http://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisi/2003/419/article/63The Energy (Northern Ireland) Order 2003texttext/xmlenStatute Law Database2026-01-14Expert Participation2026-01-01 PART VIIIMISCELLANEOUS AND SUPPLEMENTARY<Emphasis>Miscellaneous</Emphasis>General restrictions on disclosure of information631Information which—ahas been obtained under or by virtue of the provisions of this Order, Part II of the Electricity Order , the Electricity (Single Wholesale Market) (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 , Part II of the Gas Order , a relevant scheme or regulations made under section 11(1) or (2) or section 16 of the Energy Prices Act 2022; andbrelates to the affairs of any individual or to any particular business,shall not be disclosed during the lifetime of the individual or so long as the business continues to be carried on, except as provided below.2Paragraph (1) does not apply to a disclosure made with the consent of the individual or the person for the time being carrying on the business.3Paragraph (1) does not apply to a disclosure if—ait is made for the purpose of facilitating the performance of any functions of the Department, the Authority, the Council or the CMA under the Electricity Order , the Electricity (Single Wholesale Market) (Northern Ireland) Order 2007, the Gas Order or this Order;bit is required by a notice under Article 31 or 59 of the Electricity Order, Article 30(1) or (2) of the Gas Order or Article 51 or the information has been obtained in pursuance of a notice under Article 30(2) of the Gas Order;bait is required by any person in exercise of a power to require information conferred by regulations under section 16 of the Energy Prices Act 2022;cit is made by a licence holder and is required to be made by a condition of his licence; ordit is made by one licence holder to another and is required by that other licence holder for purposes connected with the carrying on of activities which he is authorised by his licence to carry on.3AIn paragraph (3)(c) and (d)—areferences to a licence holder include references to a holder of a licence under the law of Ireland corresponding to Part II of the Electricity Order; andbreferences to a licence include references to such a licence.4Paragraph (1) does not apply to any disclosure of information made—afor the purpose of facilitating the performance by a person or body mentioned in paragraph (5) of any function under a statutory provision specified in paragraph (6);aafor the purposes of facilitating the performance by the Irish Minister or CER (within the meaning of the Electricity (Single Wholesale Market) (Northern Ireland) Order 2007) of any function under the law of Ireland corresponding to the Electricity Order, this Order or that Order.bfor the purpose of facilitating the performance by the Comptroller and Auditor General for Northern Ireland or the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland of any of his or its functions;cfor the purpose of facilitating the exercise by the Secretary of State of any power conferred by the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (c. 8) or by the statutory provisions relating to companies, insurance companies or insolvency;dfor the purpose of facilitating the performance by the Department or the Department of Finance and Personnel of any functions conferred by the statutory provisions relating to companies or insolvency or for the purposes of facilitating the performance of the functions of an inspector appointed under the statutory provisions relating to companies;efor the purpose of facilitating the performance by the official receiver for Northern Ireland of his functions under the statutory provisions relating to insolvency or by a recognised professional body for the purposes of Article 350 of the Insolvency (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (NI 19) of its functions as such a body;ffor the purposes of facilitating the performance by a district council of its functions under the Consumer Protection Act 1987 (c. 43);fafor the purpose of facilitating the performance by the lead enforcement authority (as defined in section 33(1) of the Estate Agents Act 1979) of any of its functions under the Estate Agents Act 1979;gin connection with the investigation of any criminal offence or for the purposes of any criminal proceedings;hfor the purposes of any civil proceedings brought under or by virtue of the Electricity Order, the Gas Order, this Order or any statutory provision specified in paragraph (6); oriin pursuance of a Community obligation or assimilated obligation;and sections 17 and 18 of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 (c. 24) apply to this paragraph as if it were listed in Schedule 4 to that Act.5The persons and bodies specified for the purposes of paragraph (4)(a) are—aa Minister of the Crown;ba Northern Ireland department;cthe CMA;d. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ethe Director General of Telecommunications;fthe Director General of Water Services;gthe Gas and Electricity Markets Authority;hthe Water Appeals Commission for Northern Ireland;ithe Civil Aviation Authority;jthe Financial Conduct Authority;kthe Prudential Regulation Authority.6The statutory provisions specified for the purposes of paragraph (4)(a) and (h) are—athe Trade Descriptions Act 1968 (c. 29);bthe Fair Trading Act 1973 (c. 41);cthe Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006;dthe Consumer Credit Act 1974 (c. 39);ethe Estate Agents Act 1979 (c. 38);fthe Competition Act 1980 (c. 2);gthe Telecommunications Act 1984 (c. 12);hthe Airports Act 1986 (c. 31);ithe Gas Act 1986 (c. 44);jthe Audit (Northern Ireland) Order 1987 (NI 5);kthe Consumer Protection (Northern Ireland) Order 1987 (NI 20);lthe Consumer Protection Act 1987 (c. 43);m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .nthe Water Act 1989 (c. 15), the Water Industry Act 1991 (c. 56) and any of the other consolidation Acts (within the meaning of section 206 of the Water Industry Act 1991);othe Electricity Act 1989 (c. 29);pPart IV of the Airports (Northern Ireland) Order 1994 (NI 1);qthe Water (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 (NI 6);rthe Competition Act 1998 (c. 41);sthe Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (c. 8);tthe Utilities Act 2000 (c. 27);uthe Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40).vthe Business Protection from Misleading Marketing Regulations 2008;w. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xParts 3 and 4 of the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013.ythe following provisions of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024—iPart 3;iiChapter 1 of Part 4;iiiChapter 2 of Part 5.7The Department may by order modify paragraph (3), (4), (5) or (6).7AParagraph (1) does not apply to a disclosure of information which has been obtained—aunder or by virtue of a relevant scheme if it is made by a person in connection with that person’s performance of the terms of that relevant scheme;bunder or by virtue of regulations made under section 11(1) or (2) of the Energy Prices Act 2022 if the disclosure is made by a person in connection with the exercise of that person’s functions under the regulations.8Nothing in paragraph (1) is to be construed either as limiting the matters which may be—apublished under Article 45 of the Electricity Order or Article 7, 18, 19, 21, 25 or 27;bmade public by the Authority as part of a notice under Article 26; orcincluded in, or made public as part of, a report of the Authority, the Council or the CMA under any provision of this Order, Part II of the Electricity Order or Part II of the Gas Order,or as applying to information which has been so published or has been made public as part of such a notice or such a report.9A person who discloses any information in contravention of this Article is guilty of an offence and liable—aon summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum;bon conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to a fine or to both.10Information obtained by the Authority in the exercise of functions which are exercisable concurrently with the CMA under Part I of the Competition Act 1998 (c. 41) is subject to Part 9 of the Enterprise Act 2002 (information) and not to paragraphs (1) to (9) of this Article.11In this Article “relevant scheme” means—aa domestic electricity price reduction scheme for Northern Ireland, orba domestic gas price reduction scheme for Northern Ireland,established under section 5 of the Energy Prices Act 2022.Art. 63(6) modified by Wireless Telegraphy (Pre-Consolidation Amendments) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/1391), arts. 1, 2, Sch. para. 7(3)(j) (the said S.I. coming into force immediately before the commencement of the Act resulting from the Wireless Telegraphy Bill introduced in the House of Lords on 20.4.2006 - the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 (c. 36) came into force on 8.2.2007, see s. 126 of the said Act)Words in art. 63(6)(c) substituted (1.4.2007) by Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/3336 (N.I. 21)), arts. 1(2), 308(1), Sch. 12 para. 48(18) (with arts. 8(8), 121(3), 307); S.R. 2007/194, art. 2(2), Sch. 1 Pt. II (subject to art. 3, Sch. 2)Words in art. 63(1)(a) inserted (20.6.2007) by Electricity (Single Wholesale Market) (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/913 (N.I. 7)), arts. 1(3), 12, Sch. 4 para. 12(2); S.R. 2007/303, art. 2, Sch.Words in art. 63(3)(a) inserted (20.6.2007) by Electricity (Single Wholesale Market) (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/913 (N.I. 7)), arts. 1(3), 12, Sch. 4 para. 12(3); S.R. 2007/303, art. 2, Sch.Art. 63(3A) inserted (20.6.2007) by Electricity (Single Wholesale Market) (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/913 (N.I. 7)), arts. 1(3), 12, Sch. 4 para. 12(4); S.R. 2007/303, art. 2, Sch.Art. 63(4)(aa) inserted (20.6.2007) by Electricity (Single Wholesale Market) (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/913 (N.I. 7)), arts. 1(3), 12, Sch. 4 para. 12(5); S.R. 2007/303, art. 2, Sch.Art. 63(6)(m) revoked (26.5.2008) by Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/1277), reg. 30(1)(3), Sch. 2 para. 98(a), Sch. 4 Pt. 2 (with savings in reg. 28(2)(3))Art. 63(6)(v)(w) inserted (26.5.2008) by Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/1277), reg. 30(1), Sch. 2 para. 98(b) (with savings in reg. 28(2)(3))Words in art. 63(5)(j) substituted (1.4.2013) by Financial Services Act 2012 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/472), art. 3, Sch. 2 para. 81(a)Art. 63(5)(k) inserted (1.4.2013) by Financial Services Act 2012 (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/472), art. 3, Sch. 2 para. 81(b)Art. 63(1) restricted (18.12.2013) by Energy Act 2013 (c. 32), ss. 44, 156(3)(e), Sch. 2 para. 10(4)(b)Art. 63(4)(fa) inserted (31.3.2014) by Public Bodies (Abolition of the National Consumer Council and Transfer of the Office of Fair Trading's Functions in relation to Estate Agents etc) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/631), arts. 1(5), 5(3), Sch. 2 para. 9 (with Sch. 1 para. 28, Sch. 2 paras. 13-15)Word in art. 63(3)(a) substituted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (Competition) (Consequential, Transitional and Saving Provisions) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/892), art. 2, Sch. 1 para. 241(2) (with art. 3)Word in art. 63(5)(c) substituted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (Competition) (Consequential, Transitional and Saving Provisions) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/892), art. 2, Sch. 1 para. 241(3)(a) (with art. 3)Art. 63(5)(d) omitted (1.4.2014) by virtue of Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (Competition) (Consequential, Transitional and Saving Provisions) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/892), art. 2, Sch. 1 para. 241(3)(b) (with art. 3)Art. 63(6)(x) inserted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (Competition) (Consequential, Transitional and Saving Provisions) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/892), art. 2, Sch. 1 para. 241(4) (with art. 3)Word in art. 63(8)(c) substituted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (Competition) (Consequential, Transitional and Saving Provisions) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/892), art. 2, Sch. 1 para. 241(5) (with art. 3)Word in art. 63(10) substituted (1.4.2014) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (Competition) (Consequential, Transitional and Saving Provisions) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/892), art. 2, Sch. 1 para. 241(6) (with art. 3)Art. 63(3)(ba) inserted (25.10.2022) by Energy Prices Act 2022 (c. 44), s. 30(6), Sch. 7 para. 12(b) (with s. 29)Art. 63(1) excluded (26.10.2023 for specified purposes, 26.12.2023 in so far as not already in operation) by Energy Act 2023 (c. 52), ss. 83(3)(b), 334(2)(a)(v)(3)(b)Words in art. 63(1)(a) inserted (25.10.2022) by Energy Prices Act 2022 (c. 44), s. 30(6), Sch. 7 para. 12(a)(ii) (with s. 29)Art. 63(11) inserted (25.10.2022) by Energy Prices Act 2022 (c. 44), s. 30(6), Sch. 7 para. 12(d) (with s. 29)Words in art. 63(4)(i) inserted (31.12.2020) by S.I. 2019/530, reg. 145 (as substituted by The Electricity and Gas etc. (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1016), regs. 1(2), 3(55))Art. 63(7A) inserted (25.10.2022) by Energy Prices Act 2022 (c. 44), s. 30(6), Sch. 7 para. 12(c) (with s. 29)Words in art. 63(1)(a) substituted (25.10.2022) by Energy Prices Act 2022 (c. 44), s. 30(6), Sch. 7 para. 12(a)(i) (with s. 29)Word in art. 63(4)(i) substituted (1.1.2024) by The Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 (Consequential Amendment) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1424), reg. 1(2), Sch. para. 52(7)Art. 63(6)(w) omitted (6.4.2025) by virtue of Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (c. 13), s. 339(1), Sch. 30 para. 35(a); S.I. 2025/272, reg. 2(1)(14)Art. 63(6)(y) inserted (1.1.2025) by Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (c. 13), s. 339(1), Sch. 30 para. 35(b); S.I. 2024/1226, regs. 1(2), 2(1)(22)Words in art. 63(6)(y)(ii) omitted (6.4.2025 for specified purposes, 1.1.2026 for specified purposes) by virtue of The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/381), reg. 1(2)(4), Sch. para. 25; S.I. 2025/272, reg. 3