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Electricity Act 1989 (c. 29)

(The document as of February, 2008)

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(b) by serving a copy of the notice on the holder of the licence.

15 Modification by order under other enactments

(1) Where in the circumstances mentioned in subsection (2) below the Secretary of State by order exercises any of the powers specified in--

(a) Parts I and II of Schedule 8 to the 1973 Act; or

(b) section 10(2)(a) of the 1980 Act,

the order may also provide for the modification of the conditions of a licence to such extent as may appear to him to be requisite or expedient for the purpose of giving effect to or of taking account of any provision made by the order.

(2) Subsection (1) above shall have effect where--

(a) the circumstances are as mentioned in section 56(1) of the 1973 Act (order on report on monopoly reference) and the monopoly situation exists in relation to the generation, transmission or supply of electricity;

(b) the circumstances are as mentioned in section 73(1) of that Act (order on report on merger reference) and the two or more enterprises which ceased to be distinct enterprises were both engaged in the generation, transmission or supply of electricity; or

(c) the circumstances are as mentioned in section 10(1) of the 1980 Act (order on report on competition reference) and the anti-competitive practice relates to the generation, transmission or supply of electricity.

(3) In this section expressions which are also used in the 1973 Act or the 1980 Act have the same meanings as in that Act.



Supply by public electricity suppliers

16 Duty to supply on request

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this Part and any regulations made under those provisions, a public electricity supplier shall, upon being required to do so by the owner or occupier of any premises--

(a) give a supply of electricity to those premises; and

(b) so far as may be necessary for that purpose, provide electric lines or electrical plant or both.

(2) Where any person requires a supply of electricity in pursuance of subsection (1) above, he shall give to the public electricity supplier a notice specifying--

(a) the premises in respect of which the supply is required;

(b) the day on which the supply is required to commence;

(c) the maximum power which may be required at any time; and

(d) the minimum period for which the supply is required to be given.

(3) Where a public electricity supplier receives from any person a notice under subsection (2) above requiring him to give a supply of electricity to any premises and--

(a) he has not previously given a supply of electricity to those premises; or

(b) the giving of the supply requires the provision of electric lines or electrical plant or both; or

(c) other circumstances exist which make it necessary or expedient for him to do so,

the supplier shall, as soon as practicable after receiving that notice, give to that person a notice under subsection (4) below.

(4) A notice under this subsection shall--

(a) state the extent to which the proposals specified in the other person's notice under subsection (2) above are acceptable to the supplier and specify any counter proposals made by the supplier;

(b) state whether the prices to be charged by the supplier will be determined by a tariff under section 18(1) below, or a special agreement under section 22(1) below, and specify the tariff or the proposed terms of the agreement;

(c) specify any payment which that person will be required to make under subsection (1) of section 19 below, or under regulations made under subsection (2) of that section;

(d) specify any security which that person will be required to give under section 20 below;

(e) specify any other terms which that person will be required to accept under section 21 below; and

(f) state the effect of section 23 below.

(5) In this section and sections 17 to 23 below--

(a) any reference to giving a supply of electricity includes a reference to continuing to give such a supply;

(b) any reference to requiring a supply of electricity includes a reference to requiring such a supply to continue to be given; and

(c) any reference to the provision of an electric line or an item of electrical plant is a reference to the provision of such a line or item either by the installation of a new one or by the modification of an existing one.

17 Exceptions from duty to supply

(1) Nothing in section 16(1) above shall be taken as requiring a public electricity supplier to give a supply of electricity to any premises if--

(a) such a supply is being given to the premises by a private electricity supplier; and

(b) that supply is given (wholly or partly) through the public electricity supplier's electric lines and electrical plant;

and in this Part "private electricity supplier" means a person, other than a public electricity supplier, who is authorised by a licence or exemption to supply electricity.

(2) Nothing in section 16(1) above shall be taken as requiring a public electricity supplier to give a supply of electricity to any premises if and to the extent that--

(a) he is prevented from doing so by circumstances not within his control; or

(b) circumstances exist by reason of which his doing so would or might involve his being in breach of regulations under section 29 below, and he has taken all such steps as it was reasonable to take both to prevent the circumstances from occurring and to prevent them from having that effect; or

(c) it is not reasonable in all the circumstances for him to be required to do so.

(3) Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) above shall not apply in relation to a supply of electricity which is being given to any premises unless the public electricity supplier gives to the occupier, or to the owner if the premises are not occupied, not less than seven working days' notice of his intention to discontinue the supply in pursuance of that paragraph.

18 Power to recover charges

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this section, the prices to be charged by a public electricity supplier for the supply of electricity by him in pursuance of section 16(1) above shall be in accordance with such tariffs (which, subject to any condition included in his licence, may relate to the supply of electricity in different areas, cases and circumstances) as may be fixed from time to time by him.

(2) A tariff fixed by a public electricity supplier under subsection (1) above --

(a) shall be so framed as to show the methods by which and the principles on which the charges are to be made as well as the prices which are to be charged; and

(b) shall be published in such manner as in the opinion of the supplier will secure adequate publicity for it.

(3) A tariff fixed by a public electricity supplier under subsection (1) above may include--

(a) a standing charge in addition to the charge for the actual electricity supplied;

(b) a charge in respect of the availability of a supply of electricity; and

(c) a rent or other charge in respect of any electricity meter or electrical plant provided by the supplier;

and such a charge as is mentioned in paragraph (b) above may vary according to the extent to which the supply is taken up.

(4) In fixing tariffs under subsection (1) above, a public electricity supplier shall not show undue preference to any person or class of persons, and shall not exercise any undue discrimination against any person or class of persons.

19 Power to recover expenditure

(1) Where any electric line or electrical plant is provided by a public electricity supplier in pursuance of section 16(1) above, the supplier may require any expenses reasonably incurred in providing it to be defrayed by the person requiring the supply of electricity to such extent as is reasonable in all the circumstances.

(2) The Secretary of State may, after consultation with the Director, make provision by regulations for entitling a public electricity supplier to require a person requiring a supply of electricity in pursuance of section 16(1) above to pay to the supplier, in respect of any expenses reasonably incurred in providing any electric line or electrical plant used for the purpose of giving that supply, such amount as may be reasonable in all the circumstances if--

(a) the supply is required within the prescribed period after the provision of the line or plant; and

(b) a person for the purpose of supplying whom the line or plant was provided ("the initial contributor") has made a payment to the supplier in respect of those expenses.

(3) Regulations under subsection (2) above may require a public electricity supplier who, in pursuance of this section or the regulations, has recovered any amount in respect of expenses reasonably incurred in providing any electric line or electrical plant--

(a) to exercise his rights under the regulations in respect of those expenses; and

(b) to apply any payments received by him in the exercise of those rights in making such payments as may be appropriate towards reimbursing the initial contributor and any persons previously required to make payments under the regulations.

(4) Any reference in this section to any expenses reasonably incurred in providing an electric line or electrical plant includes a reference to the capitalised value of any expenses likely to be so incurred in maintaining it, in so far as they will not be recoverable by the supplier as part of the charges made by him for the supply.

20 Power to require security

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this section, a public electricity supplier may require any person who requires a supply of electricity in pursuance of subsection (1) of section 16 above to give him reasonable security for the payment to him of all money which may become due to him--

(a) in respect of the supply; or

(b) where any electric line or electrical plant falls to be provided in pursuance of that subsection, in respect of the provision of the line or plant;

and if that person fails to give such security, the supplier may if he thinks fit refuse to give the supply, or to provide the line or plant, for so long as the failure continues.

(2) Where any person has not given such security as is mentioned in subsection (1) above, or the security given by any person has become invalid or insufficient--

(a) the public electricity supplier may by notice require that person, within seven days after the service of the notice, to give him reasonable security for the payment of all money which may become due to him in respect of the supply; and

(b) if that person fails to give such security, the supplier may if he thinks fit discontinue the supply for so long as the failure continues;

and any notice under paragraph (a) above shall state the effect of section 23 below.

(3) Where any money is deposited with a public electricity supplier by way of security in pursuance of this section, the supplier shall pay interest, at such rate as may from time to time be fixed by the supplier with the approval of the Director, on every sum of 50p so deposited for every three months during which it remains in the hands of the supplier.

(4) A public electricity supplier shall not be entitled to require security in pursuance of subsection (1)(a) above if--

(a) the person requiring the supply is prepared to take the supply through a pre-payment meter; and

(b) it is reasonably practicable in all the circumstances (including in particular the risk of loss or damage) for the supplier to provide such a meter.

21 Additional terms of supply

A public electricity supplier may require any person who requires a supply of electricity in pursuance of section 16(1) above to accept in respect of the supply--

(a) any restrictions which must be imposed for the purpose of enabling the supplier to comply with regulations under section 29 below; and

(b) any terms restricting any liability of the supplier for economic loss resulting from negligence which it is reasonable in all the circumstances for that person to be required to accept.

22 Special agreements with respect to supply

(1) Notwithstanding anything in sections 16 to 21 above, a person who requires a supply of electricity in pursuance of section 16(1) above--

(a) may enter into a special agreement with the public electricity supplier for the supply on such terms as may be specified in the agreement; and

(b) shall enter into such an agreement in any case where--

(i) the maximum power to be made available at any time exceeds 10 megawatts; or

(ii) it is otherwise reasonable in all the circumstances for such an agreement to be entered into.

(2) The Secretary of State may by order provide that subsection (1) above shall have effect as if for the wattage mentioned in paragraph (b) there were substituted such other wattage as may be specified in the order; but before making such an order, he shall consult with public electricity suppliers and with persons or bodies appearing to him to be representative of persons likely to be affected.

(3) So long as any such agreement as is mentioned in subsection (1) above is effective, the rights and liabilities of the parties to the agreement shall be those arising under the agreement and not those provided for by sections 16 to 21 above; but nothing in this subsection shall prejudice the giving of a notice under section 16(2) above specifying as the day on which the supply is required to commence the day on which such an agreement ceases to be effective.

(4) In this Part "tariff customer" means a person who requires a supply of electricity in pursuance of section 16(1) above and is supplied by the public electricity supplier otherwise than on the terms specified in such an agreement as is mentioned in subsection (1) above.

23 Determination of disputes

(1) Any dispute arising under sections 16 to 22 above between a public electricity supplier and a person requiring a supply of electricity--

(a) may be referred to the Director by either party; and

(b) on such a reference, shall be determined by order made either by the Director or, if he thinks fit, by an arbitrator, or in Scotland arbiter, appointed by him;

and the practice and procedure to be followed in connection with any such determination shall be such as the Director may consider appropriate.

(2) Where any dispute arising under sections 16 to 22 above between a public electricity supplier and a person requiring a supply of electricity to continue to be given falls to be determined under this section, the Director may give directions as to the circumstances in which, and the terms on which, the supplier is to continue to give the supply pending the determination of the dispute.

(3) Where any dispute arising under section 20(1) above falls to be determined under this section, the Director may give directions as to the security (if any) to be given pending the determination of the dispute.

(4) Directions under subsection (2) or (3) above may apply either in cases of particular descriptions or in particular cases.

(5) An order under this section--

(a) may include such incidental, supplemental and consequential provision (including provision requiring either party to pay a sum in respect of the costs or expenses incurred by the person making the order) as that person considers appropriate; and

(b) shall be final and--

(i) in England and Wales, shall be enforceable, in so far as it includes such provision as to costs or expenses, as if it were a judgment of the county court;

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

(6) In including in an order under this section any such provision as to costs or expenses as is mentioned in subsection (5) above, the person making the order shall have regard to the conduct and means of the parties and any other relevant circumstances.

24 The public electricity supply code

The provisions of Schedule 6 to this Act (which relate to the supply of electricity by public electricity suppliers) shall have effect.



Enforcement of preceding provisions

25 Orders for securing compliance

(1) Subject to subsections (2) and (5) and section 26 below, where the Director is satisfied that a licence holder is contravening, or is likely to contravene, any relevant condition or requirement, he shall by a final order make such provision as is requisite for the purpose of securing compliance with that condition or requirement.

(2) Subject to subsection (5) below, where it appears to the Director--

(a) that a licence holder is contravening, or is likely to contravene, any relevant condition or requirement; and

(b) that it is requisite that a provisional order be made,

he shall (instead of taking steps towards the making of a final order) by a provisional order make such provision as appears to him requisite for the purpose of securing compliance with that condition or requirement.

(3) In determining for the purposes of subsection (2)(b) above whether it is requisite that a provisional order be made, the Director shall have regard, in particular--

(a) to the extent to which any person is likely to sustain loss or damage in consequence of anything which, in contravention of the relevant condition or requirement, is likely to be done, or omitted to be done, before a final order may be made; and

(b) to the fact that the effect of the provisions of this section and section 27 below is to exclude the availability of any remedy (apart from under those provisions or for negligence) in respect of any contravention of a relevant condition or requirement.

(4) Subject to subsection (5) and section 26 below, the Director shall confirm a provisional order, with or without modifications, if--

(a) he is satisfied that the licence holder to whom the order relates is contravening, or is likely to contravene, any relevant condition or requirement; and

(b) the provision made by the order (with any modifications) is requisite for the purpose of securing compliance with that condition or requirement.

(5) The Director shall not make a final order or make or confirm a provisional order in relation to a licence holder if he is satisfied--

(a) that the duties imposed on him by section 3 above preclude the making or, as the case may be, the confirmation of the order;

(b) that the licence holder has agreed to take and is taking all such steps as it appears to the Director for the time being to be appropriate for the licence holder to take for the purpose of securing or facilitating compliance with the condition or requirement in question; or

(c) that the contraventions were, or the apprehended contraventions are, of a trivial nature.

(6) Where the Director is satisfied as mentioned in subsection (5) above, he shall--

(a) serve notice that he is so satisfied on the licence holder; and

(b) publish the notice in such manner as he considers appropriate for the purpose of bringing the matters to which the notice relates to the attention of persons likely to be affected by them.

(7) A final or provisional order--

(a) shall require the licence holder to whom it relates (according to the circumstances of the case) to do, or not to do, such things as are specified in the order or are of a description so specified;

(b) shall take effect at such time, being the earliest practicable time, as is determined by or under the order; and

(c) may be revoked at any time by the Director.

(8) In this Part--

  • "final order" means an order under this section other than a provisional order;

  • "provisional order" means an order under this section which, if not previously confirmed in accordance with subsection (4) above, will cease to have effect at the end of such period (not exceeding three months) as is determined by or under the order;

  • "relevant condition", in relation to a licence holder, means any condition of his licence;

  • "relevant requirement", in relation to a licence holder, means any duty or other requirement imposed on him by or under section 9 or sections 16 to 23 above.

26 Procedural requirements

(1) Before he makes a final order or confirms a provisional order, the Director shall give notice--

(a) stating that he proposes to make or confirm the order and setting out its effect;

(b) setting out--

(i) the relevant condition or requirement for the purpose of securing compliance with which the order is to be made or confirmed;

(ii) the acts or omissions which, in his opinion, constitute or would constitute contraventions of that condition or requirement; and

(iii) the other facts which, in his opinion, justify the making or confirmation of the order; and

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

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

(2) A notice under subsection (1) above shall be given--

(a) by publishing the notice in such manner as the Director considers appropriate for the purpose of bringing the matters to which the notice relates to the attention of persons likely to be affected by them; and

(b) by serving a copy of the notice, and a copy of the proposed order or of the order proposed to be confirmed, on the licence holder to whom the order relates.

(3) The Director shall not make a final order with modifications, or confirm a provisional order with modifications, except--

(a) with the consent to the modifications of the licence holder to whom the order relates; or

(b) after complying with the requirements of subsection (4) below.

(4) The requirements mentioned in subsection (3) above are that the Director shall--

(a) serve on the licence holder to whom the order relates such notice as appears to him requisite of his proposal to make or confirm the order with modifications;

(b) in that notice specify the period (not being less than 28 days from the date of the service of the notice) within which representations or objections with respect to the proposed modifications may be made; and

(c) consider any representations or objections which are duly made and not withdrawn.

(5) As soon as practicable after making a final order or making or confirming a provisional order, the Director shall--

(a) serve a copy of the order on the licence holder to whom the order relates; and

(b) publish the order in such manner as he considers appropriate for the purpose of bringing it to the attention of persons likely to be affected by it.

(6) Before revoking a final order or a provisional order which has been confirmed, the Director shall give notice--

(a) stating that he proposes to revoke the order and setting out its effect; and

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

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

(7) If, after giving a notice under subsection (6) above, the Director decides not to revoke the order to which the notice relates, he shall give notice of his decision.

(8) A notice under subsection (6) or (7) above shall be given--

(a) by publishing the notice in such manner as the Director considers appropriate for the purpose of bringing the matters to which the notice relates to the attention of persons likely to be affected by them; and

(b) by serving a copy of the notice on the licence holder to whom the order relates.

27 Validity and effect of orders

(1) If the licence holder to whom a final or provisional order relates is aggrieved by the order and desires to question its validity on the ground--

(a) that its making or confirmation was not within the powers of section 25 above; or

(b) that any of the requirements of section 26 above have not been complied with in relation to it,

he may, within 42 days from the date of service on him of a copy of the order, make an application to the court under this section.

(2) On any such application the court may, if satisfied that the making or confirmation of the order was not within those powers or that the interests of the licence holder have been substantially prejudiced by a failure to comply with those requirements, quash the order or any provision of the order.

(3) Except as provided by this section, the validity of a final or provisional order shall not be questioned by any legal proceedings whatever.

(4) The obligation to comply with a final or provisional order shall be a duty owed to any person who may be affected by a contravention of the order.

(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 a licence holder 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 order.

(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 a final or provisional order, compliance with any such order shall be enforceable by civil proceedings by the Director for an injunction or for interdict or for any other appropriate relief.

(8) In this section and section 28 below "the court" means the High Court in relation to England and Wales and the Court of Session in relation to Scotland.

28 Power to require information etc

(1) Where it appears to the Director that a licence holder may be contravening, or may have contravened, any relevant condition or requirement, the Director may, for any purpose connected with such of his functions under section 25 above as are exercisable in relation to that matter, serve a notice under subsection (2) below on any person.

(2) A notice under this subsection is a notice signed by the Director and--

(a) requiring the person on whom it is served to produce, at a time and place specified in the notice, to the Director or to any person appointed by the Director for the purpose, any documents which are specified or described in the notice and are in that person's custody or under his control; or

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

(3) No person shall be required under this section to produce any documents which he could not be compelled to produce in civil proceedings in the court or, in complying with any requirement for the furnishing of information, to give any information which he could not be compelled to give in evidence in any such proceedings.

(4) A person who without reasonable excuse fails to do anything required of him by notice under subsection (2) above shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

(5) A person who intentionally alters, suppresses or destroys any document which he has been required by any notice under subsection (2) above to produce shall be liable--

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

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

(6) If a person makes default in complying with a notice under subsection (2) above, the court may, on the application of the Director, make such order as the court thinks fit for requiring the default to be made good; and any such order may provide that all the costs or expenses of and incidental to the application shall be borne by the person in default or by any officers of a company or other association who are responsible for its default.



Provisions with respect to supply generally

29 Regulations relating to supply and safety

(1) The Secretary of State may make such regulations as he thinks fit for the purpose of--

(a) securing that supplies of electricity are regular and efficient;

(b) protecting the public from dangers arising from the generation, transmission or supply of electricity, from the use of electricity supplied or from the installation, maintenance or use of any electric line or electrical plant; and

(c) without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (b) above, eliminating or reducing the risks of personal injury, or damage to property or interference with its use, arising as mentioned in that paragraph.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1) above, regulations under this section may--

(a) prohibit the supply or transmission of electricity except by means of a system approved by the Secretary of State;

(b) make provision requiring notice in the prescribed form to be given to the Secretary of State, in such cases as may be specified in the regulations, of accidents and of failures of supplies or transmissions of electricity;

(c) make provision as to the keeping, by persons authorised by a licence or exemption to supply or transmit electricity, of maps, plans and sections and as to their production (on payment, if so required, of a reasonable fee) for inspection or copying;

(d) make provision for relieving persons authorised by a licence to supply electricity from any obligation to supply in such cases as may be prescribed;

(e) make provision requiring compliance with notices given by the Secretary of State specifying action to be taken in relation to any electric line or electrical plant, or any electrical appliance under the control of a consumer, for the purpose of--

(i) preventing or ending a breach of regulations under this section; or

(ii) eliminating or reducing a risk of personal injury or damage to property or interference with its use;

(f) provide for particular requirements of the regulations to be deemed to be complied with in the case of any electric line or electrical plant complying with specified standards or requirements;

(g) provide for the granting of exemptions from any requirement of the regulations for such periods as may be determined by or under the regulations.

(3) Regulations under this section may provide that any person--

(a) who contravenes any specified provision of the regulations; or

(b) who does so in specified circumstances,

shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale; but nothing in this subsection shall affect any liability of any such person to pay compensation in respect of any damage or injury which may have been caused by the contravention.

(4) No proceedings shall be instituted in England and Wales in respect of an offence under this section except by or on behalf of the Secretary of State or the Director of Public Prosecutions.

30 Electrical inspectors

(1) The Secretary of State may appoint competent and impartial persons to be electrical inspectors under this Part.

(2) The duties of an electrical inspector under this Part shall be as follows--

(a) to inspect and test, periodically and in special cases, electric lines and electrical plant belonging to persons authorised by a licence or exemption to generate, transmit or supply electricity;

(b) to examine, periodically and in special cases, the generation, transmission or supply of electricity by such persons;

(c) to inspect and test, if and when required by any consumer, any such lines and plant on the consumer's premises, for the purpose of determining whether any requirement imposed by or under this Part in respect of the lines or plant or the supply of electricity through or by them has been complied with; and

(d) such other duties as may be imposed by regulations under this section or as the Secretary of State may determine.

(3) The Secretary of State may by regulations--

(a) prescribe the manner in which and the times at which any duties are to be performed by electrical inspectors;

(b) require persons authorised by a licence or exemption to generate, transmit or supply electricity--

(i) to furnish electrical inspectors with records or other information; and

(ii) to allow such inspectors access to premises and the use of electrical plant and other facilities;

(c) make provision for relieving persons authorised by a licence to supply electricity from any obligation to supply in such cases as may be prescribed; and

(d) prescribe the amount of the fees which are to be payable to such inspectors.

(4) Any fees received by electrical inspectors shall be paid to the Secretary of State; and any sums received by him under this subsection shall be paid into the Consolidated Fund.

31 Use etc. of meters

The provisions of Schedule 7 to this Act (which relate to the use, certification, testing and maintenance of electricity meters) shall have effect.



Protection of public interest

32 Electricity from non-fossil fuel sources

(1) The Secretary of State may, after consultation with the Director and with the suppliers concerned, by order require each public electricity supplier in England and Wales or each such supplier in Scotland, before a day specified in the order, to make (in so far as he has not already done so) and produce evidence to the Director showing that he has made--

(a) such arrangements; or

(b) where a previous order under this subsection has had effect in relation to him, such additional arrangements,

as will secure the result mentioned in subsection (2) below.

(2) The result referred to in subsection (1) above is that, for a period specified in the order, there will be available to the public electricity supplier--

(a) from non-fossil fuel generating stations; or

(b) if the order so provides, from non-fossil fuel generating stations of any particular description,

an aggregate amount of generating capacity which is not less than that specified in relation to him in the order; and an order under subsection (1) above may make different provision for different suppliers.

(3) A public electricity supplier who--

(a) fails to comply with an order under subsection (1) above; or

(b) having complied with such an order, by any act or omission of his prevents the arrangements made by him from securing the result mentioned in subsection (2) above,

shall be liable on conviction on indictment to a fine.

(4) No proceedings shall be instituted in England and Wales in respect of an offence under this section except by or on behalf of the Secretary of State.

(5) Subject to subsection (6) below, if throughout any period a public electricity supplier--

(a) is entitled under a contract to purchase, at any wattage specified in the contract, electricity generated by a particular non-fossil fuel generating station; or

(b) himself operates a non-fossil fuel generating station and, of the station's capacity, any wattage does not fall to be regarded, by virtue of paragraph (a) above, as available to any other person,

a generating capacity of that wattage shall be regarded for the purposes of this section as available to that supplier from that station for that period.

(6) The amount of a non-fossil fuel generating station's capacity which may be regarded as available for the purposes of this section shall not exceed that station's declared net capacity; and where different parts of such a station's capacity fall to be regarded as available to different persons, any excess over that station's declared net capacity shall be apportioned between those persons in such manner as the Director may determine.

(7) If the Secretary of State is satisfied that any such arrangements as are mentioned in subsection (1) above have been made before the day specified in the first order under that subsection, he may certify that those arrangements--

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