The Electricity (Northern Ireland) Order 1992

Provision of statistical information

59.—(1) The Department may, if the Department considers it expedient for the purpose of obtaining statistical information relating to the generation, transmission or supply of electricity, serve a notice under this Article on any licence holder or any person who is authorised by an exemption to generate or supply electricity.

(2) A notice under this Article may require the person on whom it is served to furnish, at a time and place specified in the notice, to the Department such statistical information about that person’s business as may be so specified.

(3) Subject to paragraphs (4) and (5), no information with respect to any particular business which—

(a) has been obtained under this Article; and

(b) relates to the affairs of any individual or to any particular business,

shall, during the lifetime of that individual or so long as that business continues to be carried on, be published or otherwise disclosed without the consent of that individual or the person for the time being carrying on that business.

(4) Paragraph (3) does not apply in relation to any disclosure which is made after consultation with the individual concerned, or the person for the time being carrying on the business concerned, and is of information relating to—

(a) the quantities of electricity generated by particular methods or by the use of particular fuels;

(b) the quantities of particular fuels used for the generation of electricity;

(c) the quantities of electricity transferred between Northern Ireland and countries or territories outside Northern Ireland; or

(d) the quantities of electricity supplied in Northern Ireland either generally or to persons of any particular class or description.

(5) Paragraph (3) does not apply in relation to any disclosure which is made to any Northern Ireland department or any department of the Government of the United Kingdom or for the purposes of any proceedings under this Article.

(6) The Department may, after consultation with persons or bodies appearing to the Department to be representative of persons likely to be affected, by order amend paragraph (4) so as to add other descriptions of information which may be disclosed notwithstanding that it may relate to a particular person or business.

(7) Any person who without reasonable excuse fails to furnish information in compliance with a requirement under this Article shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 1 on the standard scale.

(8) Any person who publishes or discloses any information in contravention of paragraph (3) or, in purported compliance with a requirement under this Article, knowingly or recklessly furnishes any information which is false in any material particular shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to both;

(b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to a fine or to both.

(9) In this Article “information” does not include estimates as to future matters.