Utilities Act 2000

Section 52.

SCHEDULE 5 Electricity metering

1 Schedule 7 to the 1989 Act (use etc. of electricity meters) is amended as follows.

2 (1) For the expression “electricity supplier” in each place it appears (otherwise than in the expression “public electricity supplier”) there is substituted “authorised supplier”.

(2) In paragraph 13 the definition of “electricity supplier” shall be omitted.

3 (1) Paragraph 1 (consumption to be ascertained by appropriate meter) is amended as follows.

(2) After sub-paragraph (1) there is inserted—

“(1A) An authorised supplier may give a supply otherwise than through an appropriate meter in such circumstances as may be prescribed.”

(3) In sub-paragraph (2)—

(a) after “customer” there is inserted “(who may provide a meter which belongs to him or is made available otherwise than in pursuance of arrangements made by the supplier)”; and

(b) for “(whether by way of sale, hire or loan)” there is substituted “(who may provide a meter which belongs to him or to any person other than the customer)”.

(4) In sub-paragraph (2A) for “a public electricity supplier” there is substituted “an authorised supplier”.

(5) In sub-paragraphs (7) and (9), for “a public electricity supplier” there is substituted “an electricity supplier”.

4 In paragraph 3 (offences relating to use of meter), after sub-paragraph (1) there is inserted—

“(1A) Regulations under paragraph 1(1A) may provide for this paragraph not to apply in such circumstances as may be prescribed (being circumstances in which an authorised supplier is not required to supply electricity through an appropriate meter).”

5 In paragraph 5(3) (certification without examination or testing of certain meters) the words “a public electricity supplier or by” shall cease to have effect.

6 In paragraph 6 (apparatus for testing etc. meters)—

(a) in sub-paragraph (1), the words “a public electricity supplier or”; and

(b) sub-paragraph (5),

shall cease to have effect.

7 In paragraph 10 (meters to be kept in proper order)—

(a) in sub-paragraph (1) for “belonging to” there is substituted “provided by”;

(b) in sub-paragraph (2) for “let for hire or lent” there is substituted “provided”;

(c) after sub-paragraph (2) there is inserted—

“(2A) Section 23 of this Act shall apply in relation to any dispute arising under this paragraph between an electricity supplier and a customer.”; and

(d) sub-paragraph (3) shall cease to have effect.

8 In paragraph 12 (pre-payment meters) for sub-paragraph (2) there is substituted—

“(2) A pre-payment meter installed on any premises shall not be used to recover any sum other than a sum owing to an authorised supplier in respect of the supply of electricity to those premises or the provision of the meter.”