The Gas (Northern Ireland) Order 1996

Modification by order under other statutory provisions

18.—(1) Where in the circumstances mentioned in paragraph (3) the Secretary of State by order exercises any of the powers specified in—

(a) Parts I and II of Schedule 8 to the 1973 Act; or

(b) section 10(2)(a) of the 1980 Act,

the order may also provide for the modification of—

(i) the conditions of a particular licence; or

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

to such extent as may appear to him to be requisite or expedient for the purpose of giving effect to or of taking account of any provision made by the order.

(2) Where at any time the Secretary of State modifies under paragraph (1)(ii) the standard conditions of licences under sub-paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of Article 8(1), he—

(a) shall also make (as nearly as may be) the same modifications of those conditions for the purposes of their incorporation in licences under that sub-paragraph granted after that time; and

(b) may, after consultation with the Director, make such incidental or consequential modifications as he considers necessary or expedient of any conditions of licences under that sub-paragraph granted before that time.

(3) Paragraph (1) shall have effect where—

(a) the circumstances are as mentioned in section 56(1) of the 1973 Act (order on report on monopoly reference) and the monopoly situation exists in relation to the carrying on of activities authorised or required by a licence;

(b) the circumstances are as mentioned in section 73(1) of that Act (order on report on merger reference) and at least one of the two or more enterprises which ceased, or (in the application of that provision as it has effect by virtue of section 75(4)(e) of that Act) which would cease, to be distinct enterprises was or, as the case may be, is engaged in the carrying on of activities authorised or required by a licence; or

(c) the circumstances are as mentioned in section 10(1) of the 1980 Act (order on report on competition reference) and the anti-competitive practice relates to the carrying on of activities authorised or required by a licence.

(4) Where at any time the Secretary of State modifies standard conditions under paragraph (2)(a) for the purposes of their incorporation in licences under sub-paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of Article 8(1) granted after that time, he shall publish the modifications in such manner as he considers appropriate.

(5) In this Article expressions which are also used in the 1973 Act or the 1980 Act have the same meanings as in that Act.