Section 92: Gas meters
517.Section 17 of the Gas Act 1986 (c. 44) sets out existing requirements on the use of gas meters and specifies that no meter shall be used for ascertaining the quantity of gas supplied unless it has been stamped by an appointed meter examiner. It further sets out the requirements and responsibilities of those meter examiners when examining and stamping meters, and provides for their remuneration. Section 17 also allows for regulations to be made by the Authority which relate to, amongst other things:
the prescribed standards meters must satisfy to be stamped, which include the performance requirements and routes to demonstrating conformity;
how and why meter approvals are revoked and the process that has to be followed if, for example, a design defect is found when meters are used in service; and
what happens when meter accuracy is disputed, including the circumstances when meters can be re-examined, the standards the meter should meet and the actions of the meter examiner following the re-examination.
518.Subsection (1) transfers to the Secretary of State the Authority’s functions under section 17 of the Gas Act 1986 (c. 44) and certain regulations relating to gas meters made under that section or under section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 (“gas meter regulations”, as defined in subsection (5)). Subsection (2) ensures that references to the Authority, in section 17 of the 1986 Act or in gas meter regulations, will be read as references to the Secretary of State.
519.Subsections (3) and (4) will ensure that existing regulations made under section 17 of the 1986 Act, and other regulatory actions of the Authority in relation to meters, have effect as if made or done by the Secretary of State.
520.The combination of the changes set out insubsections (1) to (4) transfers the responsibility for the functions (including the power to make regulations) under section 17 to the Secretary of State. This formally transfers these responsibilities from the Authority to the NWML.