Energy Bill

With this it will be convenient to discuss the following: Government new clause 9— Power to amend licence conditions: procedure. Government new clause 10— Smart meters: supplemental. New clause 1— Implementation of new metering arrangements — ‘(1) The relevant licensees for the purposes of this Part are— (a) gas suppliers and gas transporters within the meaning of Part 1 of the Gas Act 1986 (c. 44); and (b) electricity suppliers and electricity distributors within the meaning of Part 1 of the Electricity Act 1989 (c. 29). (2) The effective date for the purposes of this Part is the date which is 10 years after the date on which section 79 comes into force. (3) Expressions used in this Part have the same meaning as in the Part 1 of the Gas Act 1986 or Part 1 of the Electricity Act 1989. (4) As from the effective date, a relevant licensee must not supply gas or electricity to any premises that is not subject to the provisions of this section. (5) The Secretary of State may exempt any relevant licensee from the prohibition imposed by subsection (4) in relation to such premises, for such period of time, and subject to such conditions as he considers appropriate in all the circumstances of the case. (6) References in this Part to new metering arrangements are to arrangements (including the provision and operation of any necessary communications and data-handling infrastructure) designed to ensure that, by the effective date, all premises supplied with gas or electricity in Great Britain will continue to be so supplied through a meter that conforms to the following three requirements— (a) that the meter must record and be able to store measured consumption data for multiple time periods; (b) that the meter, either on its own or with an ancillary device, must facilitate remote access to such data; and (c) that the meter must meet any specifications that may be set out in any regulations made by the Secretary of State under this Part, pursuant to his duties under Part 1 of the Gas Act 1986 and Part 1 of the Electricity Act 1989, for the purposes of facilitating the introduction of new metering arrangements. (7) This section may not be brought into force before 1st January 2010. (8) The Secretary of State may, in accordance with this section, modify— (a) the conditions of a particular licence held under section 7(1) or 7A(1) or (2) of the Gas Act 1986 or under section 6(1) of the Electricity Act 1989; (b) the standard conditions of licences of any type mentioned in those subsections if he considers it necessary or expedient to do so for the purpose of securing the implementation of the provisions of this section. (9) The power to make modifications under paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (8) includes powers— (a) to make modifications requiring licence holders, or classes of licence holder, to cooperate together, under arrangements approved by the Authority; (b) to make modifications requiring any relevant licensee to take or refrain from taking any specified action, whether in relation to premises supplied with gas or electricity or otherwise; (c) to make modifications relating to the operation of access to, or use of pipe-line systems and distribution systems; and (d) to make incidental, consequential, or transitional modifications. (10) Before making modifications under this section, the Secretary of State must consult the Authority, the holder of any licence being modified, and such other persons as he considers appropriate. (11) Subsection (10) may be satisfied by consultation undertaken before, as well as by consultation undertaken after, the commencement of this section. (12) Any modification under subsection (8)(b) of part of a standard condition of a licence shall 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 Gas Act 1986 or Part 1 of the Electricity Act 1989. (13) Where the Secretary of State modifies the standard conditions of licences of any type under subsection (8)(b), the Authority must make the same modifications of those standard conditions for the purposes of their incorporation into licences of that type granted after that time. (14) The Secretary of State must publish any modifications under this section in such manner as he considers appropriate. (15) The power of the Secretary of State under this section may not be exercised after the end of the period of five years beginning with the passing of this Act.’. New clause 3— Regulations on new meters — ‘Where the Secretary of State makes regulations in connection with new metering arrangements under— (a) this Act; (b) Part 1 of the Gas Act 1986; or (c) Part 1 of the Electricity Act 1989, such regulations must require that such meters have the facility to use the data that they collect on gas or electricity consumption for the purpose of assisting the householder to select the gas or electricity tariff which is most to the householder’s advantage.’. New clause 16— Information on carbon dioxide emissions — ‘The Secretary of State shall, within 12 months of the passing of this Act, make regulations requiring companies supplying gas or electricity to specify on consumers’ energy bills the volume of carbon dioxide emitted in generating the energy supplied in the period to which the bill relates.’. Government amendments Nos. 50, 58 and 59.