The Electricity (Northern Ireland) Order 1992

Valid from 15/04/2011

[F14Distribution licencesN.I.

10AA.—(1) A distribution licence may authorise the holder to distribute electricity in any area, or only in an area specified in the licence.

(2) The Authority may, with the consent of the holder of a distribution licence, modify any term included in the licence in pursuance of paragraph (1).

(3) Without prejudice to the generality of Article 11(1)(a), conditions included in a distribution licence by virtue of that sub-paragraph may restrict where the licence holder may carry on an activity which he is authorised by the licence to carry on.]

Valid from 15/04/2011

[F15Electricity transmission: requirement for participants to be certified as independentN.I.

10B.—(1) A person who participates in the transmission of electricity within the meaning of sub-paragraph (b) or both sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) of Article 8(4) and who holds a transmission licence immediately before the coming into operation of the 2011 Regulations must, on and after the relevant date, ensure that he is certified at all times when he acts under the authority of that licence.

(2) Any person who intends to participate in the transmission of electricity within the meaning of Article 8(4)(b) and who is granted a transmission licence after the coming into operation of the 2011 Regulations must ensure that he is certified at all times when he acts under the authority of the licence.

(3) In paragraph (1) the “relevant date” in respect of a person is 3rd March 2012 or any later date before 4th March 2013 which the Authority specifies under paragraph (4) or (5) in respect of that person.

(4) The Authority may specify a later date in respect of a person if—

(a)the person has asked the Authority to specify a later date;

(b)the person is not, and is not part of, a vertically integrated undertaking; and

(c)no senior officer of the person is also a senior officer of a relevant producer or supplier.

(5) The Authority may also specify a later date in respect of a person if the Authority decides that, for reasons beyond its and the person's control, the Authority will not reasonably be able to make a final decision before 3rd March 2012 as to whether or not to certify the person.

Valid from 15/04/2011

Application for certificationN.I.

10C.—(1) An application for certification may not be made unless the applicant has first consulted, in such manner and within such period as the Authority may specify in writing, with any related transmission licensee in respect of the application.

(2) An application for certification must be made—

(a)in writing to the Authority; and

(b)before such date and in such form and contain such information as the Authority may specify in writing.

(3) The applicant must, at the same time as it makes an application for certification, send a copy of it to any related transmission licensee.

(4) If the application is made on or after 3rd March 2013 and either—

(a)the applicant is; or

(b)the application is made on the basis of the third certification ground under Article 10F(5) and the applicant nominates as an independent system operator,

a person from a third country or a person controlled by a person from a third country, the Authority must notify the Department and the European Commission as soon as is reasonably practicable.

(5) A related transmission licensee may, make such representations to the Authority as it thinks fit in respect of the application for certification in question, including representations as to any qualification measures whether or not proposed by the applicant.

(6) The Authority may specify a date by which such representations must be made.

(7) The Authority may request from an applicant for certification any further information the Authority considers is relevant to the application, and the applicant must supply that information if—

(a)it is in the applicant's possession or control; or

(b)it is information which the applicant could reasonably be expected to obtain.

(8) The Authority may request a relevant producer or supplier, and any related transmission licensee, for any information the Authority considers relevant to an application for certification, and the person so requested must supply that information if—

(a)it is in his possession or control; or

(b)it is information which he could reasonably be expected to obtain.

(9) A person requested to supply information under paragraph (7) or (8) must do so by the date specified by the Authority in the request.

(10) The Authority shall have regard to any representations made by a related transmission licensee in accordance with paragraphs (5) and (6) in making a decision as to whether or not the applicant should be certified and what, if any, qualification measures should be taken.

Valid from 15/04/2011

Report where applicant connected with a country outside the European Economic AreaN.I.

10D.—(1) This Article applies if the Department is notified by the Authority under Article 10C(4) that an application has been made by, or nominating as an independent system operator, a person from a third country or a person controlled by a person from a third country.

(2) The Department must prepare a report on whether the security of electricity supplies in the United Kingdom and the European Economic Area would be put at risk by the certification of the applicant.

(3) In preparing the report, the Department must take into account—

(a)any relevant international law; and

(b)any relevant agreement between the government of the United Kingdom and the government of the third country in question.

(4) The Department must send the report to the Authority within the 6 weeks beginning with the day on which the notification under Article 10C(4) is received by it.

Valid from 15/04/2011

CertificationN.I.

10E.—(1) The Authority must, within the 4 months beginning with the day on which it receives an application for certification, make a preliminary decision as to whether it should certify the applicant.

(2) If—

(a)the Authority has asked an applicant or a relevant producer or supplier or related transmission licensee for information under Article 10C(7) or (8); and

(b)the information has not been supplied by the date specified by the Authority under Article 10C(9),

then the period of 4 months referred to in paragraph (1) shall be extended by the period of delay in supplying such information.

(3) As soon as is reasonably practicable after making the preliminary decision under paragraph (1), the Authority must notify the decision and the reasons for it to—

(a)the applicant;

(b)any related transmission licensee;

(c)the Department; and

(d)the European Commission.

(4) The Authority must enclose with the notification under paragraph (3)(a), (b) or (d) a copy of any report which the Department has prepared under Article 10D in respect of the applicant and which the Authority receives before giving the notification.

(5) Article 3 of the Electricity Regulation sets out the obligation to make a final decision, together with related processes, time limits, matters to be taken into account and conditions.

(6) As soon as is reasonably practicable after making the final decision in any case, the Authority must notify the decision and the reasons for it to—

(a)the applicant;

(b)any related transmission licensee;

(c)the Department; and

(d)the European Commission.

Valid from 15/04/2011

Grounds for certificationN.I.

10F.—(1) This Article applies to—

(a)a preliminary decision under Article 10E as to whether an applicant should be certified; and

(b)a final decision under Article 3 of the Electricity Regulation as to whether to certify an applicant.

(2) Subject to paragraph (7), the Authority may only decide that the applicant should be certified, or decide to certify the applicant, if one of the following four grounds (“the certification grounds”) applies.

(3) The first certification ground is that the ownership unbundling requirement in Article 10G is met in relation to the applicant and to any related transmission licensee.

(4) The second certification ground is that the applicant has applied for a derogation from the ownership unbundling requirement on the grounds in paragraph (9) of Article 9 of the Directive (alternative arrangements for independence), and the Authority has determined that the requirements of that paragraph are met.

(5) The third certification ground is that—

(a)the applicant has applied for a derogation from the ownership unbundling requirement on the grounds in paragraphs (1) and (2) of Article 13 of the Directive (independent system operator);

(b)the applicant has nominated an independent system operator for designation in accordance with those paragraphs; and

(c)the Authority—

(i)has determined that the requirements of those paragraphs and of paragraphs (1) and (2) of Article 14 of the Directive (unbundling of transmission system owners) are met; and

(ii)is minded to designate the nominated independent system operator.

(6) The fourth certification ground is that the applicant has been granted an exemption under Article 17 of the Electricity Regulation (new interconnectors) and remains entitled to the benefit of it.

(7) The Authority may make a preliminary decision to certify an applicant where it is satisfied that the certification ground to which his application relates applies in the case of the applicant or would apply if particular qualification measures were taken and that—

(a)those qualification measures are within the powers of the Authority to impose under regulations 11 and 94 of the 2011 Regulations or any other powers of the Authority under this Order or the Energy (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 and the Authority is minded so to exercise those powers; or

(b)the Authority is otherwise satisfied that such qualification measures will be taken.

(8) But, regardless of whether a certification ground applies under paragraph (2), the Authority must not certify the applicant—

(a)if, on the basis of an opinion expressed by the European Commission under Article 11 of the Directive (certification in relation to persons from countries outside the European Economic Area), the Authority considers that the certification of the applicant would put at risk the security of electricity supplies in the European Economic Area;

(b)if a report prepared by the Department under Article 10D states that the certification of the applicant would put at risk the security of electricity supplies in the United Kingdom or the European Economic Area;

(c)on the second certification ground if the European Commission has not verified, in accordance with paragraph (10) of Article 9 of the Directive (verification of independence under alternative arrangements), that the requirement in that paragraph as to arrangements for effective independence is met.

Valid from 15/04/2011

The ownership unbundling requirementN.I.

[F1510G.—(1) For the purposes of Article 10F(3), the ownership unbundling requirement is met by an applicant for certification or (as the case may be) a related transmission licensee (“a relevant person”) if the Authority considers that each of the following five tests is passed.

(2) The first test is that the relevant person—

(a)does not control a relevant producer or supplier;

(b)does not have a majority shareholding in a relevant producer or supplier; and

(c)will not, on or after the relevant date (within the meaning of Article 10B(3)), exercise any shareholder rights it holds, or becomes the holder of, in relation to a relevant producer or supplier.

(3) For the purposes of paragraph (2)(c), the Authority is entitled to think that the relevant person will not exercise any shareholder rights it holds, or becomes the holder of, if the relevant person has given an undertaking that it will not exercise those shareholder rights.

(4) The second test is that the relevant person is not controlled by a person who controls a relevant producer or supplier.

(5) But even where the second test is not passed, the Authority is entitled to treat it as passed if—

(a)the control over the relevant person was gained through the exercise of a right conferred as a condition of the provision of financial support or a guarantee in relation to the relevant person's business; or

(b)the control over the relevant producer or supplier was gained through the exercise of such a right conferred in relation to the business of the relevant producer or supplier.

(6) The third test is that the relevant person is not controlled by a person who has a majority shareholding in a relevant producer or supplier.

(7) But even where the third test is not passed, the Authority is entitled to treat it as passed if—

(a)the control over the relevant person was gained through the exercise of a right conferred as a condition of the provision of financial support or a guarantee in relation to the relevant person's business; or

(b)the majority shareholding in the relevant producer or supplier was gained through the exercise of such a right conferred in relation to the business of the relevant producer or supplier.

(8) Where the Authority treats the second or third test as having been passed only by virtue of paragraph (5) or (7), it must specify a time limit after which it will cease to treat that test as having been passed; and it may extend the time limit if it thinks it necessary or expedient to do so.

(9) Paragraphs (10) and (11) apply where the Authority is entitled to treat the second or third test as having been passed only by virtue of paragraph (5) or (7).

(10) In deciding whether to treat the test as having been passed, the Authority—

(a)must take into account—

(i)whether the relationship (direct or indirect) between the relevant person and the relevant producer or supplier has led or might lead the relevant person to discriminate in favour of the relevant producer or supplier; and

(ii)the length of time for which that is likely to continue to be so; and

(b)may, in particular, take into account any information or undertakings given to the Authority by the relevant person, the relevant producer or supplier or the person who controls the relevant person and controls or has a majority shareholding in the relevant producer or supplier.

(11) The information and undertakings that may be taken into account under paragraph (10)(b) include information and undertakings regarding any measures that have been or will be put in place to ensure the effective separation of the business of the relevant person and the business of the relevant producer or supplier.

(12) The fourth test is that, where the relevant person is a company, partnership or other business, none of its senior officers has been, or may be, appointed by a person who—

(a)controls a relevant producer or supplier other than a gas producer or gas supply undertaking; or

(b)has a majority shareholding in a relevant producer or supplier other than a gas producer or gas supply undertaking.

(13) The fifth test is that, where the relevant person is a company, partnership or other business, none of its senior officers is also a senior officer of a relevant producer or supplier other than a gas producer or gas supply undertaking.]

Valid from 15/04/2011

Designation for the purposes of EU electricity legislationN.I.

10H.—(1) This Article applies for any period during which a person—

(a)holds a transmission licence in relation to which the duty under Article 10B(1) or (2) applies; and

(b)is certified.

(2) If the person is certified on the first or second certification ground in Article 10F, the Department shall designate that person as an electricity transmission system operator for the purposes of Article 10(2) of the Directive (designation of transmission system operators).

(3) If the person is certified on the third certification ground in Article 10F, the Department shall designate the independent system operator nominated in the application for certification as an electricity transmission system operator for the purposes of that Article.

(4) As soon as is reasonably practicable after a person is designated by virtue of this Article, the Department must give notice of the designation to—

(a)the person so designated;

(b)the applicant (if different);

(c)the Authority; and

(d)the European Commission.

(5) Where, in the case of a person certified on the first or second certification ground, there is a related transmission licensee, conditions included pursuant to Article 11A(1) in the transmission licences of the certified person and the related transmission licensee may make provision for determining which of them is to act as transmission system operator for the purposes of any provision of the Electricity Regulation and any designation under this Article is without prejudice to any such provision.

Valid from 15/04/2011

Monitoring and review of certificationN.I.

[F1510I.—(1) The Authority must monitor, in respect of each certified person, whether the grounds on which the person was certified continue to apply.

(2) Where for the purposes of certifying any person, the Authority has treated the second or third test in Article 10G as having been passed only by virtue of paragraph (5) or (7) of that Article, then where after the expiry of the time limit provided under paragraph (8) of that Article it has ceased to treat that test as having been passed by such virtue, the certification shall be withdrawn unless the Authority reviews the certification and is satisfied that the test in question is otherwise passed.

(3) If, on or after 3rd March 2013, as a result of information it has received or obtained, the Authority considers that a person from a third country has taken or may take control of a certified person or a person designated as independent system operator, the Authority must, as soon as is reasonably practicable, notify the information to the Department and the European Commission.

(4) The Authority may review the final certification for any person if—

(a)the certified person or any related transmission licensee notifies it of any event or circumstance which may affect the grounds on which that person was certified; or

(b)for any other reason the Authority considers that the grounds for the certification of that person may no longer apply.

(5) A review under paragraph (2) or (4) is to be carried out within the 4 months beginning with—

(a)if paragraph (4)(a) applies, the day on which the Authority receives the notification under that paragraph;

(b)if the review is in pursuance of paragraph (2), the expiry of the time limit referred to in that paragraph; or

(c)otherwise, the first day on which the Authority considers that the grounds for certification may no longer apply.

(6) The Authority must also review a final certification if the European Commission asks it to do so.

(7) A review under paragraph (6) is to be carried out within the 4 months beginning with the day on which the Authority receives the request from the European Commission.

(8) But where the Authority considers that the circumstances giving rise to the review of the certification of any person under paragraph (4) or (6) represent or result from the contravention of a relevant condition or requirement for the purposes of Article 41 of the Energy (Northern Ireland) Order 2003, by a related transmission licensee, the Authority may suspend the carrying out of the review while the Authority is taking steps in relation to such contravention pursuant to Part VI of that Order and during any period allowed to the related transmission licensee for complying with any enforcement order.

(9) As soon as is reasonably practicable after beginning a review under this Article, the Authority must notify the certified person to whom the review relates and any related transmission licensee that the review is being carried out and the reasons for it.

(10) The Authority may ask the certified person for any information the Authority thinks is relevant to the review, and the person must supply the information if—

(a)it is in the certified person's possession or control; or

(b)it is information which the certified person could reasonably be expected to obtain.

(11) The Authority may ask a relevant producer or supplier or related transmission licensee for any information the Authority thinks is relevant to a review under this Article, and the relevant producer or supplier or related transmission licensee must supply that information if—

(a)it is in the possession or control of the relevant producer or supplier or related transmission licensee; or

(b)it is information which the relevant producer or supplier or related transmission licensee could reasonably be expected to obtain.

(12) A person required to supply information under paragraph (10) or (11) must do so by any deadline specified by the Authority in the request.]

Valid from 15/04/2011

Report as to any connection of a certified person with a country outside the European Economic AreaN.I.

10J.—(1) This Article applies if the Department is notified by the Authority under Article 10I(3) that a person from a third country has taken or may take control of a certified person or (in relation to a certified person) a person designated as an independent system operator.

(2) The Department must prepare a report on whether the security of electricity supplies in the United Kingdom and the European Economic Area would be put at risk by the continued certification of the person.

(3) In preparing the report, the Department must take into account—

(a)any relevant international law; and

(b)any relevant agreement between the government of the United Kingdom and the government of the third country in question.

(4) The Department must prepare the report and send it to the Authority within the 6 weeks beginning with the day on which the notification is received.

Valid from 15/04/2011

Continuation or withdrawal of certificationN.I.

10K.—(1) Where the Authority reviews under Article 10I whether the grounds for the certification of a person apply or continue to apply, it may, within the review period, make a preliminary decision that either—

(a)the certification should be continued on the certification ground in question; or

(b)the certification should be withdrawn.

(2) If the Authority does not make a decision under paragraph (1) within the review period, it is to be taken as having decided at the end of the review period that the certification should be continued on the certification ground in question.

(3) As soon as is reasonably practicable after a preliminary decision is made (or taken to be made) under this Article, the Authority must—

(a)notify the European Commission of the decision; and

(b)enclose the information it considers relevant to the decision.

(4) Article 3 of the Electricity Regulation sets out an obligation to make a final review decision, together with related processes, time limits, matters to be taken into account and conditions.

(5) Paragraphs (6) to (8) apply in relation to the Authority's final decision under Article 3 of the Electricity Regulation whether or not to confirm the certification.

(6) As soon as is reasonably practicable after making the final decision, the Authority must notify the decision and the reasons for it to—

(a)the person in relation to whom the review was carried out;

(b)any related transmission licensee;

(c)the Department; and

(d)the European Commission

(7) If the final decision is to continue the certification, the person in question is to be taken as continuing to be certified by the Authority.

(8) Otherwise, the person is to be taken as no longer certified.

(9) Article 10F(8)(a) and (b) applies in relation to a decision mentioned in this Article as it applies in relation to a decision mentioned in Article 10F(1), but as if the reference in Article 10F(8)(b) to a report under Article 10D were a reference to a report under Article 10J.]

Valid from 15/04/2011

InterpretationN.I.

[F1510L.—(1) In Articles 10B to 10K and this Article—

“certification ground” shall be construed in accordance with Article 10F(2);

“certified” means, in relation to any person, certified in accordance with Article 10E or continued to be certified in accordance with Article 10K;

“control”, in relation to one person having control over another, has the meaning given in Article 2(34) of the Directive, but in determining whether one person (“person A”) controls another person (“person B”) no account is to be taken of any power to exercise a contractual or other right which would give person A decisive influence over person B where the right was conferred as a condition of the provision of any financial support or guarantee by person A in relation to the business of person B; and references to one person controlling another are to be interpreted accordingly;

“electricity generation undertaking” means a person who generates electricity for the purpose of giving a supply to any premises or enabling a supply to be so given;

“electricity supply undertaking” means a person who supplies electricity to any premises;

“Electricity Regulation” means Regulation (EC) No. 714/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 on conditions for access to the network for cross-border exchanges in electricity and repealing Regulation (EC) No. 1228/2003;

“gas producer” means a gas undertaking carrying out the function of production mentioned in Article 2(1) of European Parliament and Council Directive 2009/73/EC concerning common rules for the internal market in natural gas and repealing Directive 2003/55/EC;

“gas supply undertaking” means a person who sells gas to one or more customers, including by the supply to any premises of gas which has been conveyed to those premises through pipes;

“licence” means—

“majority shareholding” means a simple majority of shares;

“person from a third country” means any person the Authority thinks is a person from a third country;

“qualification measures”, in relation to an applicant for certification, means measures taken or arrangements made to ensure that the certification ground to which his application relates applies in his case;

“related transmission licensee” means, in relation to an applicant for certification or a certified person, any other person (including a person nominated or designated as independent system operator for the purposes of the third certification ground) who—

“review period”, in relation to a review under Article 10I, means the period specified in paragraph (5) or (7) of that Article as extended by any period of suspension under paragraph (8) of that Article;

“senior officer” means—

“shareholder right”, in relation to a company, means a right conferred by the holding of a share in the company's share capital—

“third country” means a country that is not, and is not part of, a European Economic Area state.

(2) In Article 10B to 10K and this Article, “relevant producer or supplier”, in relation to an applicant for certification or a certified person, means—

(a)an electricity generation undertaking, an electricity supply undertaking or a gas supply undertaking which meets the requirements of paragraph (3); or

(b)a gas producer which meets the requirements of paragraph (4).

(3) An undertaking mentioned in paragraph (2)(a) meets the requirements of this paragraph if it carries out its generation or supply activity in a European Economic Area state and it—

(a)requires a licence or similar authority to do so;

(b)would, in the Authority's opinion, require a licence to do so if it carried out the activity in Northern Ireland; or

(c)has a relationship with the applicant or certified person which the Authority thinks might lead the applicant or certified person to discriminate in favour of it.

(4) A gas producer meets the requirements of this paragraph if it—

(a)carries out its production activity in a European Economic Area state; and

(b)has a relationship with the applicant or certified person which the Authority thinks might lead the applicant or certified person to discriminate in favour of it.]

Valid from 15/04/2011

[F22Standard conditions of licencesN.I.

11AA.—(1) Such conditions as may be determined by the Department, and published by it in such manner as it considers appropriate, in relation to licences under sub-paragraph (a), (b), (bb), (c) or (d) of Article 10(1), shall be standard conditions for the purposes of licences under that sub-paragraph.

(2) The standard conditions for the purposes of licences under sub-paragraph (a), (b), (bb), (c) or (d) of Article 10(1) may contain provision—

(a)for any standard condition included in such a licence not to have effect until brought into operation in such manner and in such circumstances as may be specified in or determined under the standard conditions;

(b)for the effect of any standard condition included in such a licence to be suspended in such manner, and in such circumstances, as may be so specified or determined; or

(c)for any standard condition included in such a licence which is for the time being suspended to be brought back into operation in such manner and in such circumstances as may be so specified or determined.

(3) Subject to paragraph (5) and Article 14(1)(b), each condition which by virtue of paragraph (1) is a standard condition for the purposes of licences under sub-paragraph (a), (b), (bb), (c) or (d) of Article 10(1) shall be incorporated (that is to say, incorporated by reference, or in the case of a licence in force at the time of any determination under paragraph (1), deemed to be incorporated by reference) in each licence under that sub-paragraph.

(4) The modification under Article 14(1)(b) of a condition of a licence shall not prevent so much of the condition as is not modified being regarded as a standard condition for the purposes of this Part.

(5) In relation to a licence in force at the time of any determination under paragraph (1), except with the consent of the licence holder, paragraph (3) shall not have effect in relation to a particular standard condition or part thereof if the effect of paragraph (3) would be to modify the conditions of that licence.]

Valid from 20/11/2012

Conditions on transmission licences relating to priority dispatchN.I.

[F2311AB.—(1) Without prejudice to the generality of Article 11(1), a transmission licence shall include such conditions as appear to the grantor to be requisite or expedient to ensure that in the dispatch of electricity generating installations, priority is given to:

(a)generating installations using only energy from renewable sources;

(b)generating installations using energy from renewable sources and other energy sources, but which qualify to be treated as hybrid plants in accordance with the criteria set out in the SEM Decision Document;

(c)installations generating electricity from high efficiency co-generation; and

(d)waste energy plants,

in accordance with Article 16(2)(c) of Directive 2009/28/EC and, in particular, the criteria for priority dispatch specified in the SEM Decision Document.

(2) The conditions included in a licence in pursuance of paragraph (1) are subject to the requirement and prohibitions imposed on the holder of that licence under this Order for the maintenance of a safe and secure electricity supply but where the licence holder takes any measure for that purpose which would, but for this paragraph, significantly contravene those conditions, the licence holder shall take such corrective action as is necessary to ensure that such contravention is minimised.

(3) Where a licence holder takes any measure and any corrective action under paragraph (2), the licence holder shall report to the Authority on those measures and on the corrective action.

(4) In this Article—

“Directive 2009/28/EC” means 2009/28/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources;

“high efficiency co-generation” means co-generation of electricity that meets the criteria of Annex III of Directive 2004/8/EC of the European Parliament and of the Counsel on the promotion of co-generation based on useful heat demand in the internal energy market and amending Directive 92/42/EEC;

“energy from renewable sources” has the meaning given in Article 2(a) of Directive 2009/28/EC;

“waste energy plant” means any stationary or mobile technical unit and equipment dedicated to the thermal treatment of waste with recovery and beneficial use of the combustion heat generated, including the incineration by oxidation of waste as well as other thermal waste treatment processes such as pyrolysis, gasification or plasma processes insofar as the substances resulting from the treatment are subsequently combusted with recovery and beneficial use of the combustion heat generated;

“SEM Decision Document” means the Decision Paper SEM-11-062 of the Single Electricity Market Committee of 26th August 2011.]

Valid from 25/07/2014

[F24Licensing and Energy EfficiencyN.I.

11AC.—(1) Without prejudice to the generality of Article 11(1), a licence shall include such conditions as appear to the grantor to be requisite or expedient to ensure that any activity authorised by it is carried out in accordance with the requirements and prohibitions laid down by the Energy Efficiency Directive and referred to in the following paragraphs.

(2) Subject to paragraph (7), the conditions included in a licence in accordance with paragraph (1) shall in particular in the case of a licence under Article 10(1)(c) include such conditions as appear to the grantor to be requisite or expedient to require, where a customer of the licence holder takes a supply of electricity through a smart meter, that the licence holder ensures that—

(a)the meter complies with the relevant requirements of Article 9(2)(a) and 10(2) and, where the customer so requests, Article 9(2)(c) of the Energy Efficiency Directive;

(b)the customer is provided with the information required by Article 9(2)(a) and 10(2) of the Energy Efficiency Directive;

(c)the information required by Article 10(2)(b) of the Energy Efficiency Directive is provided in the format so required;

(d)where the customer so requests, the customer or another person acting on the customer's behalf is provided with the information required by Article 9(2)(d) of the Energy Efficiency Directive in a format so required;

(e)the meter and any information provided by it is secure as required by Article 9(2)(b) of the Energy Efficiency Directive; and

(f)the advice and information required by Article 9(2)(e) of the Energy Efficiency Directive is provided to the customer.

(3) The conditions included in the licence in accordance with paragraph (1) shall in particular in the case of a licence under Article 10(1)(c) also include such conditions as appear to the grantor to be requisite or expedient to require, where a customer of the licence holder does not take a supply of electricity through a smart meter, that the licence holder ensures that any bill or statement of account provided to the customer complies with the requirements of Article 10(1) of and paragraph 1.1 of Annex VII to the Energy Efficiency Directive.

(4) The conditions included in the licence in accordance with paragraph (1) shall in particular in the case of a licence under Article 10(1)(c) also include such conditions as appear to the grantor to be requisite or expedient to require that the licence holder ensures that—

(a)the information required by Article 10(3)(a) of the Energy Efficiency Directive is provided, where it is available and the customer to whom it relates so requests, to an energy service provider designated by the customer;

(b)any bill or statement of account sent to a customer—

(i)contains the information required by Article 10(3)(c) of and paragraph 1.2 and 1.3 of Annex VII to the Energy Efficiency Directive;

(ii)complies with the guidance issued and published by the Authority, in particular for the purposes referred to in Article 10(3)(d) of the Energy Efficiency Directive; and

(iii)if the customer so requests, is in an electronic format.

(c)where a customer so requests, the information required by Article 10(3)(b) of the Energy Efficiency Directive is provided to the customer;

(d)any customer taking a supply of electricity from the licence holder is provided with the information required by paragraph 1.3 of Annex VII to the Energy Efficiency Directive in contract documentation;

(e)any information provided to a customer in accordance with any conditions included under this paragraph is provided in a timely manner and in an easily understandable format for the purposes referred to in Article 10(3)(e) of the Energy Efficiency Directive; and

(f)a charge is not made in respect of any bill or statement of account sent to a customer or in respect of any information provided to the customer (whether in the bill or statement of account or otherwise) contrary to Article 11(1) of the Energy Efficiency Directive.

(5) The conditions included in a licence in accordance with paragraph (1) shall, in particular, in the case of a transmission licence include such conditions as appear to the grantor to be requisite or expedient to ensure that—

(a)in relation to network regulation and network tariffs, the requirements of Article 15(1) fourth indent of and Annex XI to the Energy Efficiency Directive are complied with;

(b)the licence holder complies with the requirements of Article 15(5), third indent of and Annex XII to the Energy Efficiency Directive in relation to electricity from high efficiency co generation;

(c)where Article 15(6) of the Energy Efficiency Directive requires the licence holder to be responsible for conducting balancing services and other operational services—

(i)such services are part of a service bidding process which is transparent, non discriminatory and open to scrutiny in accordance with the requirements of that provision; and

(ii)in meeting the requirements for such services and ancillary services, the licence holder complies with Article 15(8), second indent of the Energy Efficiency Directive;

(d)the licence holder carries out the tasks required by Article 15(8), third indent of the Energy Efficiency Directive for the purposes set out therein.

(6) The conditions included in a licence in accordance with paragraph (1) shall in particular in the case of a distribution licence include such conditions as appear to the grantor to be requisite or expedient to ensure that—

(a)any customer taking a supply of electricity distributed by the licence holder is provided with the information required by paragraph 1.3 of Annex VII to the Energy Efficiency Directive in contract documentation;

(b)in relation to network regulation and network tariffs, the requirements of Article 15(1), fourth indent of and Annex XI to the Energy Efficiency Directive are complied with;

(c)the licence holder complies with the requirements of Article 15(5), third indent and Annex XII to the Energy Efficiency Directive in relation to electricity from high efficiency co generation;

(d)where Article 15(6) of the Energy Efficiency Directive requires the licence holder to be responsible for conducting balancing services and other operational services—

(i)such services are part of a service bidding process which is transparent, non discriminatory and open to scrutiny in accordance with the requirements of that provision; and

(ii)in meeting the requirements for such services and ancillary services, the licence holder, complies with Article 15(8), second indent of the Energy Efficiency Directive;

(e)the licence holder carries out the tasks required by Article 15(8), third indent for the purposes set out therein.

(7) The duty on the Authority in paragraph (2) to include conditions in a licence shall only have effect where the Department—

(a)has determined that it is technically possible, financially reasonable and proportionate in relation to the potential energy savings to implement a programme for the widespread provision of smart meters; and

(b)notifies the Authority in writing to that effect.

(8) In this Article—

(a)“the Energy Efficiency Directive” means the European Parliament and Council Directive 2012/27/EU on energy efficiency, amending Directive 2009/125/EC and 2010/125/EC and 2010/30/EU and repealing Directives 2004/8/EC and 2006/32/EC;

(b)“smart meter” means—

(i)an electricity meter which can send and receive information using an electronic communications network; or

(ii)an electricity meter and a device which is associated with or ancillary to that meter and which enables information to be sent and received by the meter using an electronic communication network;

(c)“electronic communication” has the same meaning as in Section 4(1) of the Electronic Communications Act (Northern Ireland) 2001; and

(d)other expressions which are also used in the Energy Efficiency Directive shall have the same meaning as in that Directive.]