The Gas (Calculation of Thermal Energy) Regulations 1996

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations.)

The Regulations provide for the number of therms (until 1st January 2000) or kilowatt hours, conveyed by public gas transporters to premises, or to pipe-line systems operated by other public gas transporters, to be calculated on the basis of calorific values of the gas (with adjustments of volumes for temperature and pressure) either determined by, or declared by, the transporter in accordance with the Regulations, except in the cases prescribed by regulation 2(3) (regulations 3, 4 and 7). They provide for the places or premises and the times at which and the manner in which determinations of calorific values are to be made to be such as the Director General of Gas Supply (“the Director”) may direct (regulation 6). Provision is made for making available the results of determinations (regulation 5). They also provide for declarations of calorific values to be made at such times and in such manner as the Director may direct, for securing uniformity of calorific value and for the carrying out of tests of gas by public gas transporters (regulations 8 to 10), and also by persons (“gas examiners”) appointed by the Director under section 13 of the Gas Act 1986 at such places or premises as the Director may direct and for such premises, apparatus and equipment to be provided and maintained for carrying out those tests as the Director may direct (regulation 11).

Provision is made for persons representing public gas transporters to be present at the carrying out of tests of apparatus and equipment or of gas by gas examiners (regulation 12), for the publication of their results (regulation 13) and for entry by gas examiners on premises owned or occupied by public gas transporters (regulation 14). Any contravention of the regulations is made an offence punishable on summary conviction by a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale (now £5,000) (regulation 15). There are provisions in respect of public gas transporters' offices and for saving declarations of calorific value made before the commencement of the Regulations (regulations 16 and 17).