Gas Act 1986

[F1 5 Prohibition on unlicensed activities E+W+S

(1) Subject to section 6A below and Schedule 2A to this Act, a person who—

(a) [F2 otherwise than by means of a gas interconnector] conveys gas through pipes to any premises, or to a pipe-line system operated by a [F3 gas transporter];

[F4 (aa) participates in the operation of a gas interconnector;]

(b) supplies to any premises gas which has been conveyed to those premises through pipes; F5 ...

(c) arranges with a [F3 gas transporter] for gas to be introduced into, conveyed by means of or taken out of a pipe-line system operated by that transporter [F6 ; or

(d) provides a smart meter communication service] [F7 ; or

(e) performs the function of code manager in relation to a designated gas licence document (see further subsections (11A) and (11B)),]

shall be guilty of an offence unless he is authorised to do so by a licence.

(2) The exceptions to subsection (1) above which are contained in Schedule 2A to this Act shall have effect.

(3) A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable—

(a) on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum;

(b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine.

(4) No proceedings shall be instituted in England and Wales in respect of an offence under this section except by or on behalf of the Secretary of State or the Director.

(5) Any reference in this Part to the conveyance by any person of gas through pipes to any premises is a reference to the conveyance by him of gas through pipes to those premises with a view to the gas being supplied to those premises by any person, or being used in those premises by the holder of a licence under section 7A(2) below.

[F8 (6) A reference in this Part to participating in the operation of a gas interconnector is a reference to—

(a) co-ordinating and directing the conveyance of gas into or through a gas interconnector; or

(b) making such an interconnector available for use for the conveyance of gas.

(7) For the purposes of subsection (6)(b) a person shall not be regarded as making something available just because he consents to its being made available by another.

(8) In this Part “gas interconnector” means so much of any pipeline system as—

(a) is situated at a place within the jurisdiction of Great Britain; and

(b) subsists wholly or primarily for the purposes of the conveyance of gas (whether in both directions or in only one) between Great Britain and another country or territory.

(9) For the purposes of this section a place is within the jurisdiction of Great Britain if it is in Great Britain, in the territorial sea adjacent to Great Britain or in an area designated under section 1(7) of the Continental Shelf Act 1964.

(10) In this section “pipe-line system” includes the pipes and any associated apparatus comprised in that system.]

[F9 (11) A reference in this Part to providing a smart meter communication service is a reference to making arrangements with each domestic supplier to provide a service, for such suppliers, of communicating relevant information to and from smart meters through which gas is supplied to domestic premises.

[F10 (11A) A reference in this Part to a person (“P”) performing the function of code manager in relation to a designated gas licence document is a reference to making arrangements, with the persons to whom subsection (11B) applies, under which P is responsible for the governance of the document.

(11B) This subsection applies to the holder of a licence for the purposes of section 5 where a condition of the licence—

(a) requires the holder to comply with, or to enter into arrangements that conform with, the designated gas licence document in question, or

(b) imposes obligations on the holder that do not apply to the holder where the holder complies with that document.]

(12) In this section—

• [F11 “designated gas licence document” means a document that is—

  (a)

  maintained in accordance with the conditions of a licence for the purposes of section 5, and

  (b)

  designated under section 182 of the Energy Act 2023;]

• “domestic supplier” means a gas supplier—

  (a)

  who is authorised, in accordance with the conditions of a licence, to supply gas to domestic premises; and

  (b)

  who supplies gas to domestic premises in accordance with that licence;

• “external electronic communications network” means a network which—

  (a)

  is an electronic communications network, within the meaning of section 32 of the Communications Act 2003; and

  (b)

  does not form part of a smart meter;

• “relevant information” means information relating to the supply of gas; F12 ...

• “smart meter” means—

  (a)

  a gas meter which can send and receive information using an external electronic communications network; or

  (b)

  a gas meter and a device which is associated with or ancillary to that meter and which enables information to be sent to and received by the meter using an external electronic communications network.]]

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 5 and cross-heading substituted (1.3.1996) by 1995 c. 45, s. 3; S.I. 1996/218, art. 2

F2 Words in s. 5(1)(a) inserted (14.8.2006) by Energy Act 2004 (c. 20), ss. 149(2)(a), 198(2); S.I. 2006/1964, art. 2, Sch.

F3 Words in s. 5(1)(a)(c) substituted (1.10.2001) by 2000 c. 27, s. 108, Sch. 6, Pt. I para. 3; S.I. 2001/3266, art. 2, Sch. (subject to transitional provisions in arts. 3-20)

F4 S. 5(1)(aa) inserted (14.8.2006) by Energy Act 2004 (c. 20), ss. 149(2)(b), 198(2); S.I. 2006/1964, art. 2, Sch.

F5 Word in s. 5(1) omitted (19.9.2012) by virtue of The Electricity and Gas (Smart Meters Licensable Activity) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/2400), arts. 1, 19(2)(a) (with art. 38(1)(4)(5))

F6 S. 5(1)(d) and word inserted (19.9.2012) by The Electricity and Gas (Smart Meters Licensable Activity) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/2400), arts. 1, 19(2)(b) (with art. 38(1)(4)(5))

F7 S. 5(1)(e) and word inserted (10.9.2024) by Energy Act 2023 (c. 52), ss. 185(3), 334(1); S.I. 2024/890, reg. 2(b)(ii)

F8 S. 5(6)-(10) inserted (1.12.2004) by Energy Act 2004 (c. 20), ss. 149(3), 198(2); S.I. 2004/2575, art. 2(2), Sch. 2

F9 S. 5(11)(12) inserted (19.9.2012) by The Electricity and Gas (Smart Meters Licensable Activity) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/2400), arts. 1, 19(3)

F10 S. 5(11A)(11B) inserted (10.9.2024) by Energy Act 2023 (c. 52), ss. 185(4), 334(1); S.I. 2024/890, reg. 2(b)(ii)

F11 Words in s. 5(12) inserted (10.9.2024) by Energy Act 2023 (c. 52), ss. 185(5)(b), 334(1); S.I. 2024/890, reg. 2(b)(ii)

F12 Word in s. 5(12) omitted (10.9.2024) by virtue of Energy Act 2023 (c. 52), ss. 185(5)(a), 334(1); S.I. 2024/890, reg. 2(b)(ii)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 5(1)(a) excluded (8.11.1995 with effect as mentioned in Sch. 5 Pt. II para. 16(1) of the amending Act) by 1995 c. 45, s. 17(1), Sch. 5 Pt. II para. 16(1)(a); S.I. 1996/218, art. 2

S. 5(1)(a) excluded (14.10.1999) (temp. to 1.3.2011 unless revoked earlier) by S.I. 1999/2639, arts. 1(2)(3), 3, 4-6, 7(1)

S. 5(1)(a) restricted (9.12.1999) (temp. to 1.3.2011 unless revoked earlier) by S.I. 1999/3089, arts. 1(2)(3), 3, 5(1)

C2 S. 5(1)(a)-(c) excluded (8.11.1995 for specified purposes) by 1995 c. 45, s. 17(1), Sch. 5 Pt. II para. 17(1)(a)

C3 S. 5(1)(a) excluded (1.12.1996) by S.I. 1996/2795, arts. 3, 4

C4 S. 5(1)(a) restricted (conditional) (12.8.2013) by The Gas Act 1986 (Exemption) (Onshore Gas) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/1726), arts. 1, 3, 4

C5 S. 5(1)(b) excluded (8.11.1995) by 1995 c. 45, s. 17(1), Sch. 5 Pt. II para. 16(1)(b); S.I. 1996/218, art. 2

S. 5(1)(b) excluded (14.10.1999) (temp. to 1.3.2011 unless revoked earlier) by S.I. 1999/2639, arts. 1(2)(3), 3, 4-6, 7(2)

S. 5(1)(b) restricted (9.12.1999) (temp. to 1.3.2011 unless revoked earlier) by S.I. 1999/3089, arts. 1(2)(3), 5(2)

C6 S. 5(1)(c) modified (8.11.1995) by 1995 c. 45, s. 17(1), Sch. 5 Pt. II paras. 18(1)