Recovery of gas charges etc.E+W+S
7(1)A public gas supplier may recover from a tariff customer any charges due to him in respect of the supply of gas, or in respect of the supplying and fixing of any meter or fittings.
(2)If a tariff customer quits any premises at which gas has been supplied to him through a meter by a public gas supplier without giving notice thereof to the supplier so that it is received by the supplier at least twenty-four hours before he quits the premises, he shall be liable to pay the supplier all charges in respect of the supply of gas to the premises accruing due up to whichever of the following first occurs, namely—
(a)the twenty-eighth day after he gives such notice to the supplier;
(b)the next day on which the register of the meter falls to be ascertained; and
(c)the day from which any subsequent occupier of the premises requires the supplier to supply gas to the premises.
(3)Sub-paragraph (2) above, or a statement of the effect thereof, shall be endorsed upon every demand note for gas charges payable to a public gas supplier by a tariff customer.
(4)If a tariff customer quits any premises at which gas has been supplied to him by a public gas supplier without paying any amount due from him by way of charges in respect of the supply, the supplier—
(a)may refuse to furnish him with a supply of gas at any other premises until he pays the amount so due; but
(b)shall not be entitled to require payment of that amount from the next occupier of the premises.
(5)If a tariff customer has not, after the expiry of twenty-eight days from the making of a demand in writing by a public gas supplier for payment thereof, paid the charges due from him in respect of the supply of gas by the supplier to any premises, the supplier, after the expiration of not less than seven days’ notice of his intention, may—
(a)cut off the supply to the premises by disconnecting the service pipe at the meter (whether the pipe belongs to the supplier or not) or by such other means as he thinks fit; and
(b)recover any expenses incurred in so doing from the customer.
[F1(5A)The powers conferred by sub-paragraph (5) above shall not be exercisable as respects any amount which is genuinely in dispute.]
(6)Where a public gas supplier has cut off the supply of gas to any premises in consequence of any default on the part of a tariff customer, the supplier shall not be under any obligation to resume the supply of gas to the customer so in default until he has made good the default and paid the reasonable expenses of re-connecting the supply.
Textual Amendments
F1Sch. 5 para. 7(5A) inserted (1.7.1992) by Competition and Service (Utilities) Act 1992 (c. 43), s. 19; Commencement Order No. 1 made on 29.5.1992, art. 3, Sch. Pt.I.