(1)If the Secretary of State considers it desirable to do so, the Secretary of State may give financial assistance for the purpose in subsection (2) to—
(a)an English undertaker, F2...
(b)a [F3water supply licensee] that supplies water to premises in accordance with [F4the licensee's] retail authorisation using the supply system of an English undertaker[F5, or
(c)a sewerage licensee that serves premises in accordance with the licensee's retail authorisation using the sewerage system of an English undertaker.]
(2)The purpose is that of securing the reduction of charges payable by customers in an English undertaker's area for the supply of water or the provision of sewerage services.
(3)The power in subsection (1) may be exercised in relation to all customers in an English undertaker's area or customers of a particular description.
(4)Financial assistance under subsection (1) may be given in any form and in particular may be given by way of—
(a)grant,
(b)loan, or
(c)guarantee.
(5)Financial assistance under subsection (1) may be given on such terms and conditions as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.
(6)Financial assistance under subsection (1) may be given in any manner and in particular may be given—
(a)to an English undertaker by means of an arrangement made by the Secretary of State with another English undertaker, F6...
(b)to a [F7water supply licensee] by means of an arrangement made by the Secretary of State with an English undertaker that is a water undertaker[F8, or
(c)to a sewerage licensee by means of an arrangement made by the Secretary of State with an English undertaker that is a sewerage undertaker.]
(7)A reference in this section to a customer in an English undertaker's area is a reference to—
(a)a person liable to pay charges to the undertaker in respect of the supply of water or the provision of sewerage services, other than [F9a water supply licensee or a sewerage licensee], F10...
(b)a person whose premises are supplied with water by a [F11water supply licensee] in accordance with [F12the licensee's] retail authorisation using the undertaker's supply system[F13, or
(c)a person whose premises are served by a sewerage licensee in accordance with the licensee's retail authorisation using the undertaker's sewerage system.]
(8)In this section a reference to the retail authorisation [F14of a water supply licensee or of a sewerage licensee] is to be construed in accordance with [F15Schedule 2A or Schedule 2B, as the case may be].
(9)In this section “English undertaker” means a water undertaker or sewerage undertaker whose area is wholly or mainly in England.]
Textual Amendments
F1S. 154A inserted (1.7.2012) by Water Industry (Financial Assistance) Act 2012 (c. 8), ss. 1, 3(2)
F2Word in s. 154A(1) repealed (1.4.2016) by Water Act 2014 (c. 21), s. 94(3), Sch. 7 para. 103(2)(a); S.I. 2016/465, art. 2(m), Sch. 1 para. 1(r) (with Sch. 2) (as amended (22.3.2017) by S.I. 2017/462, art. 16)
F3Words in s. 154A(1)(b) substituted (1.4.2016) by Water Act 2014 (c. 21), s. 94(3), Sch. 7 para. 103(2)(b); S.I. 2016/465, art. 2(m), Sch. 1 para. 1(r) (with Sch. 2) (as amended (22.3.2017) by S.I. 2017/462, art. 16)
F4Words in s. 154A(1)(b) substituted (1.4.2016) by Water Act 2014 (c. 21), s. 94(3), Sch. 7 para. 103(2)(c); S.I. 2016/465, art. 2(m), Sch. 1 para. 1(r) (with Sch. 2) (as amended (22.3.2017) by S.I. 2017/462, art. 16)
F5S. 154A(1)(c) and word inserted (1.4.2016) by Water Act 2014 (c. 21), s. 94(3), Sch. 7 para. 103(2)(d); S.I. 2016/465, art. 2(m), Sch. 1 para. 1(r) (with Sch. 2) (as amended (22.3.2017) by S.I. 2017/462, art. 16)
F6Word in s. 154A(6)(a) repealed (1.4.2016) by Water Act 2014 (c. 21), s. 94(3), Sch. 7 para. 103(3)(a); S.I. 2016/465, art. 2(m), Sch. 1 para. 1(r) (with Sch. 2) (as amended (22.3.2017) by S.I. 2017/462, art. 16)
F7Words in s. 154A(6)(b) substituted (1.4.2016) by Water Act 2014 (c. 21), s. 94(3), Sch. 7 para. 103(3)(b); S.I. 2016/465, art. 2(m), Sch. 1 para. 1(r) (with Sch. 2) (as amended (22.3.2017) by S.I. 2017/462, art. 16)
F8S. 154A(6)(c) and word inserted (1.4.2016) by Water Act 2014 (c. 21), s. 94(3), Sch. 7 para. 103(3)(c); S.I. 2016/465, art. 2(m), Sch. 1 para. 1(r) (with Sch. 2) (as amended (22.3.2017) by S.I. 2017/462, art. 16)
F9Words in s. 154A(7)(a) substituted (1.4.2016) by Water Act 2014 (c. 21), s. 94(3), Sch. 7 para. 103(4)(a); S.I. 2016/465, art. 2(m), Sch. 1 para. 1(r) (with Sch. 2) (as amended (22.3.2017) by S.I. 2017/462, art. 16)
F10Word in s. 154A(7)(a) repealed (1.4.2016) by Water Act 2014 (c. 21), s. 94(3), Sch. 7 para. 103(4)(b); S.I. 2016/465, art. 2(m), Sch. 1 para. 1(r) (with Sch. 2) (as amended (22.3.2017) by S.I. 2017/462, art. 16)
F11Words in s. 154A(7)(b) substituted (1.4.2016) by Water Act 2014 (c. 21), s. 94(3), Sch. 7 para. 103(4)(c); S.I. 2016/465, art. 2(m), Sch. 1 para. 1(r) (with Sch. 2) (as amended (22.3.2017) by S.I. 2017/462, art. 16)
F12Words in s. 154A(7)(b) substituted (1.4.2016) by Water Act 2014 (c. 21), s. 94(3), Sch. 7 para. 103(4)(d); S.I. 2016/465, art. 2(m), Sch. 1 para. 1(r) (with Sch. 2) (as amended (22.3.2017) by S.I. 2017/462, art. 16)
F13S. 154A(7)(c) and word inserted (1.4.2016) by Water Act 2014 (c. 21), s. 94(3), Sch. 7 para. 103(4)(e); S.I. 2016/465, art. 2(m), Sch. 1 para. 1(r) (with Sch. 2) (as amended (22.3.2017) by S.I. 2017/462, art. 16)
F14Words in s. 154A(8) substituted (1.4.2016) by Water Act 2014 (c. 21), s. 94(3), Sch. 7 para. 103(5)(a); S.I. 2016/465, art. 2(m), Sch. 1 para. 1(r) (with Sch. 2) (as amended (22.3.2017) by S.I. 2017/462, art. 16)
F15Words in s. 154A(8) substituted (1.4.2016) by Water Act 2014 (c. 21), s. 94(3), Sch. 7 para. 103(5)(b); S.I. 2016/465, art. 2(m), Sch. 1 para. 1(r) (with Sch. 2) (as amended (22.3.2017) by S.I. 2017/462, art. 16)