The Water Industry Act 1999 (Commencement No. 2) Order 1999

Statutory Instruments

1999 No. 3440 (C. 97)

WATER INDUSTRY, ENGLAND AND WALES

The Water Industry Act 1999 (Commencement No. 2) Order 1999

Made

22nd December 1999

The Secretary of State, in exercise of the powers conferred upon him by section 17(3) of the Water Industry Act 1999(1), hereby makes the following Order:

Citation

1.  This Order may be cited as the Water Industry Act 1999 (Commencement No. 2) Order 1999.

Provisions coming into force on 23rd December 1999

2.  The following provisions of the Water Industry Act 1999 shall come into force on 23rd December 1999–

(a) section 4;

(b) section 5 so far as not already in force;

(c) section 15(1) so far as it relates to paragraph 4 of Schedule 3; and

(d) section 16.

Provisions coming into force on 1st April 2000

3.  The following provisions of the Water Industry Act 1999 shall come into force on 1st April 2000–

(a) section 3;

(b) sections 6 and 7 so far as not already in force;

(c) sections 9 to 11;

(d) section 15(1) so far as it relates to paragraphs 1 to 3 of Schedule 3; and

(e) section 15(2) so far as it relates to Part I of Schedule 4.

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State

Michael Meacher

Minister of State,

Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions

22nd December 1999

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order commences the remaining provisions of the Water Industry Act 1999 (“the Act”) that were not brought into force by the Water Industry Act 1999 (Commencement No. 1) (Scotland) Order 1999 (S.I. 1999/133).

Article 2 brings into force sections 4, 5, 15(1) (partly) and 16 of the Act on 23rd December 1999. These provisions require charges schemes to be approved by the Director General of Water Services (the Director), enable the Secretary of State to make regulations as to provisions to be included in such schemes and to give guidance to the Director on approving them, and make minor and consequential amendments.

Article 3 brings into force sections 3, 6, 7, 9 to 11 and 15 of the Act on 1st April 2000. These provisions require undertakers to charge in accordance with a charges scheme for the supply of water or sewerage services for a dwelling; provide new consumer rights in relation to the basis of charging; regulate undertakers' powers to carry out and charge for metering works; provide for the rights of tenants in relation to metering; and make certain repeals.

(1)

1999 c. 9.