21.—(1) Nothing in Article 19(1) requires an electricity distributor to make a connection if and to the extent that—
(a)he is prevented from doing so by circumstances beyond his control;
(b)circumstances exist by reason of which his doing so would or might involve his being in breach of regulations under Article 32, and he has taken all such steps as it was reasonable to take both to prevent the circumstances from occurring and to prevent them from having that effect; or
(c)there is a lack of capacity or there are exceptional circumstances which render it impracticable for him to do so.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (1) an electricity distributor is not required to make a connection if—
(a)making the connection involves the distributor doing something which, without the consent of another person, would require the exercise of a power conferred on him by any provision of Schedule 3 or 4;
(b)those provisions do not have effect in relation to him; and
(c)any necessary consent has not, at the time the request is made, been given.
(3) Paragraph (1)(c) does not permit an electricity distributor to disconnect any premises or distribution system to which a connection is being maintained by him unless the distributor gives—
(a)where the connection is to premises, to the occupier or to the owner if the premises are not occupied;
(b)where the connection is to another distribution system, to the electricity distributor who runs that system,
not less than seven working days' notice of his intention to disconnect the premises or distribution system.]
F1Arts. 19-26 substituted (1.11.2007) by Electricity Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 (S.R. 2007/321), regs. 1(2), 9 (with transitional provisions in Pt. IV)