The Energy (Northern Ireland) Order 2003

15.—(1) The Department after consultation with the Authority, or the Authority with the consent of the Department, may in accordance with this paragraph modify—

(a) a gas licence or an electricity licence; or

(b) the standard conditions of licences under sub-paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of Article 8(1) of the Gas Order,

where the Department or (as the case may be) the Authority considers it necessary or expedient to do so in consequence of this Order.

(2) In particular the Department or the Authority may under sub-paragraph (1)(a) or (b) make modifications in consequence of, or of preparations for—

(a) the establishment of the Authority;

(b) the conferral by this Order of functions on the Authority or the Council; or

(c) the abolition of any office or body mentioned in Article 3(4) or 9(3).

(3) Where the Department or the Authority makes any modification under sub-paragraph (1)(a) or (b) it may make such incidental or consequential modifications to the licence or conditions as it considers necessary or expedient.

(4) Before making any modification under sub-paragraph (1) or (3) the Department or Authority shall consult the licence holder.

(5) Any consultation undertaken by the Director General of Gas for Northern Ireland or the Director General of Electricity Supply for Northern Ireland before the commencement of Article 3(1) shall be as effective for the purposes of this paragraph as if undertaken by the Authority after that time.

(6) Any modification of part of a standard condition of a gas licence under paragraph (1)(a) shall not prevent any other part of the condition from continuing to be regarded as a standard condition for the purposes of Part II of the Gas Order.

(7) Where at any time the Department or the Authority modifies under paragraph (1)(b) the standard conditions of licences under sub-paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of Article 8(1) of the Gas Order, it shall also make (as nearly as may be) the same modifications of those conditions for the purposes of their incorporation in licences of that type granted after that time.

(8) Where the Department or the Authority makes any modifications under this paragraph it shall publish those modifications in such manner as it considers appropriate.

(9) The powers of the Department and the Authority under sub-paragraphs (1) and (3) may not be exercised after the end of the period of two years beginning with the commencement of this paragraph.