Water Industry Act 1991

[F1 17D The threshold requirement E+W

(1) This section applies for the purpose of construing the reference to the threshold requirement in section 17A(3)(b) above in relation to the supply of water to any premises.

(2) The requirement is that, at the time when the licensed water supplier first enters into an undertaking with a customer to give the supply, the total quantity of water estimated to be supplied to the premises annually pursuant to the undertaking [F2 is not less than—

(a) 5 megalitres, in the case of premises supplied with water using the supply system of a water undertaker whose area is wholly or mainly in England, and

(b) 50 megalitres, in the case of premises supplied with water using the supply system of a water undertaker whose area is wholly or mainly in Wales].

(3) Any estimate of the quantity of water to be supplied to any premises for the purposes of subsection (2) above shall be made in accordance with guidance issued by the Authority with the approval of the Secretary of State.

(4) Any guidance issued under subsection (3) above may, in particular—

(a) specify—

(i) the factors to be, and not to be, taken into account;

(ii) the assumptions to be made; and

(iii) the method of calculation to be employed,

in making estimates; and

(b) make provision as to the commencement of the annual periods by reference to which estimates are to be made.

(5) Before giving his approval to any guidance issued under that subsection, the Secretary of State shall consult the Assembly.

(6) Subsections (1) to (4) of section 17B above apply to guidance issued under subsection (3) above as they apply to guidance issued under section 17A(9) above.

(7) The Secretary of State may make provision by regulations as to the circumstances in which a licensed water supplier is not, for the purposes of subsection (2) above, to be treated as entering into an undertaking with a new customer to give a supply of water to any premises (subject to subsection (12) below).

(8) The Secretary of State may by regulations amend subsection (2) above by substituting, for the quantity of water for the time being specified there, a different quantity of water (subject to subsection (12) below).

(9) Regulations under subsection (8) above—

(a) shall include provision for the amendment made by the regulations not to apply in relation to any undertaking entered into before the date on which the regulations come into force; and

(b) may include provision for that amendment not to apply in relation to any undertaking which is proposed, but not entered into, before that date.

(10) A statutory instrument containing regulations under subsection (8) above shall not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.

(11) Before making regulations under subsection (8) above, the Secretary of State shall consult—

(a) the Authority; and

(b) such other persons (if any) as the Secretary of State thinks it appropriate to consult.

(12) The powers to make regulations under subsections (7) and (8) above are exercisable by the Assembly (and not by the Secretary of State) in relation to premises supplied with water using the supply system of a water undertaker whose area is wholly or mainly in Wales.

(13) Subsections (9) and (11) above apply in relation to regulations made by the Assembly under subsection (8) above by virtue of subsection (12) above as they apply in relation to regulations made by the Secretary of State under subsection (8) above.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Pt. 2 Ch. 1A inserted (1.4.2004 for specified provisions and purposes and 1.8.2005 for further specified provisions and purposes and 1.10.2005 for further specified provisions and 1.12.2005 otherwise) by Water Act 2003 (c. 37), ss. 56, 105(3), Sch. 4 para. 2; S.I. 2004/641, art. 3(l), Sch. 1 (with art. 6, Sch. 3); S.I. 2005/968, art. 3(b) (with savings in art. 4, Sch. 1, 2); S.I. 2005/2714, arts. 2(h), 3(a) (with Sch. para. 5)

F2 Words in s. 17D(2) substituted (15.12.2011) by The Water Supply (Amendment to the Threshold Requirement) Regulations 2011 (S.I. 2011/3014), regs. 1(1), 2 (with reg. 1(2))