Electricity Act 1989

[F1 6 Licences authorising supply, etc. E+W+S

(1) The Authority may grant any of the following licences—

(a) a licence authorising a person to generate electricity for the purpose of giving a supply to any premises or enabling a supply to be so given (“a generation licence”);

[F2 (b) a licence authorising a person to participate in the transmission of electricity for that purpose (“a transmission licence”);]

(c) a licence authorising a person to distribute electricity for that purpose (“a distribution licence”); F3 ...

(d) a licence authorising a person to supply electricity to premises (“a supply licence”) [F4 or

(e) a licence authorising a person to participate in the operation of an electricity interconnector (“an interconnector licence”).]

(2) The same person may not be the holder of both a distribution licence and a supply licence.

[F5 (2A) The same person may not be the holder of an interconnector licence and the holder of a licence falling within any of paragraphs (a) to (d) of subsection (1).]

(3) A supply licence may authorise the holder to supply electricity—

(a) to any premises;

(b) only to premises specified in the licence, or to premises of a description so specified; or

(c) only to any premises situated in a specified area, or to premises of a specified description which are so situated.

(4) The Authority may, with the consent of the holder of a supply licence, modify terms included in the licence in pursuance of subsection (3) so as to extend or restrict the premises to which the licence holder may give a supply of electricity.

(5) A distribution licence may authorise the holder to distribute electricity in any area, or only in an area specified in the licence.

(6) The Authority may, with the consent of the holder of a distribution licence, modify terms included in the licence in pursuance of subsection (5) so as to extend or restrict the area within which the licence holder may distribute electricity.

[F6 (6A) A transmission licence may authorise the holder to participate in the transmission of electricity in any area, or only in an area specified in the licence.

(6B) The Authority may, with the consent of the holder of a transmission licence, modify terms included in the licence in pursuance of subsection (6A) above.]

[F7 (6C) An interconnector licence authorising participation in the operation of an electricity interconnector—

(a) must specify the interconnector or interconnectors in relation to which participation is authorised; and

(b) may limit the forms of participation in the operation of an interconnector which are authorised by the licence.]

[F8 (7) A licence, and any modification of a licence under subsection (4), (6) or (6B), shall be in writing.]

(8) A licence shall, unless previously revoked in accordance with any term of the licence, continue in force for such period as may be specified in or determined by or under the licence.

(9) In this Part—

• F9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• “electricity distributor” means any person who is authorised by a distribution licence to distribute electricity except where he is acting otherwise than for purposes connected with the carrying on of activities authorised by the licence;

• [F10 “electricity generator” means any person who is authorised by a generation licence to generate electricity except where that person is acting otherwise than for purposes connected with the carrying on of activities authorised by the licence;]

• “electricity supplier” means any person who is authorised by a supply licence to supply electricity except where he is acting otherwise than for purposes connected with the carrying on of activities authorised by the licence.

[F11 (10) In this section “premises” has the same meaning as in section 4.]]

Textual Amendments

F1 Ss. 6, 6A, 6B substituted for s. 6 (16.5.2001 for certain purposes and otherwise 1.10.2001) by 2000 c. 27, s. 30; S.I. 2001/1781, art. 2, Sch. (subject to transitional provisions in arts. 3-10); S.I. 2001/3266, art. 2, Sch. (subject to transitional provisions in arts. 3-20)

F2 S. 6(1)(b) substituted (1.9.2004) by Energy Act 2004 (c. 20), ss. 136(1), 198(2); S.I. 2004/2184, art. 2(2), Sch. 2

F3 Word in s. 6(1)(c) repealed (1.12.2004) by Energy Act 2004 (c. 20), s. 198(2), Sch. 23 Pt. 1; S.I. 2004/2575, art. 2(2), Sch. 2

F4 S. 6(1)(e) and preceding word inserted (1.12.2004) by Energy Act 2004 (c. 20), ss. 145(5), 198(2); S.I. 2004/2575, art. 2(2), Sch. 2

F5 S. 6(2A) inserted (1.12.2004) by Energy Act 2004 (c. 20), ss. 145(6), 198(2); S.I. 2004/2575, art. 2(2), Sch. 2

F6 S. 6(6A)(6B) inserted (1.9.2004) by Energy Act 2004 (c. 20), ss. 136(2), 198(2); S.I. 2004/2184, art. 2(2), Sch. 2

F7 S. 6(6C) inserted (1.12.2004) by Energy Act 2004 (c. 20), ss. 145(7), 198(2); S.I. 2004/2575, art. 2(2), Sch. 2

F8 S. 6(7) substituted (1.9.2004) by Energy Act 2004 (c. 20), s. 198(2), Sch. 19 para. 5; S.I. 2004/2184, art. 2(2), Sch. 2

F9 Words in s. 6(9) repealed (1.9.2004) by Energy Act 2004 (c. 20), s. 198(2), Sch. 23 Pt. 1; S.I. 2004/2184, art. 2(2), Sch. 2

F10 Words in s. 6(9) inserted (26.1.2009) by Climate Change Act 2008 (c. 27), s. 100(5), Sch. 8 para. 2

F11 S. 6(10) inserted (1.3.2005 for specified purposes, 29.7.2010 for specified purposes, 10.6.2014 in so far as not already in force) by Energy Act 2004 (c. 20), ss. 89(3), 198(2); S.I. 2005/442, art. 2(1), Sch. 1; S.I. 2010/1889, art. 2; S.I. 2014/1460, art. 2

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 6 applied (1.10.2001) by S.I. 2001/3266, art. 3(3)

C2 S. 6 modified (1.12.2004) by Energy Act 2004 (c. 20), ss. 148(2), 198(2); S.I. 2004/2575, art. 2(2), Sch. 2

C3 S. 6(1) modified (16.5.2001) by 2000 c. 27, s. 33(1); S.I. 2001/1781, art. 2, Sch. (subject to transitional provisions in arts. 3-10)