293.his section amends the powers that the Secretary of State has under section 46 of the Energy Act 2008 when approving a funded decommissioning programme, by enabling the Secretary of State to enter an agreement which sets out how the Secretary of State will use the power to propose modifications under section 48 of the Energy Act 2008.
294.Subsection (2) inserts new subsections (3A) to (3G) into section 46. These new subsections enable the Secretary of State, when approving a programme, to enter into an agreement setting out the manner and also the period in which the Secretary of State will, or will not, exercise the power to propose a modification to an approved funded decommissioning programme under Section 48 of the Energy Act 2008. Such an agreement may subsequently be amended by the Secretary of State and the other party mutually agreeing to do so.
295.The Secretary of State may not enter into or amend such an agreement unless satisfied that the agreement includes adequate provision for the modification of the funded decommissioning programme in the event that there ceases to be prudent provision for the costs of decommissioning, waste management and waste disposal.
296.The agreement may also include provision for determination by a third party of matters set out in the agreement which relate to the provision made in the funded decommissioning programme for the technical matters and for the Secretary of State to be bound by such a determination.
297.The Secretary of State may enter into such an agreement notwithstanding that any such agreement fetters the discretion of the Secretary of State.
298.The amendment contained in subsection (3) ensures that the power to enter into an agreement must be exercised with the aim of securing that prudent provision is made for the technical matters (including prudent financial provision for the designated technical matters).