Gas Act 1986

Investigation of complaints etc. E+W+S

F1 31 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E+W+S

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 31 repealed (7.11.2000) by 2000 c. 27, ss. 22(3), 108, Sch. 8 (with Sch. 7 para. 31); S.I. 2000/2974, art. 2, Sch. (subject to transitional provisions in arts. 3-12)

[F2 32 Consumer complaints. E+W+S

(1) This section applies to a complaint which any customer or potential customer of, or user of gas supplied by, an authorised supplier (“the complainant”) has in his capacity as such against—

(a) the supplier, in respect of any matter connected with the services provided by him in the course of carrying on regulated activities; or

(b) any other person authorised by a licence or exemption, in respect of any matter affecting those services which is connected with the carrying on by that other person of regulated activities.

(2) Where a complaint to which this section applies (other than one appearing to it to be frivolous or vexatious) is referred to the Council by or on behalf of the complainant, the Council shall (subject to subsection (5)) investigate the complaint for the purpose of determining whether it is appropriate to take any action under subsection (6).

(3) Where it appears to the Council that the complaint relates to a matter in respect of which any enforcement function is or may be exercisable the Council shall (unless it considers that the Authority already has notice of that matter) inform the Authority of the matter.

(4) Where it appears to the Council that the complaint relates to a matter which constitutes a dispute of a kind which can be referred to the Authority under any provision of this Act, the Council shall inform the complainant that he may have the right to refer the dispute to the Authority.

(5) The Council is not required by this section—

(a) to investigate a complaint, until the complainant has taken such steps as appear to the Council to be reasonable for him to take for the purpose of giving the person against whom the complaint is made a reasonable opportunity to deal with the complaint;

(b) to investigate any matter to which subsection (3) applies, until the Authority has had a reasonable opportunity to exercise any enforcement function in respect of that matter; and

(c) to investigate any matter constituting a dispute which has been referred to the Authority under any provision of this Act.

(6) Where it appears to the Council to be appropriate to do so with a view to assisting in reaching a satisfactory resolution of a complaint referred to it under this section, the Council shall make representations on behalf of the complainant to the person against whom the complaint is made about anything to which the complaint relates.

(7) After investigating a complaint the Council may make a report to the Authority; and such a report may include information about—

(a) any representations made by the Council under subsection (6); and

(b) the response of the person against whom the complaint is made to the complaint or any such representations.

(8) No report under subsection (7), or information about a complaint referred to the Council under this section from which the complainant may be identified, shall be published or disclosed by the Council or the Authority in the exercise of any power under the Utilities Act 2000 or this Act, without the consent of the complainant.

(9) Where a representation made to the Authority about any matter (other than one appearing to it to be frivolous or vexatious) appears to the Authority—

(a) to be about a matter which is or amounts to a complaint to which this section applies; and

(b) to have been made by or on behalf of the complainant,

the Authority shall refer the complaint to the Council.

(10) In this section—

• “enforcement function” means a function under section 28 or 30A; and

• “regulated activities” means activities which are authorised or regulated by a licence or exemption.]

Textual Amendments

F2 S. 32 substituted (7.11.2000) by 2000 c. 27, s. 22(1); S.I. 2000/2974, art. 2, Sch. (subject to transitional provisions in arts. 3-12)

F3 32A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E+W+S

Textual Amendments

F3 S. 32A repealed (7.11.2000) by 2000 c. 27, ss. 22(3), 108, Sch. 8 (with Sch. 7 para. 31); S.I. 2000/2974, art. 2, Sch. (subject to transitional provisions in arts. 3-12)

[F4 33 Power of Council to investigate other matters. E+W+S

(1) The Council may investigate any matter (not being a matter which it is its duty to investigate under this Part) which appears to it to be a matter relating to the interests of consumers in relation to gas conveyed through pipes.

(2) The power to undertake an investigation under this section includes, without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), power to investigate any matter relating to or to anything connected with gas fittings (or their use) or the use of gas supplied by authorised suppliers.

(3) In subsection (2), “gas fittings” means gas fittings used or intended to be used by persons supplied with gas by authorised suppliers.

(4) Where the Council has investigated a matter under this section it may make a report on that matter to the Authority, the Secretary of State, the Director General of Fair Trading or any other public authority whose functions appear to the Council to be exercisable in relation to that matter.

(5) Subject to subsection (6), the Council may—

(a) send a report on any matter investigated under this section to any person who appears to the Council to have an interest in that matter; and

(b) publish any such report in such manner as the Council thinks appropriate.

(6) Information which relates to the affairs of any particular individual or body of persons (corporate or unincorporate)—

(a) shall not be included in a report which is to be sent to any person under subsection (5)(a), unless one or more of paragraphs (a) to (c) of subsection (7) applies; and

(b) shall be excluded from any such report which is to be published under subsection (5)(b), unless one or more or paragraphs (a) to (c) of subsection (8) applies.

(7) Information relating to a particular individual or body may be included in a report to be sent under subsection (5)(a) if—

(a) that individual or body has consented to the disclosure;

(b) it is information that is available to the public from some other source; or

(c) it is not information the disclosure of which would or might, in the opinion of the Council, seriously and prejudicially affect the interests of that individual or body.

(8) Information relating to a particular individual or body may be included in a report to be published under subsection (5)(b) if—

(a) that individual or body has consented to the publication;

(b) it is information that is available to the public from some other source; or

(c) it is not information the publication of which would or might, in the opinion of the Council, seriously and prejudicially affect the interests of that individual or body.

(9) Before deciding to include in such a report any information relating to a particular individual or body in pursuance of subsection (7)(c) or (8)(c), the Council shall—

(a) consult that individual or body; and

(b) have regard to any opinion expressed by the Authority as to the application of subsection (7)(c) or (8)(c) to the information or as to the desirability or otherwise of its inclusion in the report;

and paragraph (b) applies whether the opinion is given in relation to the information itself or to information of a description which applies to that information.]

Textual Amendments

F4 S. 33 substituted (7.11.2000) by 2000 c. 27, s. 23(1) (with Sch. 7 para. 31); S.I. 2000/2974, art. 2, Sch. (subject to transitional provisions in arts. 3-12)