Section 11: General powers of investigation
53.Section 6(9) provides that the Council is not required to act for individual consumers (except in respect of disconnections – see section 13). The Council is able to investigate complaints made by vulnerable consumers (section 12). Section 11 enables the Council to investigate a complaint by a consumer where the Council considers that the subject matter is of general relevance. Subsection (3) explains in what circumstances a complaint will be regarded as raising an issue of “general relevance”. This section also enables the Council to investigate any matter related to a problem which affects consumers generally or consumers of a particular description, whether or not a complaint is made.