3.—(1) There shall be a body corporate to be known as the Northern Ireland Authority for Energy Regulation (in this Order referred to as “the Authority”) for the purpose of carrying out—
(a)functions transferred to the Authority from the Director General of Gas for Northern Ireland and the Director General of Electricity Supply for Northern Ireland; and
(b)the other functions of the Authority under this Order.
(2) The functions of the Authority are performed on behalf of the Crown.
(3) The expenses of the Authority shall be defrayed out of money appropriated for that purpose by Act of the Assembly.
(4) The offices of Director General of Gas for Northern Ireland and Director General of Electricity Supply for Northern Ireland are abolished.
(5) Schedule 1 has effect with respect to the Authority.
4.—(1) The functions, property, rights and liabilities of the Director General of Gas for Northern Ireland and the Director General of Electricity Supply for Northern Ireland (“the Directors”) are transferred to the Authority.
(2) Any statutory provision or any document which—
(a)refers to either of the Directors; and
(b)was passed or made before the transfer effected by paragraph (1),
shall have effect after the transfer, so far as necessary for the purposes of or in consequence of the transfer, as if references to the Director were references to the Authority.
(3) Anything which —
(a)has been done by or in relation to either of the Directors for the purpose of or in connection with anything transferred by this Article; and
(b)is in effect immediately before it is transferred,
shall be treated as if done by or in relation to the Authority.
(4) Anything (including legal proceedings) which—
(a)relates to anything transferred; and
(b)is in the process of being done by or in relation to either of the Directors immediately before it is transferred,
may be continued by or in relation to the Authority.
(5) Nothing in this Article affects the validity of anything done by or in relation to either of the Directors before the transfer takes effect.
5.—(1) The Authority shall, before each financial year, publish a document (the “forward work programme”) containing a general description of the projects, other than those comprising routine activities in the exercise of its functions, which it plans to undertake during the year.
(2) That description shall include the objectives of each project.
(3) The forward work programme for any year shall also include an estimate of the overall expenditure which the Authority expects to incur during the year in the exercise of its functions.
(4) Before publishing the forward work programme for any year, the Authority shall give notice—
(a)containing a draft of the forward work programme; and
(b)specifying the time within which representations or objections to the proposals contained in it may be made,
and shall consider any representations or objections which are duly made and not withdrawn.
(5) The notice under paragraph (4) shall be published by the Authority in such manner as it considers appropriate for the purpose of bringing the matters contained in it to the attention of persons likely to be affected by them.
6.—(1) The Authority shall, as soon as practicable after the end of each financial year, make to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (in this Order referred to as “the Department”) a report (the “annual report” for that year) on—
(a)its activities during that year; and
(b)the activities of the Competition Commission during that year in respect of any references made by the Authority.
(2) The annual report for each year shall include—
(a)a general survey of developments in respect of matters falling within the scope of the Authority’s functions;
(b)a report on the progress of the projects described in the forward work programme for that year;
(c)a summary of final and provisional orders made, and penalties imposed, by the Authority under Part VI during the year; and
(d)a report on such other matters as the Department may from time to time require.
(3) The annual report for each year shall set out any general directions given by the Department under—
(a)Article 50(2) of the Electricity (Northern Ireland) Order 1992 (NI 1) (in this Order referred to as “the Electricity Order”); or
(b)Article 27(2) of the Gas (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (NI 2) (in this Order referred to as “the Gas Order”).
(4) The Department shall consult the Authority before exercising the power under paragraph (2)(d) in relation to any matter.
(5) The Department shall—
(a)lay a copy of each annual report before the Assembly; and
(b)arrange for the report to be published in such manner as the Department considers appropriate.
(6) The Authority shall also make to the Department such reports with respect to the matters mentioned in paragraph (2)(a) or (b) as the Department may require and the Authority shall, if the Department so directs, arrange for copies of any report under this paragraph to be published in such manner as is specified in the direction.
(7) The Authority may also prepare other reports with respect to any matter falling within the scope of its functions and may arrange for any such report to be published in such manner as it considers appropriate.
(8) The Authority shall send—
(a)a copy of each annual or other report published under this Article to the General Consumer Council for Northern Ireland (in this Order referred to as “the Council”); and
(b)a copy of each report under paragraph (7) to the Department.
(9) In making or preparing any report under this Article the Authority shall have regard to the need for excluding, so far as that is practicable, any matter which relates to the affairs of a particular individual or body of persons (corporate or unincorporate), where publication of that matter would or might, in the opinion of the Authority, seriously and prejudicially affect the interests of that individual or body.
(10) Paragraph 12A of Schedule 7 to the Competition Act 1998 (c. 41) (annual reports of Competition Commission) does not apply to activities of the Competition Commission on which the Authority is required to report under this Article.
7.—(1) If it appears to the Authority that the publication of any advice and information would promote the interests of consumers in relation to gas or electricity supplied by authorised suppliers, the Authority may publish that advice or information in such manner as it thinks fit.
(2) In publishing advice or information under this Article the Authority shall have regard to the need for excluding, so far as that is practicable, any matter which relates to the affairs of a particular individual or body of persons (corporate or unincorporate), where publication of that matter would or might, in the opinion of the Authority, seriously and prejudicially affect the interests of that individual or body.
(3) Before deciding to publish under this Article any advice or information relating to a particular individual or body of persons the Authority shall consult that individual or body.
(4) The Office of Fair Trading shall consult the Authority before publishing under section 6 of the Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40) any information or advice which may be published by the Authority under this Article.
8.—(1) The Authority may liaise, co-operate and enter into arrangements with relevant persons in—
(a)any other part of the United Kingdom;
(b)any other member State;
(c)any other State in which there is a gas pipe-line or electricity transmission system which is or may be connected (directly or indirectly) to a gas pipe-line or electricity transmission system in Northern Ireland.
(2) In paragraph (1) “relevant persons” means—
(a)persons exercising functions in relation to electricity or gas which correspond to any of those of the Authority or the Department; and
(b) persons whose activities consist of or include—
(i)generating, supplying or participating in the transmission of electricity; or
(ii)storing, supplying or participating in the conveyance of gas.
9.—(1) The Council shall establish a group in connection with the exercise of the Council’s functions in relation to energy.
(2) Accordingly, in paragraph 10(1) of Schedule 1 to the General Consumer Council (Northern Ireland) Order 1984 (NI 12) after head (b) there shall be inserted —
“(bb)a group in connection with the exercise of its functions in relation to energy.”
(3) The following bodies are abolished—
(a)the group established by the Council under paragraph 10(1)(d) of Schedule 1 to the General Consumer Council (Northern Ireland) Order 1984 in connection with the exercise of the Council’s functions in relation to the supply of energy (other than electricity); and
(b)the Consumer Committee for Electricity, established under Article 7 of the Electricity Order.
(4) In the following provisions of this Part references to the Council’s relevant functions are references to the functions of the Council under—
(a)the Electricity Order;
(b)the Gas Order; and
(c)this Order.
10.—(1) The Council shall, before each financial year, publish a document (the “forward work programme”) containing a general description of the projects which it plans to undertake during the year in the exercise of its relevant functions (other than projects comprising routine activities in the exercise of those functions).
(2) That description shall include the objectives of each project.
(3) The forward work programme for any year shall also include an estimate of the overall expenditure which the Council expects to incur during the year in the exercise of its relevant functions.
(4) Before publishing the forward work programme for any year, the Council shall give notice—
(a)containing a draft of the forward work programme; and
(b)specifying the time within which representations or objections to the proposals contained in it may be made,
and shall consider any representations or objections which are duly made and not withdrawn.
(5) The notice under paragraph (4) shall be published by the Council in such manner as it considers appropriate for the purpose of bringing the matters contained in it to the attention of persons likely to be affected by them.
(6) The Council shall send a copy of any notice given by it under paragraph (4) to the Authority and the Department.
11.—(1) The Authority and the Council (in respect of its relevant functions) shall make arrangements with a view to securing—
(a)co-operation and the exchange of information between them; and
(b)consistent treatment of matters which affect both of them.
(2) As soon as practicable after agreement is reached on those arrangements, the Authority and the Council shall prepare a memorandum setting them out and send a copy of it to the Department.
(3) Arrangements under this Article shall be kept under review by the Authority and the Council.
(4) As soon as practicable after agreement is reached on any changes to those arrangements, the Authority and the Council shall revise their memorandum and send a copy of the revised memorandum to the Department.
(5) The Department shall lay a copy of any document received by it under this Article before the Assembly.