Electricity Act 1989

64 Interpretation etc. of Part I. E+W+S

(1) In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires—

• “the 1973 Act” means the M1 Fair Trading Act 1973;

• “the 1980 Act” means the M2 Competition Act 1980;

• F1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• [F2 “authorised distributor” means a person who is authorised by a licence or exemption to distribute electricity;]

• [F3 “authorised supplier” means a person who is authorised by a licence or exemption to supply electricity;]

• [F4 “construct” and “construction”, in relation to so much of a generating station as comprises or is to comprise renewable energy installations, has the same meaning as in Chapter 2 of Part 2 of the Energy Act 2004;]

• [F2 “distribute” in relation to electricity, has the meaning given by section 4(4), and cognate expressions shall be construed accordingly;]

• “electrical plant” means any plant equipment, apparatus or appliance used for, or for purposes connected with the generation, transmission[F5 , distribution] or supply of electricity, other than—

  (a)

  an electric line;

  (b)

  a meter used for ascertaining the quantity of electricity supplied to any premises; or

  (c)

  an electrical appliance under the control of a consumer;

• “electric line” means any line which is used for carrying electricity for any purpose and includes, unless the context otherwise requires—

  (a)

  any support of any such line, that is to say, any structure, pole or other thing in, on, by or from which any such line is or may be supported, carried or suspended;

  (b)

  any apparatus connected to any such line for the purpose of carrying electricity; and

  (c)

  any wire, cable, tube, pipe or other similar thing (including its casing or coating) which surrounds or supports, or is surrounded or supported by, or is installed in close proximity to, or is supported, carried or suspended in association with, any such line;

• [F6 “electricity distributor” and “electricity supplier” have the meanings given by section 6(9);]

• [F7 “electricity interconnector” has the meaning given by section 4(3E);]

• “exemption” means an exemption under section 5 above;

• “extension”, in relation to a generating station, has the meaning given by section 36(8) above and “extend” shall be construed accordingly;

• “final order” and “provisional order” have the meanings given by section 25(8) above;

• [F8 “generate”, in relation to electricity, has the meaning given by section 4(4) above, and cognate expressions shall be construed accordingly;]

• “generating station”, in relation to a generating station wholly or mainly driven by water, includes all structures and works for holding or channelling water for a purpose directly related to the generation of electricity by that station;

• “high voltage line” means—

  (a)

  in relation to England and Wales, an electric line of a nominal voltage exceeding 132 kilovolts;

  (b)

  in relation to Scotland, an electric line of a nominal voltage not less than 132 kilovolts,

  and “low voltage line” shall be construed accordingly;

• “information” includes accounts, estimates and returns;

• “licence” means a licence under section 6 above and “licence holder” shall be construed accordingly;

• [F9 “licensable activity” means an activity which, if carried on without the authority of a licence or exemption, constitutes an offence under section 4(1);]

• “line” means any wire, cable, tube, pipe or any other similar thing (including its casing or coating) which is designed or adapted for use in carrying electricity;

• F10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• “notice” means notice in writing;

• “premises” includes any land, building or structure;

• “prescribed”, [F11 means prescribed by regulations made, unless the context otherwise requires,] by the Secretary of State;

• F12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• F12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• “relevant condition”and “relevant requirement” have the meanings given by section 25(8) above;

• [F13 “renewable energy installation” and “Renewable Energy Zone” have the same meanings as in Chapter 2 of Part 2 of the Energy Act 2004;]

• [F14 “special connection agreement” means a special agreement under section 22;]

• “supply”, in relation to electricity, has the meaning given by section 4(4) above, and cognate expressions shall be construed accordingly;

• F12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• [F15 “transmission”, in relation to electricity, has the meaning given by section 4(4) above;

• “transmission system” has the same meaning given by section 4(4) above;]

• “working day” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday, Christmas Day, Good Friday or a day which is a bank holiday within the meaning of the M3 Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971.

[F16 (1B) In this Part, references to participation, in relation to the transmission of electricity, are to be construed in accordance with section 4(3A) and (3B) above.]

(2) The provision of section 3 of the M4 Administration of Justice (Scotland) Act 1972 (power of arbiter to state case to Court of Session) shall not apply in relation to any determination under this Part made by an arbiter.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 64(1) repealed (1.9.2004) by Energy Act 2004 (c. 20), s. 198(2), Sch. 23 Pt. 1; S.I. 2004/2184, art. 2(2), Sch. 2

F2 S. 64(1): definitions of “authorised distributor” and “distribute” inserted (1.10.2001) by 2000 c. 27, s. 108, Sch. 6 Pt. II para. 38(2); S.I. 2001/3266, art. 2, Sch. (subject to transitional provisions in arts. 3-20)

F3 S. 64(1): definition of “authorised supplier” inserted (7.11.2000 for specified purposes and otherwise 1.10.2001) by 2000 c. 27, s. 108, Sch. 6 Pt. II para. 38(2); S.I. 2000/2974, art. 2, Sch. (subject to transitional provisions in arts. 3-12); S.I. 2001/3266, art. 2, Sch. (subject to transitional provisions in arts. 3-20)

F4 Words in s. 64(1) inserted (5.10.2004) by Energy Act 2004 (c. 20), ss. 102(4)(a), 198(2); S.I. 2004/2575, art. 2(1), Sch. 1

F5 S. 64(1): words in definition of “electrical plant” inserted (1.10.2001) by 2000 c. 27, s. 108, Sch. 6 Pt. II para. 38(3); S.I. 2001/3266, art. 2, Sch. (subject to transitional provisions in arts. 3-20)

F6 S. 64(1): definitions of “electricity distributor” and “electricity supplier” inserted (1.10.2001) by 2000 c. 27, s. 108, Sch. 6 Pt. II para. 38(4); S.I. 2001/3266, art. 2, Sch. (subject to transitional provisions in arts. 3-20)

F7 Words in s. 64(1) inserted (1.12.2004) by Energy Act 2004 (c. 20), ss. 147(7), 198(2); S.I. 2004/2575, art. 2(2), Sch. 2

F8 Words in s. 64(1) inserted (1.3.2005 for specified purposes, 29.7.2010 for specified purposes, 10.6.2014 in so far as not already in force) by Energy Act 2004 (c. 20), ss. 89(4), 198(2); S.I. 2005/442, art. 2(1), Sch. 1; S.I. 2010/1889, art. 2; S.I. 2014/1460, art. 2

F9 S. 64(1): definition of “licensable activity” inserted (1.10.2001) by 2000 c. 27, s. 108, Sch. 6 Pt. II para. 38(5); S.I. 2001/3266, art. 2, Sch. (subject to transitional provisions in arts. 3-20)

F10 S. 64(1): definition of “Monopolies Commission” repealed (1.4.1999) by S.I. 1999/506, art. 24(c)

F11 S. 64(1): words in definition of “prescribed” substituted (1.10.2001) by 2000 c. 27, s. 108, Sch. 6 Pt. II para. 38(6); S.I. 2001/3266, art. 2, Sch. (subject to transitional provisions in arts. 3-20)

F12 S. 64(1): definitions of “private electricity supplier”, “public electricity supplier” and “tariff customer” repealed (1.10.2001) by 2000 c. 27, s. 108, Sch. 6 Pt. II para. 38(8), Sch. 8; S.I. 2001/3266, art. 2, Sch. (subject to transitional provisions in arts. 3-20)

F13 Words in s. 64(1) inserted (5.10.2004) by Energy Act 2004 (c. 20), ss. 102(4)(b), 198(2); S.I. 2004/2575, art. 2(1), Sch. 1

F14 S. 64(1): definition of “special connection agreement” inserted (1.10.2001) by 2000 c. 27, s. 108, Sch. 6 Pt. II para. 38(7); S.I. 2001/3266, art. 2, Sch. (subject to transitional provisions in arts. 3-20)

F15 Words in s. 64(1) substituted (1.9.2004) by Energy Act 2004 (c. 20), s. 198(2), Sch. 19 para. 15(2); S.I. 2004/2184, art. 2(2), Sch. 2

F16 S. 64(1B) inserted (1.9.2004) by Energy Act 2004 (c. 20), s. 198(2), Sch. 19 para. 15(3); S.I. 2004/2184, art. 2(2), Sch. 2

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 64: definitions applied by Heathrow Express Railway Act 1991 (c. vii), s. 37(1)(a)

Marginal Citations

M1 1973 c. 41.

M2 1980 c. 21.

M3 1971 c. 80.

M4 1972 c. 59