OpenLegislation

Utilities Act 2000

2000 c. 27 · Enacted 28 July 2000 · Extends to England, Wales and Scotland

Not fully up to date. 2 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 6 April 2026.

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ProvisionChangeMade by
s. 5A(2)(b)words insertedEnergy Act 2023 Sch. 17 para. 13(a)
s. 5A(2)(c)words insertedEnergy Act 2023 Sch. 17 para. 13(b)
An Act to provide for the establishment and functions of the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority and the Gas and Electricity Consumer Council; to amend the legislation regulating the gas and electricity industries; and for connected purposes.[28th July 2000]

Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—C1

Annotations to the whole text

Modifications

C1

Act transfer of functions (1.10.2008) by Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Act 2007 (c. 17), ss. 30(3)(a), 66(2) (with s. 6(9), Sch. 3); S.I. 2008/2550, art. 2, Sch.

Contents

  1. Part I: New regulatory arrangements
  2. 1Gas and Electricity Markets Authority.
  3. 2Gas and Electricity Consumer Council. Repealed
  4. 3Transfer to Authority ... of functions, property etc.
  5. 3AExercise of designated regulatory functions etc
  6. 4Forward work programmes.
  7. 4AInformation in relation to strategy and policy statement
  8. 5Annual and other reports of Authority.
  9. 5XALaying of accounts before Scottish Parliament , Senedd Cymru or the Northern Ireland Assembly
  10. 5ZAReport on activities as designated regulatory authority Repealed
  11. 5ADuty of Authority to carry out impact assessment
  12. 6Publication of advice and information about consumer matters.
  13. 7Co-operation between Authority and Council. Repealed
  14. 8Payments by licence holders relating to new arrangements.
  15. Part II: Objectives of regulation of gas and electricity
  16. Gas
  17. 9Objectives and duties under 1986 Act.
  18. 10Guidance on social and environmental matters in relation to gas.
  19. 11Health and safety in relation to gas.
  20. 12Exceptions from the general duties under 1986 Act.
  21. Electricity
  22. 13Objectives and duties under 1989 Act.
  23. 14Guidance on social and environmental matters in relation to electricity.
  24. 15Health and safety in relation to electricity.
  25. 16Exceptions from the general duties under 1989 Act.
  26. Part III: Functions of the Council
  27. 17Preliminary. Repealed
  28. 18Acquisition and review of information.
  29. 19Provision of advice and information to public authorities and other persons. Repealed
  30. 20Provision of information to consumers.
  31. 21Power to publish advice and information about consumer matters. Repealed
  32. 22Complaints. Repealed
  33. 23Investigations. Repealed
  34. 24Provision of information to Council. Repealed
  35. 25Publication of notice of reasons. Repealed
  36. 26Provision of information by Council to Authority. Repealed
  37. 27Sections 24 to 26: supplementary. Repealed
  38. Part IV: Amendment of the Electricity Act 1989
  39. Electricity licensing
  40. 28Prohibition on unlicensed distribution of electricity.
  41. 29Exemptions from electricity licensing.
  42. 30Licences authorising supply etc. of electricity.
  43. 31Enactments referring to public electricity suppliers.
  44. 32Electricity licence conditions.
  45. 33Standard conditions of electricity licences.
  46. 34Modification of conditions of particular licence.
  47. 35Modification of standard conditions of licences.
  48. 36Electricity licence modification references.
  49. 37Reports on modification references.
  50. 38Modification following report.
  51. 39Competition Commission’s power to veto modifications.
  52. 40Modification by order under other enactments.
  53. 41Transfer of electricity licences.
  54. 42Reasons for decisions under 1989 Act.
  55. 43Altering activities requiring electricity licence.
  56. Duties of electricity distributors
  57. 44Duty to connect on request.
  58. 45Abolition of tariffs.
  59. 46Power to recover expenditure.
  60. 47Power to require security.
  61. 48Additional terms of connection.
  62. 49Special agreements with respect to connection.
  63. 50General duties of electricity distributors.
  64. Electricity code and metering
  65. 51The electricity code.
  66. 52Amendment of Schedule 7 to 1989 Act.
  67. Powers of electricity licence holders
  68. 53Powers of electricity licence holders.
  69. Electricity performance standards
  70. 54Standards of performance in individual cases.
  71. 55Overall standards of performance.
  72. 56Standards of performance: procedures.
  73. 57Information with respect to levels of performance.
  74. 58Information to be given to customers.
  75. Enforcement of obligations
  76. 59Financial penalties.
  77. 60Licence enforcement.
  78. Remuneration and service standards
  79. 61Links between directors’ remuneration and electricity service standards.
  80. Electricity from renewable sources
  81. 62Obligation in connection with electricity from renewable sources.
  82. 63Orders under section 32: supplementary.
  83. 64Green certificates.
  84. 65Alternative way of discharging renewables obligation: payments.
  85. 66Abolition of fossil fuel levy.
  86. 67Supplementary.
  87. Miscellaneous
  88. 68Modification of licences: electricity trading arrangements.
  89. 69Help for disadvantaged groups of electricity customers. Repealed
  90. 70Energy efficiency requirements for electricity distributors and suppliers.
  91. 71General duties of transmission licence holders in Scotland.
  92. 72Uniform prices etc. in certain areas of Scotland.
  93. 73Maximum prices for reselling electricity.
  94. Part V: Amendment of the Gas Act 1986
  95. Gas licensing
  96. 74Gas licence conditions.
  97. 75Exceptions from section 5 of 1986 Act. Not yet in force
  98. 76Gas transporters.
  99. 77Restriction on use of certain pipe-lines for providing a supply of gas.
  100. 78Construction of pipe-lines by gas transporters.
  101. 79Duty to facilitate competition.
  102. 80Gas transporters’ duty to make a connection.
  103. 81Standard conditions of gas licences.
  104. 82Modification of standard conditions of gas licences.
  105. 83Modification following Competition Commission report.
  106. 84The gas code.
  107. 85Transfer of gas licences.
  108. 86Exemptions from gas licensing.
  109. 87Reasons for decisions under 1986 Act.
  110. 88Altering activities requiring gas licence.
  111. Gas performance standards
  112. 89Repeal of section 10(2) to (5) of Gas Act 1995.
  113. 90Standards of performance in individual cases.
  114. 91Overall standards of performance.
  115. 92Standards of performance: procedures.
  116. 93Information with respect to levels of performance.
  117. 94Information to be given to customers.
  118. Enforcement of obligations
  119. 95Financial penalties.
  120. 96Licence enforcement.
  121. Remuneration and service standards
  122. 97Links between directors’ remuneration and gas service standards.
  123. Miscellaneous
  124. 98Help for disadvantaged groups of gas customers. Repealed
  125. 99Energy efficiency requirements for gas transporters and suppliers.
  126. 100Exercise of powers to make regulations.
  127. 101Standards of gas quality.
  128. 102Maximum prices for reselling gas.
  129. Part VI: Miscellaneous and Supplementary
  130. Miscellaneous
  131. 103Overall carbon emissions reduction targets.
  132. 103AOverall home-heating cost reduction targets
  133. 103BPower of Secretary of State and the Scottish Ministers to require information: carbon emissions reduction targets and home-heating cost reduction targets
  134. 104Specialist members of the Competition Commission. Repealed
  135. 105General restrictions on disclosure of information.
  136. 105ARestrictions on disclosure in respect of cross-border exchanges of information
  137. Supplementary
  138. 106Interpretation.
  139. 107Financial provisions.
  140. 108Amendments, transitional provisions and repeals.
  141. 109Power to make transitional provision etc.
  142. 110Short title, commencement and extent.
  143. Schedule 1: The Gas and Electricity Markets Authority
  144. Membership
  145. 1Paragraph 1
  146. Terms of appointment, remuneration, pensions etc.
  147. 2Paragraph 2
  148. 2AParagraph 2A
  149. 3Paragraph 3
  150. 4Paragraph 4
  151. Staff
  152. 5Paragraph 5
  153. Committees
  154. 6Paragraph 6
  155. Proceedings etc.
  156. 7Paragraph 7
  157. 8Paragraph 8
  158. Performance of functions
  159. 9Paragraph 9
  160. 10Paragraph 10
  161. Supplementary powers
  162. 11Paragraph 11
  163. Schedule 2: The Gas and Electricity Consumer Council
  164. Membership of Council
  165. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  166. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  167. Terms of appointment, remuneration, pensions et ceteralaetc.
  168. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  169. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  170. Staff
  171. 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
  172. Annual reports
  173. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  174. Financial provisions and accounts
  175. 7Paragraph 7 Repealed
  176. 8Paragraph 8 Repealed
  177. 9Paragraph 9 Repealed
  178. Regional and other committees and sub-committees
  179. 10Paragraph 10 Repealed
  180. 11Paragraph 11 Repealed
  181. 12Paragraph 12 Repealed
  182. 13Paragraph 13 Repealed
  183. 14Paragraph 14 Repealed
  184. Performance of functions of the Council
  185. 15Paragraph 15 Repealed
  186. 16Paragraph 16 Repealed
  187. Supplementary powers
  188. 17Paragraph 17 Repealed
  189. Schedule 3: Further provision about transfers of functions, property etc.
  190. Preliminary
  191. 1Paragraph 1
  192. Contents of transfer schemes
  193. 2Paragraph 2
  194. 3Paragraph 3
  195. 4Paragraph 4
  196. Modification of transfer scheme after appointed day
  197. 5Paragraph 5
  198. Effect of transfers
  199. 6Paragraph 6
  200. 7Paragraph 7
  201. 8Paragraph 8
  202. Continuity of employment, etc. of transferred employees
  203. 9Paragraph 9
  204. Schedule 4: Schedule to be substituted for Schedule 6 to the 1989 Act
  205. Schedule 5: Electricity metering
  206. 1Paragraph 1
  207. 2Paragraph 2
  208. 3Paragraph 3
  209. 4Paragraph 4
  210. 5Paragraph 5
  211. 6Paragraph 6
  212. 7Paragraph 7
  213. 8Paragraph 8
  214. Schedule 6: Minor and consequential amendments
  215. Part I: Gas Act 1986
  216. 1Paragraph 1
  217. 2Paragraph 2
  218. 3Paragraph 3
  219. 4Paragraph 4
  220. 5Paragraph 5
  221. 6Paragraph 6
  222. 7Paragraph 7
  223. 8Paragraph 8
  224. 9Paragraph 9 Repealed
  225. 10Paragraph 10
  226. 11Paragraph 11
  227. 12Paragraph 12
  228. 13Paragraph 13
  229. 14Paragraph 14
  230. 15Paragraph 15
  231. 16Paragraph 16
  232. 17Paragraph 17
  233. 18Paragraph 18
  234. 19Paragraph 19
  235. 20Paragraph 20
  236. 21Paragraph 21
  237. 22Paragraph 22
  238. 23Paragraph 23
  239. Part II: Electricity Act 1989
  240. 24Paragraph 24
  241. 25Paragraph 25
  242. 26Paragraph 26
  243. 27Paragraph 27
  244. 28Paragraph 28
  245. 29Paragraph 29
  246. 30Paragraph 30
  247. 31Paragraph 31
  248. 32Paragraph 32
  249. 33Paragraph 33
  250. 34Paragraph 34
  251. 35Paragraph 35
  252. 36Paragraph 36
  253. 37Paragraph 37
  254. 38Paragraph 38
  255. 39Paragraph 39
  256. 40Paragraph 40
  257. Part III: Other Acts
  258. Rights of Entry (Gas and Electricity Boards) Act 1954 (c. 21)
  259. 41Paragraph 41
  260. Public Records Act 1958 (c. 51)
  261. 42Paragraph 42 Repealed
  262. Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967 (c. 13)
  263. 43Paragraph 43
  264. Superannuation Act 1972 (c. 11)
  265. 44Paragraph 44
  266. House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975 (c. 24)
  267. 45Paragraph 45
  268. Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1985 (c. 66)
  269. 46Paragraph 46 Repealed
  270. Insolvency Act 1986 (c. 45)
  271. 47Paragraph 47
  272. Schedule 7: Transitional provisions and savings
  273. Part I: Separation of electricity supply and distribution
  274. Application and purpose of Part I
  275. 1Paragraph 1
  276. Nominations and transfer schemes
  277. 2Paragraph 2
  278. 3Paragraph 3
  279. 4Paragraph 4
  280. Secretary of State’s powers in relation to transfer schemes
  281. 5Paragraph 5
  282. Effect of transfer scheme
  283. 6Paragraph 6
  284. Supplementary provisions as to transfers
  285. 7Paragraph 7
  286. Shares issued in pursuance of a transfer scheme
  287. 8Paragraph 8
  288. Statutory accounts
  289. 9Paragraph 9
  290. Consequential modifications of rating provisions
  291. 10Paragraph 10
  292. Interpretation
  293. 11Paragraph 11
  294. 12Paragraph 12
  295. Part II: Secretary of State’s licensing schemes
  296. Existing electricity supply licences
  297. 13Paragraph 13
  298. 14Paragraph 14
  299. 15Paragraph 15
  300. 16Paragraph 16
  301. 17Paragraph 17
  302. Existing generation and transmission licences
  303. 18Paragraph 18
  304. Existing gas licences
  305. 19Paragraph 19
  306. Effect of licensing schemes
  307. 20Paragraph 20
  308. Provision of information by licence holders
  309. 21Paragraph 21
  310. Consultation by Secretary of State
  311. 22Paragraph 22
  312. Part III: Former tariff customers
  313. 23Paragraph 23
  314. Part IV: Other transitional provisions and savings
  315. Compensation for members of abolished consumer bodies
  316. 24Paragraph 24 Repealed
  317. Consultation by Council before establishing regional committees
  318. 25Paragraph 25 Repealed
  319. First financial years of Authority and Council
  320. 26Paragraph 26
  321. First forward work programmes of Authority and Council
  322. 27Paragraph 27
  323. 28Paragraph 28 Repealed
  324. Last annual reports of the Directors
  325. 29Paragraph 29
  326. Last annual report of the Gas Consumers’ Council
  327. 30Paragraph 30 Repealed
  328. Investigations being carried out under the 1986 Act
  329. 31Paragraph 31 Repealed
  330. Investigations being carried out under the 1989 Act
  331. 32Paragraph 32 Repealed
  332. Schedule 8: Repeals