Section 16 Duty to connect on request.C1F1
England, Wales and Scotland
An electricity distributor is under a duty—
to make a connection between a distribution system of his and any premises, when required to do so by—
the owner or occupier of the premises; or
an authorised supplier acting with the consent of the owner or occupier of the premises,
for the purpose of enabling electricity to be conveyed to or from the premises;
to make a connection between a distribution system of his and any distribution system of another authorised distributor, when required to do so by that authorised distributor for the purpose of enabling electricity to be conveyed to or from that other system.
Any duty under subsection (1) includes a duty to provide such electric lines or electrical plant as may be necessary to enable the connection to be used for the purpose for which it is required.
In deciding how to comply with the duties under this section, and in particular in deciding how to prioritise persons requiring a connection, an electricity distributor must have regard to the designated strategic plans.
The duties under this section shall be performed subject to such terms as may be agreed under section 16A for so long as the connection is required.
In this section and sections 16A to 23 F3and Schedule 5B—
any reference to making a connection includes a reference to maintaining the connection (and continuing to provide the necessary electric lines or electrical plant);
any reference to requiring a connection includes a reference to requiring the connection to be maintained (and the continued provision of the necessary electric lines and electrical plant); and
any reference to the provision of any electric line or electrical plant is a reference to the provision of such a line or an item of electrical plant either by the installation of a new one or by the modification of an existing one.
The duties under this section are subject to the following provisions of this Part and any regulations made under those provisions.
In this section, “the designated strategic plans” means the plans or documents designated by regulations made under section 165A(2) of the Energy Act 2023 (functions of the Independent System Operator and Planner relating to network connections).
Annotations
Textual amendments
- F1
Ss. 16, 16A, 17 and cross-heading substituted for ss. 16, 17 (1.10.2001) by 2000 c. 27, s. 44; S.I. 2001/3266, art. 2, Sch.(subject to transitional provisions in art. 3-20)
- F2
S. 16(2A) inserted (18.12.2025) by Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 (c. 34), ss. 18(3)(a), 118(1)(f) (with s. 116)
- F3
Words in s. 16(4) inserted (6.4.2017) by Infrastructure Act 2015 (c. 7), ss. 52(4), 57(7)(c); S.I. 2017/108, reg. 2
- F4
S. 16(6) inserted (18.12.2025) by Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 (c. 34), ss. 18(3)(b), 118(1)(f) (with s. 116)
Modifications
- C1
S. 16 applied (1.10.2001) by S.I. 2001/3264, reg. 4(2)
Notes on Part I
Modifications
- C1
Pt. I modified (5.10.2004) by Energy Act 2004 (c. 20), ss. 184(12), 185(13), 198(2); S.I. 2004/2575, art. 2(1), Sch. 1
- C2
Pt. I modified (S.) (30.11.2005) by The Electricity from Non-Fossil Fuel Sources (Scotland) Saving Arrangements Order 2005 (S.S.I. 2005/549), arts. 1(1), 9
- C3
Pt. 1 excluded (30.12.2015) by The Port Talbot Steelworks Generating Station Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/1984), arts. 1, 7(2) (with art. 26)
- C4
Pt. I (ss. 1-64) applied (1.10.2001) by S.I. 2001/3264, regs. 4(2), 5(2)
- C5
Pt. I (ss. 1-64) amended (E.W.) (27.10.2000) by S.I. 2000/2727, art. 10
Pt. I (ss. 1-64) amended (7.11.2000) by 2000 c. 27, s. 105(1)(a); S.I. 2000/2974, art. 2, Sch. (subject to transitional provisions in arts. 3-12)
Pt. I (ss. 1-64) amended (E.W.) (1.10.2001) by S.I. 2000/2727, art. 10 (as substituted (1.10.2001) by S.I. 2001/3268, art. 2(13))
Notes on Duties of electricity distributors
Textual amendments
- F1
Ss. 16, 16A, 17 and cross-heading substituted for ss. 16, 17 (1.10.2001) by 2000 c. 27, s. 44; S.I. 2001/3266, art. 2, Sch. (subject to transitional provisions in arts. 3-20)