The Electricity and Gas (Powers to Make Subordinate Legislation) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018

CHAPTER 2 Amendment of the Gas Regulation

Amendment of the Gas Regulation

9.  The Gas Regulation is amended as follows.

Amendment of Article 6

10.  For Article 6 (establishment of network codes) substitute—

“Article 6 Establishment of provision corresponding to network codes

1.   In this Article—

(a) “the Withdrawal Act” means the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018;

(b) “corresponding provision”, in relation to a relevant provision, has the meaning given by paragraphs 2 and 3;

(c) “deficiency” is to be interpreted in accordance with subsections (2) to (4) and subsection (9) of section 8 of the Withdrawal Act (with references in those subsections to retained EU law being read as if they included references to relevant provisions);

(d) a “gas network code” means a network code adopted by the Commission before exit day, under this Article as it has effect in EU law;

(e) “national authority” means—

(i) the Secretary of State, in relation to Great Britain;

(ii) the Secretary of State or the Northern Ireland department, in relation to Northern Ireland;

(f) “the Northern Ireland department” means the Department for the Economy;

(g) “permitted amendment”, in relation to a relevant provision, means an amendment to that provision which would not prevent it from having effect as a corresponding provision;

(h) a “relevant provision” means a provision of a gas network code which—

(i) although in force immediately before exit day, is stated to apply from a time after exit day (“a relevant non-operative provision”); or

(ii) was in force and applied before exit day, but is revoked or amended by regulations under section 8(1) of the Withdrawal Act in consequence of another provision being a relevant non-operative provision.

2.   A national authority may, by regulations, make provision which corresponds to a relevant provision of a gas network code (a “corresponding provision”).

3.   For this purpose, a provision corresponds to a relevant provision if—

(a) the national authority considers that it has the same or substantially the same effect as the relevant provision; or

(b) it is different from the relevant provision, other than in respects that fall within subparagraph (a), only to such extent as the national authority considers appropriate for the purpose in paragraph 4.

4.   That purpose is to prevent, remedy or mitigate—

(a) any failure of a provision to operate effectively; or

(b) any other deficiency in a provision,

arising from the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the EU.

5.   Regulations under paragraph 2 may, in particular—

(a) amend the gas network code so that it contains the corresponding provision; or

(b) if all the provisions of the gas network code are relevant provisions, provide that the gas network code has effect in domestic law, with such permitted amendments (if any) as are specified in the regulations.

6.   Regulations under paragraph 2—

(a) may include provision of a kind which may be made in regulations under section 8(1) of the Withdrawal Act by virtue of subsection (5) or (6) of that section;

(b) may not include provision of a kind specified in subsection (7) of that section.

7.   The following provisions in Part 3 of Schedule 7 to the Withdrawal Act (general provision about powers under Act) apply to regulations under paragraph 2 as they do to regulations under section 8(1) of the Withdrawal Act—

(a) paragraph 21 (power to make supplementary provision, etc.);

(b) paragraph 27 (disapplication of certain review provisions);

(c) paragraph 36 (hybrid instruments).

8.   A gas network code which has effect in domestic law by virtue of provision made under paragraph 5(b) (as modified under this Regulation or by other domestic law from time to time) is to be treated as—

(a) retained EU law, for the purposes of—

(i) section 6 of the Withdrawal Act (interpretation of retained EU law);

(ii) section 15(2) of, and Part 2 of Schedule 5 to, the Withdrawal Act (rules of evidence);

(b) retained direct minor EU legislation, for the purposes of—

(i) section 7(3) of the Withdrawal Act (status of retained EU law);

(ii) paragraph 30 of Schedule 8 to the Withdrawal Act (Human Rights Act 1998).

9.   No regulations may be made under this Article after the end of the period of two years beginning with exit day.”.

Amendment of Article 7

11.  For Article 7 (amendments of network codes) substitute—

“Article 7 Amendments of network codes

1.   A national authority may, by regulations, amend a gas network code.

2.   The power in paragraph 1 includes power to—

(a) insert into the gas network code new provision about the same subject-matter as, or related subject-matter to, an existing provision of the gas network code;

(b) revoke the gas network code or any provision of it, either with or without making replacement provision.

3.   Regulations under this Article must be consistent with the objectives of contributing to non-discrimination, effective competition and the efficient functioning of the market.

4.   Regulations under this Article may—

(a) include supplementary, incidental, consequential, transitional, transitory or saving provision; and

(b) make different provision for different cases.

5.   In this Article, “gas network code” and “national authority” have the same meanings as in Article 6.”.

Amendment of Article 23

12.  For Article 23 (guidelines) substitute—

“Article 23 Amendment of Annex I

1.   A national authority may, by regulations, amend Annex I to this Regulation.

2.   In this Article, “national authority” has the same meaning as in Article 6.”.

Omission of Article 28

13.  Omit Article 28 (committee procedure).

Insertion of new Articles 28A and 28B: regulations: consultation and procedure

14.  After Article 28 insert—

“Article 28A Regulations made by the Secretary of State: consultation and procedure

1.   Any power to make regulations conferred on the Secretary of State by this Regulation is exercisable by statutory instrument.

2.   Before the Secretary of State makes regulations under Article 6 which apply to Northern Ireland, the Secretary of State must consult the Northern Ireland department.

3.   Before the Secretary of State makes regulations under Article 7 or Article 23 which apply to Great Britain, the Secretary of State must consult—

(a) the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority;

(b) persons who are certified, within the meaning given in section 8Q of the Gas Act 1986(1); and

(c) such other persons as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.

4.   Before the Secretary of State makes regulations under Article 7 or Article 23 which apply to Northern Ireland, the Secretary of State must consult—

(a) the Northern Ireland department;

(b) the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation;

(c) persons who are certified, within the meaning given in Article 8L of the Gas (Northern Ireland) Order 1996(2); and

(d) such other persons as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.

5.   A statutory instrument containing regulations by the Secretary of State may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.

6.   In this Article, “the Northern Ireland department” has the same meaning as in Article 6.

Article 28B Regulations made by the Northern Ireland department: consultation and procedure

1.   Any power to make regulations conferred on the Northern Ireland department by this Regulation is exercisable by statutory rule for the purpose of the Statutory Rules (Northern Ireland) Order 1979.

2.   Before the Northern Ireland department makes regulations under Article 7 or Article 23, it must consult—

(a) the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation;

(b) persons who are certified, within the meaning given in Article 8L of the Gas (Northern Ireland) Order 1996; and

(c) such other persons as it considers appropriate.

3.   Regulations may not be made by the Northern Ireland department under this Regulation unless a draft of the regulations has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, the Northern Ireland Assembly.

4.   In this Article, “the Northern Ireland department” has the same meaning as in Article 6.”.

(1)

1986 c. 44. Section 8Q was inserted by S.I. 2011/2704.

(2)

S.I. 1996/275 (N.I. 2). Article 8L was inserted by S.R. 2011 No. 155.