(1)The economic regulator may make modifications of—
(a)the conditions of a particular licence;
(b)the standard conditions of licences.
(2)Before making any modifications under this section, the economic regulator must give notice—
(a)stating that it proposes to make modifications,
(b)setting out the proposed modifications and their effect,
(c)stating the reasons why it proposes to make the modifications, and
(d)specifying the time within which representations with respect to the proposed modifications may be made.
(3)The time specified by virtue of subsection (2)(d) may not be less than 28 days from the date of the publication of the notice.
(4)A notice under subsection (2) must be given—
(a)by publishing the notice in such manner as the economic regulator considers appropriate for the purpose of bringing the notice to the attention of persons likely to be affected by the making of the modifications, and
(b)by sending a copy of the notice to—
(i)each relevant licence holder,
(ii)the Secretary of State, and
(iii)the appropriate devolved authorities (if any).
(5)The economic regulator must consider any representations which are duly made.
(6)If, within the time specified by virtue of subsection (2)(d), the Secretary of State directs the economic regulator not to make any modification, the economic regulator must comply with the direction.
(7)Subsections (8) to (10) apply where, having complied with subsections (2) to (5), the economic regulator decides to proceed with the making of modifications of the conditions of any licence under this section.
(8)The economic regulator must—
(a)publish the decision and the modifications in such manner as it considers appropriate for the purpose of bringing them to the attention of persons likely to be affected by the making of the modifications,
(b)state the effect of the modifications,
(c)state how it has taken account of any representations duly made, and
(d)state the reason for any differences between the modifications and those set out in the notice by virtue of subsection (2)(b).
(9)Each modification has effect from the date specified by the economic regulator in relation to that modification (subject to the giving of a direction under paragraph 2 of Schedule 2).
(10)The date specified by virtue of subsection (9) may not be less than 56 days from the publication of the decision to proceed with the making of modifications under this section.
(11)In this section “relevant licence holder”—
(a)in relation to the modification of standard conditions, means the holder of a licence—
(i)which is to be modified by the inclusion of any new standard condition, or
(ii)which includes any standard conditions to which the modifications relate which are in effect at the time specified by virtue of subsection (2)(d), or
(b)in relation to the modification of a condition of a particular licence (other than a standard condition), means the holder of that particular licence.
(12)For the purposes of this section the “appropriate devolved authorities” are—
(a)the Welsh Ministers, if provision making the modifications proposed in the notice under subsection (2) would be within the legislative competence of Senedd Cymru if it were contained in an Act of the Senedd (ignoring any requirement for the consent of a Minister of the Crown imposed under Schedule 7B to the Government of Wales Act 2006);
(b)the Scottish Ministers, if provision making the modifications proposed in that notice would be within the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament if it were contained in an Act of that Parliament;
(c)the Department for the Economy in Northern Ireland, if provision making the modifications proposed in that notice—
(i)would be within the legislative competence of the Northern Ireland Assembly if it were contained in an Act of that Assembly, and
(ii)would not, if it were contained in a Bill in the Northern Ireland Assembly, result in the Bill requiring the consent of the Secretary of State under section 8 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.
Commencement Information
I1S. 13 in force at 26.12.2023, see s. 334(3)(a)