Electricity (Class Exemptions from the Requirement for a Licence) Order (Northern Ireland) 2013

2.—(1) This paragraph and paragraph 3 apply where a customer who has served an expression of interest relating to an exempt distribution system serves on the distribution exemption holder a notice—

(a) confirming that the customer has entered into a contract with a third party supplier identified in the expression of interest for the supply of electricity to premises which are connected to the exempt distribution system; and

(b) identifying that third party supplier.

(2) Within 5 working days beginning with the day on which it receives the notice served under sub-paragraph (1), the distribution exemption holder must provide any person related to it that is currently giving a supply of electricity to the customer with a copy of that notice.

(3) If the distribution exemption holder has not, by the end of the 10 working day period mentioned in paragraph 1(4), served on the customer a notice under paragraph 1(4)(b), the distribution exemption holder must give the third party supplier such access to the distribution system to which the expression of interest relates as is necessary to enable the third party supplier to give a supply of electricity to the customer.

(4) Access under sub-paragraph (2) must be given either—

(a) as soon as is reasonably practicable after the distribution exemption holder receives the notice served under sub-paragraph (1); or

(b) on a date agreed by the distribution exemption holder, the third party supplier and the customer in writing.

(5) Sub-paragraphs (6) to (11) apply if the distribution exemption holder has served on the customer a notice under paragraph 1(4)(b) (whether before or after the service of the notice under sub-paragraph (1)).

(6) Subject to sub-paragraph (7), the distribution exemption holder must give the third party supplier such access to its distribution system as is necessary to enable the third party supplier to give a supply of electricity to the customer, and must give that access—

(a) as soon as is reasonably practicable after the end of the period of 28 working days beginning with the day on which the customer serves the notice under sub-paragraph (1); or

(b) on a date agreed by the distribution exemption holder, the third party supplier and the customer in writing.

(7) If, before the end of the period mentioned in sub-paragraph (6)(a), the distribution exemption holder takes the steps mentioned in sub-paragraph (8)—

(a) the distribution exemption holder is not required to give access in accordance with sub-paragraph (6), and

(b) sub-paragraph (9) applies.

(8) The steps mentioned in sub-paragraph (7) are—

(a) providing the third party supplier with evidence to show—

(i) that the distribution exemption holder would need to increase the capacity of its distribution system in order to give the third party supplier access to that distribution system; and

(ii) that one of the conditions in paragraph 1(5) is met; and

(b) sending a copy of the evidence to the customer.

(9) If, within the period mentioned in sub-paragraph (10), the distribution exemption holder and the third party supplier enter into a contract for the provision to the third party supplier of such access as is necessary to enable it to give a supply of electricity to the customer through the distribution system, the distribution exemption holder must give access to the third party supplier in accordance with the terms of the contract.

(10) That period is—

(a) the 10 working days immediately following the period mentioned in sub-paragraph (6)(a); or

(b) any longer period that the distribution exemption holder, the third party supplier and the customer may agree in writing.

(11) If, before the end of the 28 day period mentioned in sub-paragraph (6)(a), the distribution exemption holder, the third party supplier and the customer agree in writing to the extension of that period, sub-paragraphs (6) to (10) have effect as if sub-paragraph (6)(a) referred to the extended period instead of to the period of 28 working days there mentioned.