Part 1The National Consumer Council
Powers of investigation
I114Reference of matters to the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority
1
In this section references to a complaint are to a complaint within section 11(1)(a) or to which section 12(3) or 13 applies.
2
Where it appears to the Council that a complaint relates to a matter in respect of which any of the Authority's enforcement functions may be exercisable, the Council must refer the complaint to the Authority unless it is satisfied that the Authority is already aware of the matter.
3
Where a complaint to which section 13 applies is referred to the Authority under subsection (2), the Council is not required to investigate the complaint under subsection (2) of that section until the Authority has had a reasonable opportunity to exercise its enforcement functions in relation to the matter to which the complaint relates.
4
On investigating a complaint, the Council must inform the complainant if it considers that the complaint relates to a matter of a kind which can be referred by the complainant to the Authority under any provision of the Gas Act 1986 (c. 44) or the Electricity Act 1989 (c. 29).
5
In this section—
“the Authority” means the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority;
“enforcement function”, in relation to the Authority, means any of its functions under section 28 or 30A of the Gas Act 1986 or section 25 or 27A of the Electricity Act 1989.