Electricity Act 1989

12 (1) A customer of an [F1 authorised supplier] who takes his supply through a pre-payment meter shall be under a duty to take all reasonable precautions for the safekeeping of any money or tokens which are inserted into that meter. E+W+S

[F2 (2) A pre-payment meter installed by an authorised supplier through which a customer of such a supplier takes his supply of electricity shall not be used to recover a sum unless—

[F3 (a) the sum is owed to an authorised supplier—

(i) in respect of the supply of electricity to the premises on which the meter is installed,

(ii) in respect of the provision of the meter, or

(iii) under a green deal plan (within the meaning of section 1 of the Energy Act 2011) in respect of the premises; or]

(b) the recovery of the sum in that manner is permitted by both—

(i) regulations; and

(ii) an agreement falling within sub-paragraph (3) below between the customer and the person to whom the sum is owed.

(3) An agreement falls within this sub-paragraph if—

(a) the person to whom the sum is owed is a person who is authorised by regulations to enter into agreements falling within this sub-paragraph;

(b) the agreement permits that person to use the meter in question to recover such sums as may be specified in or determined under the agreement; and

(c) the agreement complies with the requirements specified for the purposes of this sub-paragraph by regulations.

(4) The sums that regulations under this paragraph may permit the recovery of through a pre-payment meter include—

(a) sums owed to a person other than an authorised supplier;

(b) sums owed in respect of premises other than the premises on which the meter is installed;

(c) sums owed in respect of matters other than the supply of electricity.

(5) Before making regulations under this paragraph the Authority must consult—

(a) [F4 Citizens Advice;

(aa) [F5 Consumer Scotland];]

(b) all authorised suppliers;

(c) such other persons as the Authority considers appropriate.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in Sch. 7 para. 12(1) substituted (1.10.2001) by 2000 c. 27, s. 52, Sch. 5 para. 2(1); S.I. 2001/3266, art. 2, Sch. (subject to transitional provisions in arts. 3-20)

F2 Sch. 7 para. 12(2)-(5) substituted for Sch. 7 para. 12(2) (5.10.2004) by Energy Act 2004 (c. 20), ss. 181(2), 198(2); S.I. 2004/2575, art. 2(1), Sch. 1

F3 Sch. 7 para. 12(2)(a) substituted (28.1.2013) by Energy Act 2011 (c. 16), ss. 24(6), 121(1); S.I. 2013/125, art. 3(a)

F4 Sch. 7 para. 12(5)(a)(aa) substituted for Sch. 7 para. 12(5)(a) (1.4.2014) by The Public Bodies (Abolition of the National Consumer Council and Transfer of the Office of Fair Trading’s Functions in relation to Estate Agents etc) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/631), art. 1(3), Sch. 1 para. 5(22) (with Sch. 1 para. 28, Sch. 2 paras. 13-15)

F5 Words in Sch. 7 para. 12(5)(aa) substituted (13.1.2022) by The Consumer Scotland Act 2020 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2022 (S.I. 2022/34), art. 1(1), Sch. para. 3(20) (with art. 5)