Electricity Act 1989

Provisions with respect to supply generally E+W+S

29 Regulations relating to supply and safety. E+W+S

(1) The Secretary of State may make such regulations as he thinks fit for the purpose of—

(a) securing that supplies of electricity are regular and efficient;

(b) protecting the public from dangers arising from the generation, transmission or supply of electricity, from the use of electricity supplied or from the installation, maintenance or use of any electric line or electrical plant; and

(c) without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (b) above, eliminating or reducing the risks of personal injury, or damage to property or interference with its use, arising as mentioned in that paragraph.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1) above, regulations under this section may—

(a) prohibit the supply or transmission of electricity except by means of a system approved by the Secretary of State;

(b) make provision requiring notice in the prescribed form to be given to the Secretary of State, in such cases as may be specified in the regulations, of accidents and of failures of supplies or transmissions of electricity;

(c) make provision as to the keeping, by persons authorised by a licence or exemption to supply or transmit electricity, of maps, plans and sections and as to their production (on payment, if so required, of a reasonable fee) for inspection or copying;

(d) make provision for relieving persons authorised by a licence to supply electricity from any obligation to supply in such cases as may be prescribed;

(e) make provision requiring compliance with notices given by the Secretary of State specifying action to be taken in relation to any electric line or electrical plant, or any electrical appliance under the control of a consumer, for the purpose of—

(i) preventing or ending a breach of regulations under this section; or

(ii) eliminating or reducing a risk of personal injury or damage to property or interference with its use;

(f) provide for particular requirements of the regulations to be deemed to be complied with in the case of any electric line or electrical plant complying with specified standards or requirements;

(g) provide for the granting of exemptions from any requirement of the regulations for such periods as may be determined by or under the regulations.

(3) Regulations under this section may provide that any person—

(a) who contravenes any specified provision of the regulations; or

(b) who does so in specified circumstances,

shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale; but nothing in this subsection shall affect any liability of any such person to pay compensation in respect of any damage or injury which may have been caused by the contravention.

(4) No proceedings shall be instituted in England and Wales in respect of an offence under this section except by or on behalf of the Secretary of State or the Director of Public Prosecutions.

30 Electrical inspectors. E+W+S

(1) The Secretary of State may appoint competent and impartial persons to be electrical inspectors under this Part.

(2) The duties of an electrical inspector under this Part shall be as follows—

(a) to inspect and test, periodically and in special cases, electric lines and electrical plant belonging to persons authorised by a licence or exemption to generate, transmit or supply electricity;

(b) to examine, periodically and in special cases, the generation, transmission or supply of electricity by such persons;

(c) to inspect and test, if and when required by any consumer, any such lines and plant on the consumer’s premises, for the purpose of determining whether any requirement imposed by or under this Part in respect of the lines or plant or the supply of electricity through or by them has been complied with; and

(d) such other duties as may be imposed by regulations under this section or as the Secretary of State may determine.

(3) The Secretary of State may by regulations—

(a) prescribe the manner in which and the times at which any duties are to be performed by electrical inspectors;

(b) require persons authorised by a licence or exemption to generate, transmit or supply electricity—

(i) to furnish electrical inspectors with records or other information; and

(ii) to allow such inspectors access to premises and the use of electrical plant and other facilities;

(c) make provision for relieving persons authorised by a licence to supply electricity from any obligation to supply in such cases as may be prescribed; and

(d) prescribe the amount of the fees which are to be payable to such inspectors.

(4) Any fees received by electrical inspectors shall be paid to the Secretary of State; and any sums received by him under this subsection shall be paid into the Consolidated Fund.

31 Use etc. of meters. E+W+S

The provisions of Schedule 7 to this Act (which relate to the use, certification, testing and maintenance of electricity meters) shall have effect.