21. After section 7A(1), insert—
7AB.—(1) Subject to subsections (4) and (5), the Authority may grant a licence authorising a person to provide a smart meter communication service (“a smart meter communication licence”).
(2) Subject to subsections (3) and (5), the Secretary of State may grant a smart meter communication licence.
(3) The Secretary of State may not grant a smart meter communication licence after 1 November 2018.
(4) The first smart meter communication licence may only be granted by the Secretary of State.
(5) A person may not be granted a smart meter communication licence unless the same person is at the same time granted a licence under section 6(1)(f) of the Electricity Act 1989(2).”.
Section 7A was inserted by section 6 of the Gas Act 1995 (c. 45).
Section 6(1)(f) of the Electricity Act 1989 (c. 29) is inserted by article 6 of this Order.