For section 4 of the M1Gas Act 1986 (“the 1986 Act”) there shall be substituted the following section—
(1)The Secretary of State and the Director shall each have a duty to exercise the functions assigned to him by or under this Part in the manner which he considers is best calculated—
(a)to secure that, so far as it is economical to meet them, all reasonable demands in Great Britain for gas conveyed through pipes are met;
(b)to secure that licence holders are able to finance the carrying on of the activities which they are authorised or required by their licences to carry on; and
(c)to secure effective competition in the carrying on of activities the carrying on of which is required to be licensed under section 7A below.
(2)Subject to subsection (1) above, the Secretary of State and the Director shall each have a duty to exercise the functions assigned to him by or under this Part in the manner which he considers is best calculated—
(a)to protect the interests of consumers of gas conveyed through pipes in respect of the prices charged and the other terms of supply, the continuity of supply, the quality of the gas supply services provided and the exercise of rights under this Part to enter their premises;
(b)to promote efficiency and economy on the part of persons authorised by or under this Part to carry on any activities, and the efficient use of gas conveyed through pipes; and
(c)to secure effective competition—
(i)in the conveyance of gas through pipes to pipe-line systems and to areas to which it has not previously been so conveyed;
(ii)in the supplying and laying of service pipes; and
(iii)in the carrying on of activities ancillary to those mentioned in subsection (1)(c) above;
and a duty to take into account, in exercising those functions, the effect on the environment (whether by way of pollution or otherwise) of activities connected with the conveyance of gas through pipes.
(3)In performing his duty under subsection (2) above to exercise functions assigned to him in the manner which he considers is best calculated to protect the interests of consumers of gas conveyed through pipes in respect of the quality of the gas supply services provided, the Secretary of State or, as the case may be, the Director shall take into account, in particular, the interests of those who are chronically sick, disabled or of pensionable age.
(4)In this section “environment” and “pollution”, in relation to the environment, shall be construed in accordance with section 1 of the M2Environmental Protection Act 1990.
(5)In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires, “licence” means a licence under section 7 or 7A below and “licence holder” shall be construed accordingly.”