Electricity Act 1989 — United Kingdom law | Esheria

Electricity Act 1989

This part sets the Secretary of State’s and Authority’s main duties for electricity regulation, gives licensing and exemption powers, and makes unlicensed electricity activities an offence.

AI-assisted research synopsis — verify against the official legal text below.

Jurisdiction
United Kingdom
Instrument
Act or statute
Version
Undated source snapshot
Language
en
Official source
View official record ↗
CMA reference procedure amendments appeals asset transfer asset transfers byelaws certificate issuance change of supplier closed distribution systems commencement compensation complaints handling consent applications consent procedures consents and notices consents and variations consultation duties consumer compensation contract continuity corporate restructuring customer information definitions discharge payments disconnection +57 more

Statute overview

About this statute

This part sets the Secretary of State’s and Authority’s main duties for electricity regulation, gives licensing and exemption powers, and makes unlicensed electricity activities an offence. The Authority may modify certain licences and codes, but it must give notice, allow and consider representations, and publish reasons. Separately, persons holding relevant transmission or interconnector licences must keep certification in place while participating in the activity. The Authority must review certification matters on set triggers, ask for and share relevant information, notify and publish decisions, and certain share/appointment rights must not be exercised once the statutory conditions are met. The section also creates a long-duration electricity storage scheme and sets notice, consultation, and publication steps for licence modifications. The Authority must consider using the Competition Act 1998 before making or confirming certain orders, and it must not make those orders if that route is more appropriate. The provision also sets notice, publication, appeal, penalty, and consumer redress rules for regulated persons. A renewables obligation order can control when certificates are issued, how obligations may be discharged, and what information suppliers and generators must provide.