{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/utilities-act-2000/section-4",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/utilities-act-2000/section-4.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/2000/27",
  "legislation_title": "Utilities Act 2000",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/utilities-act-2000",
  "path": "section/4",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "4",
  "heading": "Forward work programmes.",
  "text": "(1) The Authority ... shall, before each financial year, ... publish a document (the “forward work programme”) containing a general description of the projects, other than those comprising routine activities in the exercise of its functions, which it plans to undertake during the year.\n(2) That description must include the objectives of each project.\n(3) The forward work programme for any year shall also include an estimate of the overall expenditure which the Authority ... expects to incur during the year in the exercise of its functions.\n(4) Before publishing the forward work programme for any year, the Authority ... shall give notice—\n(a) containing a draft of the forward work programme, and\n(b) specifying the time within which representations or objections to the proposals contained in it may be made,\nand shall consider any representations or objections which are duly made and not withdrawn.\n(5) The notice under subsection (4) must be published by the Authority ... in such manner as it considers appropriate for the purpose of bringing the matters contained in it to the attention of persons likely to be affected by them.\n(6) The Authority must send a copy of any notice given by it under subsection (4) to Citizens Advice and Consumer Scotland.\n(7) In this section—\n(a) references to functions do not include functions under Part 1 of the Energy Act 2023, and\n(b) references to projects do not include projects with regard to the exercise of such functions.",
  "extent": "E+W+S",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in s. 4(1) repealed (1.10.2008) by Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Act 2007 (c. 17), s. 66(2), Sch. 7 para. 19(a)(i), Sch. 8; S.I. 2008/2550, art. 2, Sch."
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Word in s. 4(1) repealed (1.10.2008) by Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Act 2007 (c. 17), s. 66(2), Sch. 7 para. 19(a)(ii), Sch. 8; S.I. 2008/2550, art. 2, Sch."
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in s. 4(3) repealed (1.10.2008) by Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Act 2007 (c. 17), s. 66(2), Sch. 7 para. 19(b), Sch. 8; S.I. 2008/2550, art. 2, Sch."
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Words in s. 4(4) repealed (1.10.2008) by Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Act 2007 (c. 17), s. 66(2), Sch. 7 para. 19(c), Sch. 8; S.I. 2008/2550, art. 2, Sch."
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "Words in s. 4(5) repealed (1.10.2008) by Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Act 2007 (c. 17), s. 66(2), Sch. 7 para. 19(d), Sch. 8; S.I. 2008/2550, art. 2, Sch."
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F6",
      "text": "Words in s. 4(6) substituted (1.4.2014) by The Public Bodies (Abolition of the National Consumer Council and Transfer of the Office of Fair Trading’s Functions in relation to Estate Agents etc) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/631), art. 1(3), Sch. 1 para. 8(3) (with Sch. 1 para. 28, Sch. 2 paras. 13-15)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F7",
      "text": "Words in s. 4(6) substituted (13.1.2022) by The Consumer Scotland Act 2020 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2022 (S.I. 2022/34), art. 1(1), Sch. para. 5(2) (with art. 5)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F8",
      "text": "S. 4(7) inserted (26.12.2023) by Energy Act 2023 (c. 52), s. 334(3)(a), Sch. 5 para. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "S. 4 wholly in force at 20.12.2000; s. 4 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 110(2); s. 4 in force at 7.11.2000 for certain purposes by S.I. 2000/2974, art. 2, Sch.(subject to transitional provisions in arts. 3-12); s. 4 in force at 20.12.2000 for all remaining purposes by S.I. 2000/3343, art. 2, Sch.(subject to transitional provisions in arts. 3-15)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/27/section/4",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:20:43.947420+00:00",
    "licence": "OGL-UK-3.0",
    "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
    "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
  }
}