Electricity Act 1989

[F1 32M Interpretation of sections 32 to 32M E+W+S

(1) In this section and sections 32 to [F2 32LM]—

• [F3 “accredited”, in relation to an onshore wind generating station, means accredited by the Authority as a generating station which is capable of generating electricity from renewable sources; and “accredit” and “accreditation” are to be construed accordingly;]

• [F3 “additional capacity”, in relation to an onshore wind generating station, means any generating capacity which does not form part of the original capacity of the station;]

• “banding provision” is to be construed in accordance with section 32D(3);

• [F4 “bioliquid” has the meaning given by Article 2(h) of Directive 2009/28/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources;]

• [F3 “commissioned”, in relation to an onshore wind generating station, means having completed such procedures and tests in relation to the station as constitute, at the time they are undertaken, the usual industry standards and practices for commissioning that type of generating station in order to demonstrate that it is capable of commercial operation]

• “fossil fuel” means—

  (a)

  coal,

  (b)

  lignite,

  (c)

  natural gas (within the meaning of the Energy Act 1976),

  (d)

  crude liquid petroleum,

  (e)

  petroleum products (within the meaning of that Act), or

  (f)

  any substance[F4 , other than bioliquid,] produced directly or indirectly from a substance mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (e);

• “generated” means generated at any place whether situated in the United Kingdom or elsewhere, and cognate expressions are to be construed accordingly;

• [F3 “generating station developer”, in relation to an onshore wind generating station or additional capacity, means—

  (a)

  the operator of the station, or

  (b)

  a person who arranged for the construction of the station or additional capacity;]

• [F3 “grid works”, in relation to an onshore wind generating station, means—

  (a)

  the construction of a connection between the station and a transmission or distribution system for the purpose of enabling electricity to be conveyed from the station to the system, or

  (b)

  the carrying out of modifications to a connection between the station and a transmission or distribution system for the purpose of enabling an increase in the amount of electricity that can be conveyed over that connection from the station to the system;]

• [F3 “licensed network operator” means a distribution licence holder or a transmission licence holder;]

• [F3 “network operator” means a distribution exemption holder, a distribution licence holder or a transmission licence holder;]

• “Northern Ireland authority” means the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation;

• “Northern Ireland supplier” means an electricity supplier within the meaning of Part 7 of the Energy (Northern Ireland) Order 2003;

• [F3 “the onshore wind closure date” has the meaning given by section 32LC(3);]

• [F3 “onshore wind generating station” has the meaning given by section 32LC(3);]

• [F3 “original capacity”, in relation to an onshore wind generating station, means the generating capacity of the station as accredited;]

• [F3 “radar works” means—

  (a)

  the construction of a radar station,

  (b)

  the installation of radar equipment,

  (c)

  the carrying out of modifications to a radar station or radar equipment, or

  (d)

  the testing of a radar station or radar equipment;]

• [F3 “relevant developer”, in relation to an onshore wind generating station or additional capacity, means a person who—

  (a)

  applied for planning permission for the station or additional capacity,

  (b)

  arranged for grid works to be carried out in relation to the station or additional capacity,

  (c)

  arranged for the construction of any part of the station or additional capacity,

  (d)

  constructed any part of the station or additional capacity, or

  (e)

  operates, or proposes to operate, the station;]

• “the relevant minister” has the meaning given by section 32;

• “the relevant part of Great Britain” means—

  (a)

  in the case of a renewables obligation order made by the Secretary of State, England and Wales (including so much of the internal waters and territorial sea of the United Kingdom as are adjacent to England or Wales);

  (b)

  in the case of a renewables obligation order made by the Scottish Ministers, Scotland (including so much of the internal waters and territorial sea of the United Kingdom as are adjacent to Scotland);

• “the renewables obligation” is to be construed in accordance with section 32(4);

• “renewables obligation certificate” is to be construed in accordance with section 32B;

• “renewables obligation order” is to be construed in accordance with section 32;

• [F5 “renewables obligation closure order” is to be construed in accordance with section 32LA;]

• “renewable sources” means sources of energy other than fossil fuel or nuclear fuel, but includes waste of which not more than a specified proportion is waste which is, or is derived from, fossil fuel;

• “specified”, in relation to a renewables obligation order [F6 or a renewables obligation closure order], means specified in the order.

(2) For the purposes of the definition of “renewable sources”, a renewables obligation order may make provision—

(a) about what constitutes “waste”;

(b) about how the proportion of waste which is, or is derived from, fossil fuel is to be determined;

(c) about what, subject to such exceptions as may be specified, constitutes sufficient evidence of that proportion in any particular case;

(d) authorising the Authority, in specified circumstances, to require an operator of a generating station to arrange—

(i) for samples of any fuel used (or to be used) in the generating station, or of any gas or other substance produced as a result of the use of such fuel, to be taken by a person, and analysed in a manner, approved by the Authority, and

(ii) for the results of that analysis to be made available to the Authority.

(3) For the purposes of the definition of “the relevant part of Great Britain”, the territorial sea adjacent to England is the territorial sea adjacent to the United Kingdom, other than the territorial sea adjacent to Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

(4) An Order in Council under section 126(2) of the Scotland Act 1998 (c. 46) (apportionment of sea areas) has effect for the purposes of this section and sections 32 to 32L if, or to the extent that, the Order is expressed to apply—

(a) by virtue of this subsection, for those purposes, or

(b) if no provision has been made by virtue of paragraph (a), for the general or residual purposes of that Act.

(5) An order or Order in Council made under or by virtue of section 158(3) or (4) of the Government of Wales Act 2006 (apportionment of sea areas) has effect for the purposes of this section if, or to the extent that, the order or Order in Council is expressed to apply—

(a) by virtue of this subsection, for those purposes, or

(b) if no provision has been made by virtue of paragraph (a), for the general or residual purposes of that Act.

(6) An Order in Council under section 98(8) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 (c. 46) (apportionment of sea areas) has effect for the purposes of this section if, or to the extent that, the Order is expressed to apply—

(a) by virtue of this subsection, for those purposes, or

(b) if no provision has been made by virtue of paragraph (a), for the general or residual purposes of that Act.

(7) A renewables obligation order may make provision, for the purposes of sections 32 to [F7 32LM], about the circumstances in which electricity is to be regarded as having been supplied—

(a) to customers in Great Britain;

(b) to customers in the relevant part of Great Britain;

(c) to customers in Northern Ireland.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Ss. 32-32M substituted for (26.11.2008 for specified purposes, 1.4.2009 in so far as not already in force) by Energy Act 2008 (c. 32), ss. 37, 110(1)(a) (with s. 38); S.I. 2009/45, art. 3(a) (with art. 5)

F2 Word in s. 32M(1) substituted (12.5.2016) by Energy Act 2016 (c. 20), ss. 81(3)(a), 84(1)

F3 Words in s. 32M inserted (12.5.2016) by Energy Act 2016 (c. 20), ss. 80(3)(b), 84(1)

F4 S. 32M(1) words inserted (1.4.2011) by The Renewables Obligation (Amendment) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/984), arts. 1(1), 2

F5 Words in s. 32M(1) inserted (18.12.2013) by Energy Act 2013 (c. 32), ss. 55(2)(b), 156(3)

F6 Words in s. 32M(1) inserted (18.12.2013) by Energy Act 2013 (c. 32), ss. 55(2)(c), 156(3)

F7 Word in s. 32M(7) substituted (12.5.2016) by Energy Act 2016 (c. 20), ss. 81(3)(b), 84(1)