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.

Where it appears to F1the consumer advocacy body in question that a complaint relates to a matter in respect of which any of the Authority's enforcement functions may be exercisable, F2that body must refer the complaint to the Authority unless it is satisfied that the Authority is already aware of the matter.

Where a complaint to which section 13 applies is referred to the Authority under subsection (2), F3the consumer advocacy body in question 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.

On investigating a complaint, F4the consumer advocacy body in question 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).

In this section, a reference to a consumer advocacy body does not include a reference to the GCCNI.