20Research concerning views of customers
(1)In section 39(1) of the [1989 c. 29.] Electricity Act 1989 (electricity supply: performance in individual cases) there shall be inserted, after paragraph (b),
“; and (c) after arranging for such research as the Director considers appropriate with a view to discovering the views of a representative sample of persons likely to be affected and considering the results,”.
(2)In section 40 of the Act of 1989 (electricity supply: overall performance), the words from “after” to “affected” shall be omitted from subsection (1) and the following subsection shall be inserted after that subsection—
“(1A)The Director may only make a determination under subsection (1)(a) above after—
(a)consultation with public electricity suppliers and with persons or bodies appearing to him to be representative of persons likely to be affected; and
(b)arranging for such research as the Director considers appropriate with a view to discovering the views of a representative sample of persons likely to be affected and considering the results.”