With a view to securing en bloc the central rating of certain hereditaments, the Secretary of State may make regulations under section 53(1) of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 to designate a person and prescribe in relation to that person one or more descriptions of non-domestic hereditament. Insofar as it relates to Wales, this power has been transferred to the National Assembly for Wales by virtue of the National Assembly for Wales (Transfer of Functions) Order 1999.

The principal Regulations made by the National Assembly for Wales in reliance on this power are the Central Rating List (Wales) Regulations 1999 which have effect with respect to any central rating list for Wales compiled on or after the 1st of April 2000.

These Regulations amend the principal Regulations by substituting, with effect from the 1st of November 2001, Aquila Networks plc for Midlands Electricity plc as a designated person in relation to hereditaments wholly or mainly used for the purposes of the functions of a public electricity supplier, or for ancillary purposes.