74.—(1) Where, on the application of any qualifying person—
(a)it appears to the Authority that it is necessary or expedient for the purposes of securing the efficient use of water resources, or the efficient supply of water, that the water undertaker specified in the application (“the supplier”) should give a supply of water in bulk to the applicant, and
(b)the Authority is satisfied that the giving and taking of such a supply cannot be secured by agreement,
the Authority may by order require the supplier to give and the applicant to take such a supply for such period and on such terms and conditions as may be provided in the order.
(2) In this Article “qualifying person” means—
(a)a water undertaker; or
(b)a person who has made an application for an appointment or variation under Article 15 which has not been determined.
(3) Where the application is made by a person who is a qualifying person by virtue of paragraph (2)(b), an order made under this Article in response to that application shall be expressed not to come into force until the applicant becomes a water undertaker for the area specified in the order, or for an area which includes that area.
(4) Subject to paragraph (3), an order under this Article shall have effect as an agreement between the supplier and the applicant.
(5) The Authority shall not make an order under this Article unless it has first consulted the Department.
(6) In exercising its functions under this Article, the Authority shall have regard to the desirability of—
(a)facilitating effective competition within the water supply industry;
(b)the supplier’s recovering the expenses of complying with its obligations by virtue of this Article and securing a reasonable return on its capital;
(c)the supplier’s being able to meet its existing obligations, and likely future obligations, to supply water without having to incur unreasonable expenditure in carrying out works;
(d)not putting at risk the ability of the supplier to meet its existing obligations, or likely future obligations, to supply water.