Gas Act 1986

[F1 [F2 Section 27B disputes] U.K.

Textual Amendments

F1 Ss. 27B-27D and cross-heading inserted (29.6.2009) by The Gas and Electricity (Dispute Resolution) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/1349), regs. 1(1), 2

F2 S. 27B cross-heading substituted (31.12.2020) by The Electricity and Gas etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/530), regs. 1(1), 30; 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

27B Meaning of “[F3 section 27B] dispute” U.K.

[F4 (1) For the purposes of sections 27C and 27D, a dispute is [F5 a “section 27B dispute”] if—

(a) it arises from a written complaint—

(i) made against a gas transporter,

(ii) made against the holder of a licence under section 7ZA,

(iii) made against the owner of an LNG import or export facility,

(iv) made against the owner of a storage facility,

(v) made against a person carrying out an activity described in section 5(1)(a) or (aa) who has been granted an exemption under section 6A(1), F6 ...

(vi) made by a person falling within paragraph (a) of subsection (1B) against a person falling within paragraph (b) of that subsection; [F7 or

(vii) made against the holder of a gas system planner licence;]

(b) it is wholly or mainly a dispute regarding an obligation of the person complained against [F8 which falls within subsection (2A)]; and

(c) it is a dispute between the complainant and the person complained against.

(1A) Until section 75 of the Utilities Act 2000 comes into force the reference in subsection (1)(a)(v) above to a person who has been granted an exemption under section 6A(1) includes a person to whom one or more of the exceptions to section 5(1) contained in Schedule 2A applies.

(1B) For the purposes of subsection (1)(a)(vi)—

(a) a person falls within this paragraph if the person is certified on the ground mentioned in section 8G(5) in respect of a pipe-line system or gas interconnector;

(b) a person falls within this paragraph if the person is designated under section 8J(3) in respect of the pipe-line system or gas interconnector mentioned in paragraph (a).]

(2) The reference in subsection [F9 (1)(a)] to a complaint does not include a reference to—

(a) a complaint about a modification (or a failure to make a modification) of—

(i) a term or condition of a relevant licence held by the person complained against, or

(ii) an obligation or right contained in any code or other document and having effect by virtue of such a term or condition; or

(b) a complaint made by a person as a household customer or potential household customer.

[F10 (2A) An obligation of the person complained against falls within this subsection if it is—

(a) an obligation under a relevant condition or relevant requirement in relation to that person imposed before IP completion day for the purpose of implementing the Gas Directive, including such an obligation as modified on or after IP completion day, or

(b) an obligation under a relevant condition or relevant requirement in relation to that person imposed on or after IP completion day which, if it had been imposed immediately before IP completion day, would have been an obligation imposed for the purpose of implementing the Gas Directive.]

(3) In this section and section 27C—

• F11 ...

• [F12 “household customer” means a customer who purchases gas for consumption by the customer’s own household;]

• F11 ...

• F11 ...

• “relevant licence” means a licence under section 7(2) or 7ZA.

Textual Amendments

F3 Words in s. 27B heading substituted (31.12.2020) by The Electricity and Gas etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/530), regs. 1(1), 31(2); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F4 Ss. 27B(1)-(1B) substituted for s. 27B(1) (10.11.2011) by The Electricity and Gas (Internal Markets) Regulations 2011 (S.I. 2011/2704), regs. 1(1), 28(3)(a)

F5 Words in s. 27B(1) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Electricity and Gas etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/530), regs. 1(1), 31(3)(a); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F6 Word in s. 27B(1)(a) omitted (1.10.2024) by virtue of The Energy Act 2023 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/706), regs. 1(1), 2(8)(a); S.I. 2024/957, reg. 2(a)

F7 S. 27B(1)(a)(vii) and word inserted (1.10.2024) by The Energy Act 2023 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/706), regs. 1(1), 2(8)(b); S.I. 2024/957, reg. 2(a)

F8 Words in s. 27B(1)(b) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Electricity and Gas etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/530), regs. 1(1), 31(3)(b); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F9 Word in s. 27B(2) substituted (10.11.2011) by The Electricity and Gas (Internal Markets) Regulations 2011 (S.I. 2011/2704), regs. 1(1), 28(3)(b)

F10 S. 27B(2A) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Electricity and Gas etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/530), regs. 1(1), 31(4) (as amended by The Electricity and Gas etc. (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1016), regs. 1(2), 3(12)); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F11 Words in s. 27B(3) omitted (10.11.2011) by virtue of The Electricity and Gas (Internal Markets) Regulations 2011 (S.I. 2011/2704), regs. 1(1), 28(3)(c)(i)

F12 Words in s. 27B(3) substituted (10.11.2011) by The Electricity and Gas (Internal Markets) Regulations 2011 (S.I. 2011/2704), regs. 1(1), 28(3)(c)(ii)

27C Determination of disputes U.K.

(1) [F13 A section 27B] dispute (other than one which may be referred to the Authority under or by virtue of any other provision of this Act) may be referred to the Authority under this section by the person who is the complainant in relation to the dispute.

(2) [F14 A section 27B] dispute referred to the Authority under this section shall be determined by order made either by the Authority or, if the Authority thinks fit, by an arbitrator (or in Scotland an arbiter) appointed by the Authority.

(3) The practice and procedure to be followed in connection with [F15 a section 27B] dispute referred to the Authority under this section shall be such as the Authority may consider appropriate.

(4) An order under this section—

(a) may include such incidental, supplemental and consequential provision as the person making the order considers appropriate; and

(b) shall be final.

(5) The provision that may be included in an order under this section by virtue of subsection (4)(a) above includes provision requiring either party to pay a sum in respect of the costs or expenses incurred by the person making the order (“costs provision”).

(6) In including costs provision in an order under this section, the person making the order shall have regard to the conduct and means of the parties and any other relevant circumstances.

(7) Costs provision included in an order under this section shall be enforceable—

(a) in England and Wales, as if it were a judgment of the county court;

(b) in Scotland, as if it were an extract registered decree arbitral bearing a warrant for execution issued by the sheriff.

[F16 (8) Sections 28 to 30F and 38 have effect in relation to a person against whom a complaint is made as mentioned in section 27B(1)(a), and on whom a duty or other requirement is imposed by an order under this section—

(a) as if references in those sections to a relevant requirement (other than the reference in section 28(8)) included references to that duty or requirement; and

(b) if the complaint is made against the person as mentioned in sub-paragraph (vi) of section 27B(1)(a), also as if references in those sections to a regulated person included references to that person.]

F17 (9) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F13 Words in s. 27C(1) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Electricity and Gas etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/530), regs. 1(1), 32(2); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F14 Words in s. 27C(2) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Electricity and Gas etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/530), regs. 1(1), 32(3); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F15 Words in s. 27C(3) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Electricity and Gas etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/530), regs. 1(1), 32(4); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F16 S. 27C(8) substituted (10.11.2011) by The Electricity and Gas (Internal Markets) Regulations 2011 (S.I. 2011/2704), regs. 1(1), 28(4)(b)

F17 S. 27C(9) omitted (10.11.2011) by virtue of The Electricity and Gas (Internal Markets) Regulations 2011 (S.I. 2011/2704), regs. 1(1), 28(4)(c)

27D Time limit for determinations U.K.

(1) An order determining [F18 a section 27B] dispute (whether made under section 27C or made under or by virtue of any other provision of this Act) shall be made within the permitted period.

(2) Subject to subsection (3), the permitted period is the period of two months beginning with the day on which the dispute is referred to the Authority.

(3) Where the person determining the dispute requests further information from anyone for the purposes of determining the dispute, the person may, by giving notice to the parties, extend the permitted period—

(a) by two months, or

(b) with the agreement of the complainant, by a longer period.

(4) If a person refers a dispute to the Authority, or purports to do so, and the Authority gives to that person a notice—

(a) specifying information which it requires in order to assess whether the dispute is [F19 a section 27B] dispute, or whether there is a dispute at all, and

(b) requesting the person to provide that information,

the dispute shall be treated for the purposes of subsection (2) as not referred to the Authority until the information is provided.]

Textual Amendments

F18 Words in s. 27D(1) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Electricity and Gas etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/530), regs. 1(1), 33(2); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F19 Words in s. 27D(4)(a) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Electricity and Gas etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/530), regs. 1(1), 33(3); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)