23.—(1) Subject to the following provisions of this Article, a public electricity supplier may require any person who requires a supply of electricity under Article 19(1) to give him reasonable security for the payment to him of all money which may become due to him—
(a)in respect of the supply; or
(b)where any electric line or electrical plant falls to be provided in pursuance of that paragraph, in respect of the provision of the line or plant;
and if that person fails to give such security, the supplier may if he thinks fit refuse to give the supply, or to provide the line or plant, for so long as the failure continues.
(2) Where any person has not given such security as is mentioned in paragraph (1), or the security given by any person has become invalid or insufficient—
(a)the public electricity supplier may by notice require that person, within 7 days from the service of the notice, to give him reasonable security for the payment of all money which may become due to him in respect of the supply; and
(b)if that person fails to give such security, the supplier may if he thinks fit discontinue the supply for so long as the failure continues;
and any notice under sub-paragraph (a) shall state the effect of Article 26.
(3) Where any money is deposited with a public electricity supplier by way of security under this Article, the supplier shall pay interest, at such rate as may be fixed by the supplier with the approval of the Director, on every sum of 50p so deposited for every 3 months during which it remains in the hands of the supplier.
(4) A public electricity supplier shall not be entitled to require security under paragraph (1)(a) if—
(a)the person requiring the supply is prepared to take the supply through a pre-payment meter; and
(b)it is reasonably practicable in all the circumstances (including in particular the risk of loss or damage) for the supplier to provide such a meter.