32.—(1) Regulations may make such provision as the Department thinks fit for the purpose of—
(a)securing that supplies of electricity are regular and efficient;
(b)protecting the public from dangers arising from the generation, transmission [F1, distribution] or supply of electricity, from the use of electricity supplied or from the installation, maintenance or use of any electric line or electrical plant; and
(c)without prejudice to the generality of sub-paragraph (b), eliminating or reducing the risks of personal injury, or damage to property or interference with its use, arising as mentioned in that sub-paragraph.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (1), regulations under this Article may—
(a)prohibit the [F2distribution] or transmission of electricity except by means of a system approved by the Department;
(b)make provision requiring notice in the prescribed form to be given to the Department, in such cases as may be specified in the regulations, of accidents and of failures of [F3in the distribution or transmission] of electricity;
(c)[F4make provision as to the keeping, by electricity distributors or persons authorised by a licence or exemption to participate in the transmission of electricity, of maps, plans and sections as to their productions (on payment if so required of a reasonable fee) for inspection or copying;]
[F5(d)make provision for relieving electricity distributors from any duty under Article 19 or for authorising them to disconnect any premises or distribution system in such cases as may be prescribed;]
(e)make provision requiring compliance with notices given by the Department specifying action to be taken in relation to any electric line or electrical plant, or any electrical appliance under the control of a consumer, for the purpose of—
(i)preventing or ending a breach of regulations under this Article; or
(ii)eliminating or reducing a risk of personal injury or damage to property or interference with its use;
(f)provide for particular requirements of the regulations to be deemed to be complied with in the case of any electric line or electrical plant complying with specified standards or requirements;
(g)provide for the granting of exemptions from any requirement of the regulations for such periods as may be determined by or under the regulations;
(h)provide for references in the regulations to any specified document to operate as references to that document as revised or re-issued from time to time.
(3) Regulations under this Article may provide that any person—
(a)who contravenes any specified provision of the regulations; or
(b)who does so in specified circumstances,
shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale; but nothing in this paragraph shall affect any liability of any such person to pay compensation in respect of any damage or injury which may have been caused by the contravention.
(4) No proceedings shall be instituted in respect of an offence under the regulations except by or on behalf of the Department or the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland.
F1Words in art. 32(1)(b) inserted (1.11.2007) by Electricity Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 (S.R. 2007/321), regs. 1(2), 11(1), Sch. 2 para. 5(a) (with transitional provisions in Pt. IV)
F2Word in art. 32(2)(a) substituted (1.11.2007) by Electricity Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 (S.R. 2007/321), regs. 1(2), 11(1), Sch. 2 para. 5(b) (with transitional provisions in Pt. IV)
F3Words in art. 32(2)(b) substituted (1.11.2007) by Electricity Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 (S.R. 2007/321), regs. 1(2), 11(1), Sch. 2 para. 5(c) (with transitional provisions in Pt. IV)
F4Words in art. 32(2)(c) substituted (1.11.2007) by Electricity Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 (S.R. 2007/321), regs. 1(2), 11(1), Sch. 2 para. 5(d) (with transitional provisions in Pt. IV)
F5Art. 32(2)(d) substituted (1.11.2007) by Electricity Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 (S.R. 2007/321), regs. 1(2), 11(1), Sch. 2 para. 5(e) (with transitional provisions in Pt. IV)
33.—(1) The Department may appoint competent and impartial persons to be electrical inspectors under this Part.
(2) The duties of an electrical inspector under this Part shall be as follows—
(a)to inspect and test, periodically and in special cases, electric lines and electrical plant belonging to persons authorised by a licence or exemption to generate,[F6supply [F7, distribute] or participate in the transmission of] electricity;
(b)to examine, periodically and in special cases, the generation, transmission [F8, distribution] or supply of electricity by such persons;
(c)to inspect and test, if and when required by any consumer, any such lines and plant on the consumer's premises, for the purpose of determining whether any requirement imposed by or under this Part in respect of the lines or plant or the [F9conveyance] of electricity through or by them has been complied with; and
(d)such other duties as may be imposed by regulations under this Article or as the Department may determine.
(3) Regulations may—
(a)prescribe the manner in which and the times at which any duties are to be performed by electrical inspectors;
(b)require persons authorised by a licence or exemption to generate,[F10supply or participate in the transmission of] electricity—
(i)to furnish electrical inspectors with records or other information; and
(ii)to allow such inspectors access to premises and the use of electrical plant and other facilities;
[F11(c)make provision for relieving electricity distributors from any duty under Article 19 or for authorising them to disconnect any premises or distribution system in such cases as may be prescribed;]
(d)prescribe the amount of the fees which are to be payable to such inspectors.
(4) Any fees received by electrical inspectors shall be paid to the Department.
F6Words in art. 33(2)(a) substituted (3.7.2007) by Energy (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/419 (N.I. 6)), arts. 1(2), 65, Sch. 3 para. 11; S.R. 2007/320, art. 2, Sch. 1
F7Words in art. 33(2)(a) inserted (15.4.2011) by Gas and Electricity (Internal Markets) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011 (S.R. 2011/155), reg. 24
F8Words in art. 33(2)(b) inserted (1.11.2007) by Electricity Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 (S.R. 2007/321), regs. 1(2), 11(1), Sch. 2 para. 6(a) (with transitional provisions in Pt. IV)
F9Word in art. 33(2)(c) substituted (1.11.2007) by Electricity Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 (S.R. 2007/321), regs. 1(2), 11(1), Sch. 2 para. 6(b) (with transitional provisions in Pt. IV)
F10Words in art. 33(3)(b) substituted (3.7.2007) by Energy (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/419 (N.I. 6)), arts. 1(2), 65, Sch. 3 para. 11; S.R. 2007/320, art. 2, Sch. 1
F11Art. 33(3)(c) substituted (1.11.2007) by Electricity Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 (S.R. 2007/321), regs. 1(2), 11(1), Sch. 2 para. 6(c) (with transitional provisions in Pt. IV)
34. The provisions of Schedule 7 (which relate to the use, certification, testing and maintenance of electricity meters) shall have effect.