(1)Where the Secretary of State considers it appropriate to do so in connection with the provision made by this Chapter, he may make—
(a)modifications of the conditions of a gas or electricity licence held by a particular person;
(b)modifications of the standard conditions of such licences of any type.
(2)The power to make modifications under this section includes power to make incidental, consequential or transitional modifications.
(3)Before making a modification under this section, the Secretary of State must consult—
(a)the holder of any licence being modified; and
(b)such other persons as he considers appropriate.
(4)Subsection (3) may be satisfied by consultation that took place wholly or partly before the commencement of this section.
(5)The Secretary of State must publish every modification made by him under this section.
(6)The publication must be in such manner as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.
(7)A modification under subsection (1)(a) of part of a standard condition of a licence does not prevent any other part of the condition from continuing to be regarded as a standard condition for the purposes of Part 1 of the 1989 Act or Part 1 of the Gas Act 1986 (c. 44).
(8)Where the Secretary of State makes modifications under subsection (1)(b) of the standard conditions of licences of any type, GEMA must—
(a)make (as nearly as may be) the same modifications of those standard conditions for the purposes of their incorporation in licences of that type granted after that time; and
(b)publish the modifications in such manner as it considers appropriate.
(9)The Secretary of State’s powers under this section are exercisable only during the eighteen months beginning with the commencement of this section.
(10)In section 81(2) of the Utilities Act 2000 (c. 27) (standard conditions of licences under Part 1 of the Gas Act), for “such modifications of the conditions made under Part I of the 1986 Act” substitute “any modifications made under Part 1 of the 1986 Act or under the Energy Act 2004”.
(11)In this section “gas or electricity licence” means a licence for the purposes of section 5 of the Gas Act 1986 (c. 44) or section 4 of the 1989 Act (prohibition on unlicensed activities).