Part 1THE CONSUMER ADVOCACY BODIES

“Consumer”, “consumer matters” and “designated consumers”

4“Designated consumers”

(1)

In this Part “designated consumers” means—

(a)

consumers in relation to gas conveyed through pipes or electricity conveyed by distribution systems or transmission systems, and

(b)

consumers in relation to F1postal services.

(2)

The Secretary of State may, by order, amend subsection (1) so as—

(a)

to make any description of consumers within subsection (3) “designated consumers” for the purposes of this Part;

(b)

to provide for any description of consumers to cease to be “designated consumers” for those purposes.

(3)

The consumers within this subsection are consumers in England and Wales in relation to services provided by a water undertaker, a sewerage undertaker F2, a water supply licensee or a sewerage licensee, in F3the undertaker's or licensee's capacity as such.

(4)

Before making an order under subsection (2), the Secretary of State must consult—

F4(a)

except in the case of an order which relates only to consumers in Northern Ireland, Citizens Advice,

(aa)

in the case of a relevant order other than one relating only to consumers in Northern Ireland or consumers within subsection (3), Citizens Advice Scotland F5and Consumer Scotland,

(ab)

in the case of an order which relates to consumers in Northern Ireland in relation to postal services, the GCCNI,

(b)

in the case of a relevant order, the Scottish Ministers,

(c)

the Welsh Ministers, and

(d)

such other persons as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.

(5)

For this purpose a “relevant order” is an order which relates to any description of—

(a)

consumers in relation to gas conveyed through pipes or electricity conveyed by distribution systems or transmission systems, or

(b)

consumers in relation to F6postal services.