After section 15A of the 1986 Act (billing disputes) there is inserted—
(1)The Authority may, with the consent of the Secretary of State, prescribe—
(a)standards of pressure and purity to be complied with by gas transporters in conveying gas to premises or to pipe-line systems operated by other gas transporters; and
(b)other standards with respect to the properties, condition and composition of gas so conveyed.
(2)Before making any regulations under this section the Authority shall consult such persons and organisations as it considers appropriate and such gas transporters as appear to it to be affected by the regulations.
(3)The Authority shall appoint competent and impartial persons for the purpose of—
(a)carrying out tests of gas, apparatus or equipment in accordance with regulations under this section; and
(b)assisting the Authority in exercising functions under this section and regulations made under it.
(4)Regulations under this section may make provision—
(a)for requiring tests of gas conveyed by gas transporters to be carried out by persons appointed under subsection (3) or by gas transporters for the purpose of ascertaining whether the gas conforms with the standards prescribed by the regulations;
(b)for requiring such tests to be carried out on the basis of samples taken by persons appointed under subsection (3) or by gas transporters; and
(c)for requiring samples of gas taken under paragraph (b) to be provided by gas transporters for the purpose of carrying out such tests.
(5)Regulations under this section may make provision—
(a)for requiring such premises, apparatus and equipment as the Authority may direct to be provided and maintained by gas transporters for the purpose of carrying out tests required under subsection (4)(a);
(b)for requiring tests of apparatus and equipment so provided to be carried out by persons appointed under subsection (3); and
(c)for requiring gas transporters to carry out tests of apparatus and equipment so provided and maintained by them.
(6)Regulations under this section may make provision—
(a)as to the places or premises and the times at which, and the manner in which—
(i)tests under this section are to be carried out;
(ii)samples of gas are to be taken and provided under this section; and
(iii)results of tests under this section are to be notified or made available;
(b)for the Authority to require by direction any matter which may be required by regulations by virtue of paragraph (a);
(c)for persons representing the gas transporter concerned to be present during the carrying out of any tests carried out by persons appointed under subsection (3);
(d)for the results of tests under this section to be made available to other licence holders and to the public;
(e)for requiring gas transporters to notify the results of such tests carried out by them to the Authority or to any person appointed under subsection (3);
(f)for conferring powers of entry on property owned or occupied by gas transporters for the purpose of carrying out tests under this section and otherwise for the purposes of the regulations.
(7)Subject to subsection (8), the Authority may by notice in writing require a gas transporter to give to the Authority, or to any person appointed by it for the purpose, within such time and at such place as may be specified in the notice, such information as the Authority may reasonably require for the purpose of making regulations under this section or of giving directions under such regulations.
(8)A gas transporter shall not be required under subsection (7) to give any information which he could not be compelled to give in evidence in civil proceedings before the High Court or, in Scotland, the Court of Session.
(9)Every person who is a gas transporter during any period shall pay to the Authority such proportion as the Authority may determine of such part of its expenses for that period as the Authority may determine to be attributable to its functions in connection with the testing of gas for the purposes of this section.
(10)It shall be the duty of every gas transporter to conduct his business in such a way as can reasonably be expected to secure compliance with the standards set under subsection (1).”
Commencement Information
I1S. 101 wholly in force at 1.10.2001; s. 101 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 110(2); s. 101 in force at 1.10.2001 by S.I. 2001/3266, art. 2, Sch. (subject to transitional provisions in arts. 3-20)