The Gas (Metrication) Regulations 1992

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations implement, for the purposes of the Gas Levy Act 1981 and the Gas Act 1986 and related subordinate legislation, Council Directive No. 80/181/EEC (O.J. 1980, No. L39, 15.2.80, p.40), as amended by Council Directive No. 89/617/EEC (O.J. 1989, No. L357, 7.12.89, p.28), which establishes the units of measurement to be used throughout the Community.

Provisions in the Gas Act specifying distances for various purposes are amended with effect from 1st January 1995 to refer to metric equivalents. Provisions in the Gas Levy Act, Gas Act and subordinate legislation referring to therms are amended with immediate effect to refer to therms or kilowatt hours, and with effect from 1st January 2000 to refer to kilowatt hours exclusively. A public gas supplier is accordingly enabled to introduce charges based on kilowatt hours progressively over a period of years. The change to kilowatt hours will facilitate comparisons between gas and electricity charges.

The limit of 25,000 therms differentiating between supplies of gas to tariff customers and others and the exception to the prohibition in respect of unauthorised supplies for supplies of gas at the required rate of 2,000,000 therms are given metric equivalents of 732,000 and 58million kilowatt hours, respectively.