect the interests of that individual; and

(b) matters relating specifically to the affairs of a particular body of persons the publication of which would or might, in the Authority’s opinion, seriously and prejudicially affect the interests of that body.

(4) If it appears to the Secretary of State that the entry of any provision in the register would be against the public interest or the commercial interests of any person, he may direct the Director not to enter that provision in the register.

(5) The contents of the register must be shown on the Authority's website.

(6) Any person may, on the payment of such fee as may be specified in an order made by the Secretary of State, require the Director to supply him with a copy of, or extract from, any part of the register, being a copy or extract which is certified by the Director to be a true copy or extract.

(7) Any sums received by the Director under this section shall be paid into the Consolidated Fund.

Reasons for decisions.

49A

(1) This section applies to the following decisions of the Authority or the Secretary of State, namely—

(a) the revocation of a licence;

(b) the modification of the conditions of a licence;

(c) the giving of any directions or consent in pursuance of a condition included in a licence by virtue of section 7(3)(a) or (b);

(d) the determination of a question referred in pursuance of a condition included in a licence by virtue of section 7(3)(c);

(e) the determination of a dispute referred under section 23(1);

(f) the making of a final order, the making or confirmation of a provisional order or the revocation of a final order or of a provisional order which has been confirmed.

(2) As soon as reasonably practicable after making such a decision the Authority or the Secretary of State shall publish a notice stating the reasons for the decision in such manner as it or he considers appropriate for the purpose of bringing the matters to which the notice relates to the attention of persons likely to be interested.

(3) The Authority shall send a copy of a notice published in respect of a decision mentioned in paragraph (a), (b), (c), (d) or (f) of subsection (1) to the licence holder to whose licence, or to whom, the decision relates.

(4) In preparing a notice under subsection (2) the Authority or the Secretary of State shall have regard to the need for excluding, so far as that is practicable, any matter which relates to the affairs of a particular individual or body of persons (corporate or unincorporate), where it or he considers that publication of that matter would or might seriously and prejudicially affect the interests of that individual or body.

(5) This section does not apply to a decision resulting in any provision which the Secretary of State has under section 49(4) directed the Authority not to enter in the register required to be kept under that section.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

50

Provisions with respect to committees

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

51

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

52

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

53

Provisions with respect to Consumers’ etc. Councils

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

54

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

55

Continuity of employment of officers of abolished Councils.

56

(1) This section applies to any person who—

(a) immediately before the date on which section 54 above comes into force is an officer of one of the Councils ceasing to exist by virtue of that section (in this section referred to as his “former employer”); and

(b) within four weeks after that date, is employed by one of the successor companies or the Director (in this section referred to as his “new employer”) in pursuance of an offer made before that date;

and in this subsection “successor company” has the same meaning as in Part II.

(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3) Chapter I of Part XIV of the Employment Rights Act 1996 (computation of period of employment) shall have effect in relation to a person to whom this section applies as if it included the following provisions, that is to say—

(a) the period of his employment with his former employer shall count as a period of employment with his new employer; and

(b) the change of employer shall not break the continuity of the period of employment.

(4) Where this section applies to a person, the period of his employment with his former employer shall count as a period of employment with his new employer for the purposes of any provision of his contract of employment with his new employer which depends on his length of service with that employer.

Alteration of activities requiring licence

Power to alter activities requiring licence.

56A

(1) The Secretary of State may by order provide—

(a) that specified activities are to become licensable activities; or

(b) that specified activities are to cease to be licensable activities.

(2) For the purposes of this Part activities are licensable activities if undertaking them without the authority of a licence or exemption constitutes an offence under section 4(1).

(3) An order under this section may make consequential, transitional, incidental or supplementary provision including—

(a) amendments (or repeals) in any provision of this Act or any other enactment; and

(b) provision modifying any standard conditions of licences or (in the case of an order under subsection (1)(a)) provision determining the conditions which are to be standard conditions for the purposes of licences authorising the undertaking of activities which are to become licensable activities.

(4) An order under this section may only provide for activities to become licensable activities if they are activities connected with the generation, transmission, distribution or supply of electricity, or with providing a smart meter communication service.

(4A) For the purposes of subsection (4), activities connected with the supply of electricity include the following activities, whether or not carried on by a person supplying electricity—

(a) giving advice, information or assistance in relation to contracts for the supply of electricity to persons who are or may become customers under such contracts, and

(b) providing any other services to such persons in connection with such contracts.

(5) An order under this section providing for activities to become licensable activities may only be made on the application of the Authority made in accordance with section 56B.

(6) An order under this section providing for activities to cease to be licensable activities may be made either—

(a) on the application of the Authority made in accordance with section 56E; or

(b) following consultation by the Secretary of State in accordance with section 56F.

(7) An order under this section may provide that it is to remain in force only for a period specified in the order.

(8) An order shall not be made under this section unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing it has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.

Application by Authority for order including new activities.

56B

(1) If the Authority proposes to make an application for an order providing for activities to become licensable activities, it shall give notice—

(a) stating that it proposes to make an application for an order providing for the activities to become licensable activities;

(b) setting out the conditions which it would expect such an order to determine to be standard conditions for the purposes of licences authorising the undertaking of the activities and any other conditions which it would expect to be included in such licences; and

(c) specifying a reasonable period (not being less than 28 days from the date of publication of the notice) within which representations or objections may be made with respect to the proposal,

and shall consider any representations or objections which are duly made and not withdrawn.

(2) The notice shall be given by serving a copy on Citizens Advice and Consumer Scotland and by publishing it in such manner as the Authority considers appropriate for bringing it to the attention of—

(a) persons appearing to it to be carrying on, or be intending to carry on, the activities; and

(b) any other persons appearing to it to be likely to be affected by an order providing for the activities to become licensable activities.

(3) If an objection has been duly made (and not withdrawn) by a person who is carrying on or intends to carry on the activities, the Authority shall, before making the application, make a reference under section 56C to the CMA.

(4) In any other case where the Authority considers it appropriate to make a reference to the CMA under section 56C before making the application, the Authority may make such a reference.

(5) If a reference is made to the CMA, the application shall not be made unless the CMA has reported on the reference that the fact that the activities to which the application relates are not licensable activities operates, or may be expected to operate, against the public interest.

(6) The application shall set out—

(a) the activities which the Authority considers should become licensable activities; and

(b) the conditions which the Authority would expect to be determined to be standard conditions for the purposes of licences authorising the undertaking of the activities in question and any other conditions which it would expect to be included in such licences.

(7) The functions of the CMA with respect to a reference under section 56C (including functions under sections 109 to 115 of the Enterprise Act 2002, as applied by section 56CB) are to be carried out on behalf of the CMA by a group constituted for the purpose by the chair of the CMA under Schedule 4 to the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013.

References to CMA .

56C

(1) A reference to the CMA under this section shall require the CMA to investigate and report on whether the fact that the activities specified in the reference are not licensable activities operates, or may be expected to operate, against the public interest.

(2) The Authority may, at any time, by notice given to the CMA vary the reference by adding to the activities specified in the reference or by excluding from the reference some of the activities so specified; and on receipt of such notice the CMA shall give effect to the variation.

(3) The Authority shall specify in the reference, or a variation of the reference, for the purpose of assisting the CMA in carrying out the investigation on the reference—

(a) the conditions which the Authority would expect to be determined to be standard conditions for the purposes of licences authorising the undertaking of the activities specified in the reference and any other conditions which it would expect to be included in such licences; and

(b) any effects adverse to the public interest which, in its opinion, the fact that the activities so specified are not licensable activities has or may be expected to have.

(4) As soon as practicable after making the reference, or a variation of the reference, the Authority shall serve a copy of it on Citizens Advice and Consumer Scotland and publish particulars of it in such manner as the Authority considers appropriate for bringing it to the attention of—

(a) persons appearing to the Authority to be carrying on, or be intending to carry on, the activities specified in it; and

(b) any other persons appearing to the Authority to be likely to be affected by it.

(5) The Authority shall, for the purpose of assisting the CMA in carrying out the investigation on the reference, give to the CMA—

(a) any information which is in its possession and which relates to matters falling within the scope of the investigation, and which is either requested by the CMA for that purpose or is information which in its opinion it would be appropriate for that purpose to give to the CMA without any such request; and

(b) any other assistance which the CMA may require, and which it is within its power to give, in relation to any such matters,

and the CMA shall take account of the information for the purpose of carrying out the investigation.

(6) In determining for the purposes of this section whether the fact that particular activities are not licensable activities operates, or may be expected to operate, against the public interest, the CMA shall have regard to—

(a) the matters referred to in section 3A;

(b) any social or environmental policies set out or referred to in guidance issued under section 3B; and

(c) any advice given by the Health and Safety Executive , the Office for Nuclear Regulation or the Secretary of State under section 3C (advice about health and safety in relation to electricity).

(7) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(8) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

References under section 56C: time limits

56CA

(1) Every reference under section 56C above shall specify a period (not longer than six months beginning with the date of the reference) within which a report on the reference is to be made.

(2) A report of the CMA on a reference under section 56C above shall not have effect (in particular for the purposes of section 56B(5) above) unless the report is made before the end of the period specified in the reference or such further period (if any) as may be allowed by the Authority under subsection (3) below.

(3) The Authority may, if it has received representations on the subject from the CMA and is satisfied that there are special reasons why the report cannot be made within the period specified in the reference, extend that period by no more than six months.

(4) No more than one extension is possible under subsection (3) above in relation to the same reference.

(5) The Authority shall publish an extension under subsection (3) above in such manner as it considers appropriate for the purpose of bringing it to the attention of persons likely to be affected by it.

References under section 56C: application of Enterprise Act 2002

56CB

(1) The following sections of Part 3 of the Enterprise Act 2002 shall apply, as they had effect immediately before the relevant date and with the modifications mentioned in subsections (1A), (2) and (3) below, for the purposes of references under section 56C above as they applied immediately before that date for the purposes of references under that Part—

(a) section 109 (attendance of witnesses and production of documents etc.);

(b) section 110 (enforcement of powers under section 109: general);

(d) section 112 (penalties: main procedural requirements);

(e) section 113 (payments and interest by instalments);

(f) section 114 (appeals in relation to penalties);

(g) section 115 (recovery of penalties); and

(h) section 116 (statement of policy).

(1A) Section 109 shall, in its application by virtue of subsection (1) above, have effect as if—

(a) for subsection (A1), there were substituted—

(A1) For the purposes of this section, a permitted purpose is assisting the CMA in carrying out any functions exercisable by it in connection with a reference under section 56C of the Electricity Act 1989.

, and

(b) subsection (8A) were omitted.

(2) Section 110 shall, in its application by virtue of subsection (1) above, have effect as if—

(a) subsection (2) were omitted; ...

(aa) after subsection (3), there were inserted—

(3A) No penalty shall be imposed by virtue of subsection (1) or (3) if more than 4 weeks have passed since the publication of the report of the CMA on the reference concerned; but this subsection shall not apply in relation to any variation or substitution of the penalty which is permitted by virtue of this Part.

; and

(b) in subsection (9) the words from “or section” to “section 65(3))” were omitted.

(3) Section 111(5)(b) shall, in its application by virtue of subsection (1) above, have effect as if for sub-paragraph (ii) there were substituted—

(ii) if earlier, the day on which the report of the CMA on the reference concerned is made or, if no such report is made within the period permitted for that purpose, the latest day on which the report may be made within the permitted period.

(4) Section 117 of the Enterprise Act 2002 (false or misleading information) shall apply , as it had effect immediately before the relevant date, in relation to functions of the CMA in connection with references under section 56C above as it applied immediately before that date in relation to its functions under Part 3 of that Act but as if, in subsections (1)(a) and (2) —

(a) the words “, OFCOM or the Secretary of State” were omitted; and

(b) for the words “their functions” there were substituted “ its functions ”.

(5) Provisions of Part 3 of the Enterprise Act 2002 which , immediately before the relevant date, had effect for the purposes of sections 109 to 117 of that Act (including, in particular, provisions relating to offences and the making of orders) shall, for the purposes of the application of those sections by virtue of subsection (1) or (4) above, have effect in relation to those sections as applied by virtue of those subsections as those provisions had effect immediately before that date.

(6) Accordingly, corresponding provisions of this Act shall not have effect in relation to those sections as applied by virtue of those subsections.

(7) In this section “the relevant date” means the date on which section 143 of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 came into force.

Reports on references.

56D

(1) In making a report on a reference under section 56C, the CMA shall include in the report definite conclusions on whether the fact that the activities specified in the reference (or the reference as varied) are not licensable activities operates, or may be expected to operate, against the public interest.

(2) The CMA shall also include in the report such an account of its reasons for those conclusions as in its opinion is expedient for facilitating proper understanding of the questions raised by the reference and of its conclusions.

(3) Where the CMA concludes that the fact that particular activities are not licensable activities operates, or may be expected to operate, against the public interest, it shall specify in the report—

(a) the effects adverse to the public interest which that fact has or may be expected to have; and

(b) any modifications to the conditions specified in the reference in accordance with section 56C(3)(a) which they consider appropriate.

(3A) For the purposes of section 56B(5), a conclusion contained in a report of the CMA is to be disregarded if the conclusion is not that of at least two-thirds of the members of the group constituted by the chair of the CMA for the purpose of carrying out the functions of the CMA with respect to the reference.

(3B) If a member of a group so constituted disagrees with any conclusions contained in a report made on a reference under section 56C as the conclusions of the CMA, the report shall, if the member so wishes, include a statement of his disagreement and of his reasons for disagreeing.

(4) For the purposes of the law relating to defamation, absolute privilege attaches to any report made by the CMA on a reference under section 56C.

(4A) In making any report on a reference under section 56C the CMA must have regard to the following considerations before disclosing any information.

(4B) The first consideration is the need to exclude from disclosure (so far as practicable) any information whose disclosure the CMA thinks is contrary to the public interest.

(4C) The second consideration is the need to exclude from disclosure (so far as practicable)—

(a) commercial information whose disclosure the CMA thinks might significantly harm the legitimate business interests of the undertaking to which it relates, or

(b) information relating to the private affairs of an individual whose disclosure the CMA thinks might significantly harm the individual’s interests.

(4D) The third consideration is the extent to which the disclosure of the information mentioned in subsection (4C)(a) or (b) is necessary for the purposes of the report.

(5) A report of the CMA on a reference under section 56C shall be made to the Authority.

(6) On receiving the report, the Authority shall send a copy of it to the Secretary of State.

(7) Subject to subsection (8), the Authority shall, not less than 14 days after the copy is received by the Secretary of State, send a copy of the report to Citizens Advice and Consumer Scotland and publish the copy sent to Citizens Advice and Consumer Scotland in such manner as the Authority considers appropriate for bringing the report to the attention of persons likely to be affected by it.

(8) If it appears to the Secretary of State that the publication of any matter in the report would be against the public interest or the commercial interests of any person, he may, before the end of the period of 14 days mentioned in subsection (7), direct the Authority to exclude that matter from the copy of the report to be sent to Citizens Advice and Consumer Scotland and published under that subsection.

Application by Authority for order excluding activities.

56E

(1) Before making an application for an order providing for activities to cease to be licensable activities, the Authority shall give notice—

(a) stating that it proposes to make an application for an order providing for the activities to cease to be licensable activities; and

(b) specifying a reasonable period (not being less than 28 days from the date of publication of the notice) within which representations or objections may be made with respect to the proposal,

and shall consider any representations or objections which are duly made and not withdrawn.

(2) The notice shall be given—

(a) by serving a copy on the Secretary of State and the , Citizens Advice and Consumer Scotland; and

(b) by publishing it in such manner as the Authority considers appropriate for bringing it to the attention of persons appearing to the Authority to be likely to be affected by such an order.

(3) An application under this section shall set out—

(a) the activities which the Authority considers should cease to be licensable activities; and

(b) the Authority’s reasons for proposing that the order be made.

Consultation by Secretary of State about order excluding activities.

56F

(1) If the Secretary of State proposes to make an order providing for activities to cease to be licensable activities (otherwise than on an application by the Authority under section 56E), he shall give notice—

(a) stating that he proposes to make an order providing for the activities to cease to be licensable activities; and

(b) specifying a reasonable period (not being less than 28 days from the date of publication of the notice) within which representations or objections may be made with respect to the proposal,

and shall consider any representations or objections duly made (and not withdrawn).

(2) The notice shall be given—

(a) by serving a copy on the Authority , Citizens Advice and Consumer Scotland; and

(b) by publishing it in such manner as the Secretary of State considers appropriate for bringing it to the attention of persons appearing to him to be likely to be affected by such an order.

New licensable activities: smart meters

56FA

(1) The Secretary of State may by order amend this Part so as to provide—

(a) for one or more activities within subsection (3) to be added to the activities which are licensable activities, or

(b) where an order has previously been made under paragraph (a) in relation to an activity, for the activity to cease to be a licensable activity.

(2) For the purposes of this Part activities are licensable activities if undertaking them without the authority of a licence or exemption constitutes an offence under section 4(1).

(3) The activities within this subsection are activities connected with the provision, installation or operation of relevant meters, including the provision or installation of infrastructure, or the provision of services, in connection with the communication of information by or to such meters.

(4) In this section—

(a) “relevant meter” means a meter of a kind prescribed by the order;

(b) a reference to a meter includes a reference to a visual display unit, or any other device, associated with or ancillary to a meter.

(5) An order under this section may make consequential, transitional, incidental or supplementary provision, including—

(a) amendments (or repeals) in any provision of this Act or any other enactment;

(b) in the case of an order under subsection (1)(a), provision determining the conditions which are to be standard conditions for the purposes of licences authorising the undertaking of the activities;

(6) Without prejudice to the generality of subsections (1) and (5), an order under this section may also make provision—

(a) for licences to authorise the holder to carry out the licensable activities in any area, or only in an area specified in the licence;

(b) enabling the terms of the licence to be modified so as to extend or restrict the area in which the licence holder may carry on the licensable activities;

(d) for a licence, if not previously revoked, to continue in force for such period as may be specified in or determined by or under the licence;

(e) conferring functions on the Secretary of State or the Authority.

(7) An order under this section may provide that it is to remain in force only for the period specified in the order.

Section 56FA: supplemental

56FB

(1) Before making an order under section 56FA, the Secretary of State must consult—

(a) the Authority, and

(b) such other persons as the Secretary of State thinks appropriate.

(2) The power to make such an order may not be exercised after 1 November 2028.

(3) An order under section 56FA may not be made unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing it has been laid before, and approved by resolution of, each House of Parliament.

(4) Section 60 applies in relation to an order under this section as it applies in relation to regulations under this Part.

New licensable activities: load control of energy smart appliances

56FBA

(1) The Secretary of State may by regulations amend this Part so as—

(a) to provide for one or more activities within subsection (2) to be added to the activities which are licensable activities, or

(b) where regulations have previously been made under paragraph (a) in relation to an activity—

(i) to amend the definition of the activity, or

(ii) to provide for the activity to cease to be a licensable activity.

(2) The activities within this subsection are activities connected with—

(a) the carrying on or facilitating of load control;

(b) the provision of services or facilities related to load control;

but not the activities mentioned in subsection (3).

(3) The activities within this subsection are—

(a) the provision of relevant electronic communications networks;

(b) the making, selling, importing or distributing of energy smart appliances;

(4) Regulations under subsection (1)(a) may define activities which are to become licensable activities in any manner the Secretary of State considers appropriate, including—

(a) by reference to the purpose for which an activity is carried out; and

(b) by reference to the position of an activity in a sequence of activities necessary to secure a particular outcome.

(5) Regulations under this section may make consequential, transitional, incidental or supplementary provision, including—

(a) amendments (or repeals) of any provision of this Act or any other enactment, including any enactment comprised in, or an instrument made under, an Act of the Scottish Parliament;

(b) in the case of regulations under subsection (1)(a), provision determining the conditions which are to be standard conditions for the purposes of licences authorising the undertaking of the activities;

(6) Transitional provision under subsection (5) may in particular include provision about persons already undertaking activities that are to become licensable activities by virtue of subsection (1)(a), such as provision—

(a) about the application to such persons of section 4(1);

(b) about the granting of licences to such persons.

(7) Regulations under this section may, in particular, also make provision—

(a) for licences to authorise the holder to carry out the licensable activities in any area, or only in an area specified in the licence;

(b) enabling the terms of the licence to be modified so as to extend or restrict the area in which the licence holder may carry on the licensable activities;

(d) for a licence, if not previously revoked, to continue in force for such period as may be specified in or determined by or under the licence;

(e) conferring functions on the Secretary of State or the Authority.

(8) In this section, “energy smart appliance”, “load control” and “relevant electronic communications network” have the same meaning as in Part 8 of the Energy Act 2023.

Regulations under section 56FBA

56FBB

(1) Before making regulations under section 56FBA, the Secretary of State must consult—

(a) the Authority, and

(b) such other persons as the Secretary of State thinks appropriate.

(2) Subsection (1) may be satisfied by consultation before, as well as by consultation after, the passing of this Act.

(3) The power to make such regulations may not be exercised after the end of a period of seven years beginning with the day on which the first such regulations come into force (for any purpose).

(4) Regulations under section 56FBA may not be made unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing them has been laid before, and approved by resolution of, each House of Parliament.

Competitive tenders for licences for new licensable activities

56FC

(1) The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision for a determination on a competitive basis of the person to whom a licence in respect of new licensable activities is to be granted.

(2) In this section “new licensable activities” means one or more activities which are the subject of an order under section 56FA(1)(a) or regulations under section 56FBA(1)(a).

(3) The regulations may—

(a) provide for the determination to be made by the Secretary of State or the Authority;

(b) provide, in prescribed cases, for the publication of a proposal to grant a licence in respect of the new licensable activities;

(d) impose conditions in relation to the making of an application for a licence;

(e) impose restrictions in relation to persons who may apply for a licence;

(f) impose requirements as to the period within which applications must be made;

(g) make provision for regulating the manner in which applications are to be considered or determined;

(h) authorise or require the Secretary of State or the Authority, when determining to whom a licence is to be granted, to have regard to the person's suitability for being granted both the licence and a gas licence;

(i) confer on the Authority or the Secretary of State functions in connection with tender exercises.

(4) The regulations may also include provision—

(a) enabling the Secretary of State or the Authority to require prescribed persons, in relation to a tender exercise, to make payments, in the form and manner prescribed, in respect of tender costs;

(b) about the effect on a person's participation in the tender exercise of a failure to comply with a requirement imposed by virtue of paragraph (a), and the circumstances in which the tender exercise is to stop as a result of such a failure.

(5) In this section—

“gas licence” means a licence for an activity to which an order under section 41HA of the Gas Act 1986 applies;

“prescribed” means prescribed in or determined under regulations under this section;

“tender costs”, in relation to a tender exercise, means any costs incurred or likely to be incurred by the Authority or the Secretary of State for the purposes of the exercise;

“tender exercise” means the steps taken in accordance with regulations with a view to determining to whom a particular licence is to be granted.

(6) Any sums received by the Secretary of State or the Authority under regulations made by virtue of this section are to be paid into the Consolidated Fund.

Miscellaneous

Service by Authority of certain notices on Citizens Advice and Consumer Scotland.

56G

Where the Authority is required by any provision of this Part to publish a notice or any other document, the Authority shall send a copy of the document to Citizens Advice and Consumer Scotland.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

57

Directions restricting the use of certain information.

58

(1) The Secretary of State may give to the holder of a transmission licence , an electricity system operator licence or a code manager licence (“the authorised person”) such directions as appear to the Secretary of State to be requisite or expedient for the purpose of securing that, in any case where subsection (2) below applies, neither the person by whom the information mentioned in that subsection is acquired nor any other person obtains any unfair commercial advantage from his possession of the information.

(2) This subsection applies where, in the course of any dealings with an outside person who is, or is an associate of, a person authorised by a licence or exemption to generate, supply or participate in the transmission of electricity or to participate in the operation of electricity interconnectors or to provide a smart meter communication service, the authorised person or any associate of his is furnished with or otherwise acquires any information which relates to the affairs of that outside person or any associate of his.

(3) As soon as practicable after giving any directions under subsection (1) above, the Secretary of State shall publish a copy of the directions in such manner as he considers appropriate for the purpose of bringing the directions to the attention of persons likely to be affected by a contravention of them.

(4) The obligation to comply with any directions under subsection (1) above is a duty owed to any person who may be affected by a contravention of them.

(5) Where a duty is owed by virtue of subsection (4) above to any person any breach of the duty which causes that person to sustain loss or damage shall be actionable at the suit or instance of that person.

(6) In any proceedings brought against any person in pursuance of subsection (5) above, it shall be a defence for him to prove that he took all reasonable steps and exercised all due diligence to avoid contravening the directions.

(7) Without prejudice to any right which any person may have by virtue of subsection (5) above to bring civil proceedings in respect of any contravention or apprehended contravention of any directions under this section, compliance with any such directions shall be enforceable by civil proceedings by the Secretary of State for an injunction or interdict or for any other appropriate relief.

(8) In this section—

“dealings” includes dealings entered into otherwise than for purposes connected with the transmission of electricity;

“outside person”, in relation to any person, means any person who is not an associate of his;

and for the purposes of this section a person is an associate of another if he and that other are connected with each other within the meaning of section 1122 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010.

Making of false statements etc.

59

(1) If any person, in giving any information or making any application under or for the purposes of any provision of this Part, or of any regulations made under this Part, makes any statement which he knows to be false in a material particular, or recklessly makes any statement which is false in a material particular, he shall be liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum;

(b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine.

(2) Any person who seeks to obtain entry to any premises by falsely pretending to be—

(a) an employee of, or other person acting on behalf of, an electricity distributor or electricity supplier;

(b) an electrical inspector; or

shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.

(3) No proceedings shall be instituted in England and Wales in respect of an offence under subsection (1) above except by or with the consent of the Secretary of State or the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Supplemental

Powers to make regulations.

60

(1) Regulations made under any provision of this Part may provide for the determination of questions of fact or of law which may arise in giving effect to the regulations and for regulating (otherwise than in relation to any court proceedings) any matters relating to the practice and procedure to be followed in connection with the determination of such questions, including provision—

(a) as to the mode of proof of any matter;

(b) as to parties and their representation;

(d) as to awarding costs or expenses of proceedings for the determination of such questions, including the amount of the costs or expenses and the enforcement of the awards.

(2) Regulations made under any provision of this Part which prescribe a period within which things are to be done may provide for extending the period so prescribed.

(3) Regulations made under any provision of this Part may—

(a) provide for anything falling to be determined under the regulations to be determined by such persons, in accordance with such procedure and by reference to such matters and to the opinion of such persons as may be prescribed by the regulations;

(b) make different provision for different cases, including different provision in relation to different persons, circumstances or localities; and

(c) make such supplemental, consequential and transitional provision as the Secretary of State or, as the case may be, the Director considers appropriate.

Concurrent proceedings.

61

(1) Subsection (2) below applies where a licence holder makes an application to the Secretary of State for his consent under section 36 above for the construction or extension of a generating station and, for a purpose connected with the proposed construction or extension of that station, makes either or both of the following, namely—

(a) a compulsory purchase order; and

(b) an application to the Secretary of State for authorisation under paragraph 1 of Schedule 5 to this Act (water rights for hydro-electric generating stations in Scotland).

(2) The proceedings which—

(a) in the case of a compulsory purchase order, are required by Part II of the Acquisition of Land Act 1981 or Schedule 1 to the Acquisition of Land (Authorisation Procedure) (Scotland) Act 1947 to be taken for the purpose of confirming that order;

(b) in the case of an application under paragraph 1 of Schedule 5 to this Act, are required by paragraphs 7 to 12 of that Schedule to be taken in relation to that application,

may be taken concurrently (so far as practicable) with the proceedings required by Schedule 8 to this Act to be taken in relation to the application for consent under section 36 above and with any related proceedings under Schedule 16 to the Energy Act 2004.

(3) Subsection (4) below applies where a licence holder makes an application to the Secretary of State for his consent under section 37 above for the installation of an electric line above ground and, for a purpose connected with the proposed installation of that line, makes one or more of the following, namely—

(a) a compulsory purchase order;

(b) an application to the Secretary of State under paragraph 6 of Schedule 4 to this Act for a necessary wayleave; and

(4) The proceedings which—

(a) in the case of a compulsory purchase order, are required by Part II of the Acquisition of Land Act 1981 or Schedule 1 to the Acquisition of Land (Authorisation Procedure) (Scotland) Act 1947 to be taken for the purpose of confirming that order;

(b) in the case of an application under paragraph 6 of Schedule 4 to this Act, are required by that paragraph to be taken in relation to that application;

(c) in the case of a reference under paragraph 9 of that Schedule, are required by that paragraph to be taken in relation to that reference,

may be taken concurrently (so far as practicable) with the proceedings required by Schedule 8 to this Act to be taken in relation to the application for consent under section 37 above.

(5) Where, for a purpose connected with the proposed installation of an electric line, a licence holder makes—

(a) an application to the Secretary of State under paragraph 6 of Schedule 4 to this Act for the necessary wayleave; and

(b) a reference to the Secretary of State under paragraph 9 of that Schedule,

the proceedings required by the said paragraph 9 to be taken in relation to the reference under that paragraph may be taken concurrently (so far as practicable) with the proceedings required by the said paragraph 6 to be taken in relation to the application under that paragraph.

Public inquiries.

62

(1) The Secretary of State may cause an enquiry to be held in any case where he considers it advisable to do so in connection with any matter arising under this Part other than a matter in respect of which any functions of the Director under section 25 above are or may be exercisable or a matter relating to a function which is exercisable by the Scottish Ministers or the Welsh Ministers.

(1A) The Scottish Ministers may cause an inquiry to be held in any case where they consider it advisable to do so in connection with any matter relating to the exercise by them of a function under this Part.

(1B) The Welsh Ministers may cause an inquiry to be held in any case where they consider it advisable to do so in connection with any matter relating to the exercise by them of any function under this Part.

(2) The provisions of subsections (2) to (5) of section 250 of the Local Government Act 1972 or subsections (2) to (8) of section 210 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (which relate to the giving of evidence at, and defraying the cost of, local enquiries) shall apply in relation to any inquiry held under this Part as they apply in relation to a local inquiry which a Minister causes to be held under subsection (1) of that section.

(3) Where—

(a) an enquiry is to be caused to be held by the Secretary of State under this Part or Schedule 16 to the Energy Act 2004 in connection with any matter; and

(b) in the case of some other matter required or authorised (whether by this Part, that Schedule or by any other enactment) to be the subject of an enquiry (“the other enquiry”), it appears to the relevant Minister or Ministers that the matters are so far cognate that they should be considered together,

the relevant Minister or Ministers may direct that the two inquiries be held concurrently or combined as one inquiry.

(4) In subsection (3) above “the relevant Minister or Ministers” means the Secretary of State or, where causing the other inquiry to be held is a function of some other Minister of the Crown, the Secretary of State and that other Minister acting jointly.

(5) Where–

(a) an inquiry is to be caused to be held by the Scottish Ministers under this Part in connection with any matter; and

(b) in the case of some other matter required or authorised (whether by this Part or by any other enactment) to be the subject of an inquiry which is to be caused to be held by the Scottish Ministers, it appears to the Scottish Ministers that the matters are so far cognate that they should be considered together,

the Scottish Ministers may direct that the two inquiries be held concurrently or combined as one inquiry.

(6) Where—

(a) an inquiry is to be caused to be held by the Welsh Ministers under this Part or Schedule 16 to the Energy Act 2004 in connection with any matter; and

(b) in the case of some other matter required or authorised (whether by this Part, that Schedule or by any other enactment) to be the subject of an inquiry which is to be caused to be held by the Welsh Ministers, it appears to the Welsh Ministers that the matters are so far cognate that they should be considered together,

the Welsh Ministers may direct that the two inquiries be held concurrently or combined as one inquiry.

Application to Crown land.

63

(1) No power (whether a power of compulsory acquisition or other compulsory power, a power to carry out works or a power of entry) which is conferred by or under this Part shall, exept with the consent of the appropriate authority, be exercisable in relation to any land in which there is a Crown or Duchy interest, that is to say, an interest—

(a) belonging to Her Majesty in right of the Crown or of the Duchy of Lancaster, or to the Duchy of Cornwall; or

(b) belonging to a government department or held in trust for Her Majesty for the purposes of a government department.

(2) A consent given for the purposes of subsection (1) above may be given on such financial and other conditions as the appropriate authority giving the consent may consider appropriate.

(3) Subject to subsection (1) above, the provisions of this Part shall have effect in relation to land in which there is a Crown or Duchy interest as they have effect in relation to land in which there is no such interest.

(4) In this section “the appropriate authority”—

(a) in relation to land belonging to Her Majesty in right of the Crown and forming part of the Crown Estate, means the Crown Estate Commissioners;

(b) in relation to any other land belonging to Her Majesty in right of the Crown, means the government department having the management of the land or the relevant person;

(d) in relation to land belonging to the Duchy of Cornwall, means such person as the Duke of Cornwall, or the possessor for the time being of that Duchy, appoints;

(e) in relation to land belonging to a government department or held in trust for Her Majesty for the purposes of a government department, means that department;

and, if any question arises as to what authority is the appropriate authority in relation to any land, that question shall be referred to the Treasury, whose decision shall be final.

(5) In subsection (4), “relevant person”, in relation to any land to which section 90B(5) of the Scotland Act 1998 applies, means the person who manages that land.

Interpretation etc. of Part I.

64

(1) In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires—

“the 1973 Act” means the Fair Trading Act 1973;

“the 1980 Act” means the Competition Act 1980;

“the Agency” means the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators established under the Agency Regulation;

“the Agency Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2019/942 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 June 2019 establishing a European Union Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (recast), and “predecessor”, in relation to that Regulation, means Regulation (EC) 713/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 establishing an Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators;

“authorised distributor” means a person who is authorised by a licence or exemption to distribute electricity;

“authorised supplier” means a person who is authorised by a licence or exemption to supply electricity;

"the CMA"means the Competition and Markets Authority;

“construct” and “construction”, in relation to so much of a generating station as comprises or is to comprise renewable energy installations, has the same meaning as in Chapter 2 of Part 2 of the Energy Act 2004;

“contract counterparty” has the meaning given by section 6BA;

“delivery body” has the meaning given by section 6BB;

“designated regulatory function” means— a function of the Authority conferred by—a provision of assimilated law, ora condition in a licence under section 6 as that condition is modified from time to time after IP completion day,where that function was, immediately before IP completion day, one of its functions as a regulatory authority designated in accordance with Article 35 of the Electricity Directive;a function of the Northern Ireland Authority as a regulatory authority designated in accordance with Article 35 of the Electricity Directive;

“distribute” in relation to electricity, has the meaning given by section 4(4), and cognate expressions shall be construed accordingly;

“distribution exemption holder” means a person who—is distributing electricity for the purpose mentioned in section 4(1)(bb); andis authorised to do so by an exemption;

“electrical plant” means any plant equipment, apparatus or appliance used for, or for purposes connected with the generation, transmission, distribution or supply of electricity, other than—an electric line;a meter used for ascertaining the quantity of electricity supplied to any premises; oran electrical appliance under the control of a consumer;

“electric line” means any line which is used for carrying electricity for any purpose and includes, unless the context otherwise requires—any support of any such line, that is to say, any structure, pole or other thing in, on, by or from which any such line is or may be supported, carried or suspended;any apparatus connected to any such line for the purpose of carrying electricity; andany wire, cable, tube, pipe or other similar thing (including its casing or coating) which surrounds or supports, or is surrounded or supported by, or is installed in close proximity to, or is supported, carried or suspended in association with, any such line;

“the Electricity Directive” means Directive 2009/72/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 concerning common rules for the internal market in electricity and repealing Directive 2003/54/EC;

“electricity distributor”... and “electricity supplier” have the meanings given by section 6(9);

“electricity interconnector” has the meaning given by section 4(3E);

“the Electricity Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2019/943 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 June 2019 on the internal market for electricity (recast), and “predecessor”, in relation to that Regulation, means Regulation (EC) 714/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 on conditions for access to the network for cross-border exchanges in electricity;

“electricity undertaking” has the meaning given by section 10O;

“exempt distribution system” means a distribution system operated or controlled by a distribution exemption holder who is covered by an exemption granted to it in relation to that system;

“exemption” means an exemption under section 5 above;

“extension”, in relation to a generating station, has the meaning given by section 36(8) above and “extend” shall be construed accordingly;

“final order” and “provisional order” have the meanings given by section 25(8) above;

“generate”, in relation to electricity, has the meaning given by section 4(4) above, and cognate expressions shall be construed accordingly;

“generating station”, in relation to a generating station wholly or mainly driven by water, includes all structures and works for holding or channelling water for a purpose directly related to the generation of electricity by that station;

“high voltage line” means an electric line which— if it is in Scotland or is a relevant offshore line (as defined in subsection (1A)), is of a nominal voltage of 132 kilovolts or more; andin any other case, is of a nominal voltage of more than 132 kilovolts,and “low voltage line” shall be construed accordingly;

“information” includes accounts, estimates and returns;

“licence” means a licence under section 6 above and “licence holder” shall be construed accordingly;

“licensable activity” means an activity which, if carried on without the authority of a licence or exemption, constitutes an offence under section 4(1);

“line” means any wire, cable, tube, pipe or any other similar thing (including its casing or coating) which is designed or adapted for use in carrying electricity;

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

“Northern Ireland Authority” means the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation;

“notice” means notice in writing;

“offshore transmission” and “offshore transmission licence” have the meaning given by section 6F(8);

“offshore waters” means—waters in or adjacent to Great Britain which are between the mean low water mark and the seaward limits of the territorial sea, andwaters within an area designated under section 1(7) of the Continental Shelf Act 1964;

“premises” includes any land, building or structure;

“prescribed”, means prescribed by regulations made, unless the context otherwise requires, by the Secretary of State;

“providing a smart meter communication service” has the meaning given in section 4(3G) above, and cognate expressions shall be construed accordingly;

“regulated person” has the meaning given by section 25(8);

“relevant condition”and “relevant requirement” have the meanings given by section 25(8) above;

“relevant contract” and “relevant licence” have the meaning given by section 6BA;

“relevant electricity project” has the meaning given by section 6BA;

“relevant licence” has the meaning given by section 6BA;

“relevant producer or supplier” has the meaning given by section 10O;

“renewable energy installation” and “Renewable Energy Zone” have the same meanings as in Chapter 2 of Part 2 of the Energy Act 2004;

“senior officer” means—in relation to a company, a director;in relation to a partnership, a partner;in any other case, a person holding a position equivalent to that of a director or partner;

“special connection agreement” means a special agreement under section 22;

“supply”, in relation to electricity, has the meaning given by section 4(4) above, and cognate expressions shall be construed accordingly;

“supply exemption holder” means a person who—is carrying on the activity mentioned in section 4(1)(c); andis authorised to do so by an exemption;

“transmission”, in relation to electricity, has the meaning given by section 4(4) above;

“transmission system” has the same meaning given by section 4(4) above;

“working day” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday, Christmas Day, Good Friday or a day which is a bank holiday within the meaning of the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971.

(1A) An electric line is a relevant offshore line for the purposes of the definition in subsection (1) of “high voltage line” if—

(a) it is wholly or partly in an area of GB internal waters, an area of the territorial sea adjacent to the United Kingdom or an area designated under section 1(7) of the Continental Shelf Act 1964, and

(b) it is—

(i) used to convey electricity to a place in Scotland, or

(ii) constructed wholly or mainly for the purpose of conveying, to any other place, electricity generated by a generating station situated in an area mentioned in paragraph (a).

(1AA) In subsection (1A)(a) “GB internal waters” means waters in or adjacent to Great Britain which are between the mean low water mark and the seaward limits of the territorial sea adjacent to Great Britain, but do not form part of that territorial sea.

(1B) In this Part, references to participation, in relation to the transmission of electricity, are to be construed in accordance with section 4(3A) and (3B) above and section 6F.

(2) The provision of section 3 of the Administration of Justice (Scotland) Act 1972 (power of arbiter to state case to Court of Session) shall not apply in relation to any determination under this Part made by an arbiter.

PART II — REORGANISATION OF THE INDUSTRY

Transfers to successor companies

Transfer of property etc. of Area Boards.

65

(1) On such day as the Secretary of State may by order appoint for the purposes of this subsection and subsection (5) of section 66 below (in this Part referred to, in relation to any transfer effected by either subsection, as “the transfer date”), all property, rights and liabilities to which each Area Board is entitled or subject immediately before that date shall become by virtue of this subsection property, rights and liabilities of a company which, in relation to that Board, is nominated for the purposes of this subsection by the Secretary of State.

(2) Subject to subsection (3) below, the Secretary of State may, after consulting the Area Board concerned, by order nominate for the purposes of subsection (1) above any company formed and registered under the Companies Act 1985.

(3) On the transfer date each company so nominated must be a company limited by shares which is wholly owned by the Crown.

(4) The Secretary of State shall not exercise any power conferred on him by this section or sections 66 to 69 below except with the consent of the Treasury.

(5) In this Part “supply company” means a company nominated for the purposes of subsection (1) above.

Transfer of property etc. of Generating Board and Electricity Council.

66

(1) Before such date as the Secretary of State may direct, the Generating Board shall make a scheme for the division of all its property, rights and liabilities between three or more companies nominated by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this subsection; and of the companies so nominated—

(a) two shall be designated as generating companies; and

Reading this document does not replace reading the official text published on legislation.gov.uk. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies arising from the conversion of the original CLML XML to this format.

This text is published under legislation.gov.uk's own terms of reuse, not a Legalize or public-domain licence. legislation.gov.uk
Open Government Licence v3.0 (attribution required)
© Crown and database right. Derived from content available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 from legislation.gov.uk.