Utilities Act 2000

20 Provision of information to consumers

(1) The Council has the function of providing information about consumer matters, in such form as appears to the Council to be most useful to the recipients, to consumers of electricity or gas supplied by persons authorised to do so by a licence or exemption.

(2) That function may be exercised by—

(a) publishing information in any manner the Council thinks appropriate for the purpose of bringing it to the attention of those likely to be interested; or

(b) furnishing information to any consumer (whether in response to a request or otherwise).

(3) Information may only be disclosed in the exercise of that function if it is information that is available to the public from some other source.

(4) The disclosure by the Council of information in the exercise of that function does not contravene section 105.

(5) After section 33D of the 1986 Act there is inserted—

“33DA Publication of statistical information about standards of performance

(1) It shall be the duty of the Council to publish, in such form and manner and with such frequency as it thinks appropriate, such statistical information as it considers appropriate in relation to—

(a) the levels of performance achieved by gas suppliers and gas transporters in respect of—

(i) standards of performance prescribed or determined under sections 33A, 33AA, 33B and 33BA; and

(ii) energy efficiency obligations imposed by order under section 33BC; and

(b) complaints made by consumers about any matter relating to the activities of such suppliers or transporters and the handling of such complaints.

(2) In subsection (1)(b) “complaints” includes complaints made directly to gas suppliers and gas transporters (or anyone carrying on activities on their behalf) and complaints to the Authority or the Council.”

(6) After section 42A of the 1989 Act there is inserted—

“42AA Publication of statistical information about standards of performance

(1) It shall be the duty of the Council to publish, in such form and manner and with such frequency as it thinks appropriate, such statistical information as it considers appropriate relating to—

(a) the levels of performance achieved by electricity suppliers and electricity distributors in respect of—

(i) standards of performance prescribed or determined under sections 39, 39A, 40 and 40A; and

(ii) energy efficiency obligations imposed by order under section 41A; and

(b) complaints made by consumers about any matter relating to the activities of such suppliers or distributors and the handling of such complaints.

(2) In subsection (1)(b) “complaints” includes complaints made directly to electricity suppliers and electricity distributors (or anyone carrying on activities on their behalf) and complaints to the Authority or the Council.”

(7) In consequence of this section, section 33C(4) and (5) of the 1986 Act and section 42(4) and (5) of the 1989 Act shall cease to have effect.