Electricity Act 1989

25 Orders for securing compliance. E+W+S

(1) Subject to subsections (2) and (5) and section 26 below, where the Director is satisfied that a licence holder is contravening, or is likely to contravene, any relevant condition or requirement, he shall by a final order make such provision as is requisite for the purpose of securing compliance with that condition or requirement.

(2) Subject to subsection (5) below, where it appears to the Director—

(a) that a licence holder is contravening, or is likely to contravene, any relevant condition or requirement; and

(b) that it is requisite that a provisional order be made,

he shall (instead of taking steps towards the making of a final order) by a provisional order make such provision as appears to him requisite for the purpose of securing compliance with that condition or requirement.

(3) In determining for the purposes of subsection (2)(b) above whether it is requisite that a provisional order be made, the Director shall have regard, in particular—

(a) to the extent to which any person is likely to sustain loss or damage in consequence of anything which, in contravention of the relevant condition or requirement, is likely to be done, or omitted to be done, before a final order may be made; and

(b) to the fact that the effect of the provisions of this section and section 27 below is to exclude the availability of any remedy (apart from under those provisions or for negligence) in respect of any contravention of a relevant condition or requirement.

(4) Subject to subsection (5) and section 26 below, the Director shall confirm a provisional order, with or without modifications, if—

(a) he is satisfied that the licence holder to whom the order relates is contravening, or is likely to contravene, any relevant condition or requirement; and

(b) the provision made by the order (with any modifications) is requisite for the purpose of securing compliance with that condition or requirement.

(5) The Director shall not make a final order or make or confirm a provisional order in relation to a licence holder if he is satisfied—

(a) that the duties imposed on him by section 3 above preclude the making or, as the case may be, the confirmation of the order;

(b) that the licence holder has agreed to take and is taking all such steps as it appears to the Director for the time being to be appropriate for the licence holder to take for the purpose of securing or facilitating compliance with the condition or requirement in question; F1 . . .

(c) that the contraventions were, or the apprehended contraventions are, of a trivial nature [F2 or

(d) that the most appropriate way of proceeding is under the Competition Act 1998.]

(6) Where the Director is satisfied as mentioned in subsection (5) above, he shall—

(a) serve notice that he is so satisfied on the licence holder; and

(b) publish the notice in such manner as he considers appropriate for the purpose of bringing the matters to which the notice relates to the attention of persons likely to be affected by them.

(7) A final or provisional order—

(a) shall require the licence holder to whom it relates (according to the circumstances of the case) to do, or not to do, such things as are specified in the order or are of a description so specified;

(b) shall take effect at such time, being the earliest practicable time, as is determined by or under the order; and

(c) may be revoked at any time by the Director.

(8) In this Part—

• “final order” means an order under this section other than a provisional order;

• “provisional order” means an order under this section which, if not previously confirmed in accordance with subsection (4) above, will cease to have effect at the end of such period (not exceeding three months) as is determined by or under the order;

• “relevant condition”, in relation to a licence holder, means any condition of his licence;

• “relevant requirement”, in relation to a licence holder, means any duty or other requirement imposed on him by or under section 9 or sections 16 to 23 above [F3 , or sections 32 to 32C, section 40, 40A, 42, 42A, 42C, 43A or 43B below or section 27(4)(b) of the Utilities Act 2000 (order to comply with a direction under section 24 of that Act)].

Textual Amendments

F1 Word in s. 25(5)(b) repealed (1.3.2000) by 1998 c. 41, ss. 54(3), 66(5), 74(3), Sch. 10 Pt. IV para. 12(5), Sch. 14 Pt. I (with s. 73); S.I. 2000/344, art. 2, Sch.

F2 S. 25(5)(d) and the word “or” immediately preceding inserted (1.3.2000) by 1998 c. 41, ss. 54(3), 66(5), Sch. 10 Pt. IV para. 12(5) (with s. 73); S.I. 2000/344, art. 2, Sch.

F3 Words in s. 25(8) substituted (7.11.2000 for certain purposes and otherwiseprosp.) by 2000 c. 27, ss. 108, 110(2), Sch. 6 Pt. II para. 28; S.I. 2000/2974, art. 2, Sch. (subject to transitional provisions in arts. 3-12)