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1781

 

House of Commons

 
 

Notices of Amendments

 

given on

 

Wednesday 23rd April 2008

 

For other Amendment(s) see the following page(s) of Supplement to Votes:

 

1461-63, 1473, 1719-20 and 1771

 

Consideration of Bill


 

Energy Bill, As Amended

 

Exception for activities carried on partly on land etc

 

Mr Secretary Hutton

 

NC6

 

To move the following Clause:—

 

‘(1)    

This Chapter does not apply in relation to—

 

(a)    

the use of a controlled place for the unloading of gas to an installation

 

which is connected with land by a permanent structure providing access

 

at all times and for all purposes;

 

(b)    

the conversion of a natural feature of which part is in a controlled place

 

and part under land, if the operations necessary for the conversion take

 

place wholly or mainly on, over or under land;

 

(c)    

the use of a place for the storage of gas, or the recovery of gas so stored,

 

where—

 

(i)    

the gas was, or is to be, introduced into the store by means of a

 

well on land, and

 

(ii)    

part of the place is a controlled place and part is under land;

 

(d)    

the establishment or maintenance of an installation for the purposes of

 

activities falling within paragraph (a).

 

(2)    

In this section—

 

“land” means—

 

(a)    

land in England;

 

(b)    

land in Wales;

 

(c)    

land in Scotland landward of the low water mark;

 

“well” includes a borehole.’.


 
 

Notices of Amendments: 23rd April 2008                  

1782

 

Energy Bill, continued

 
 

Disposal of hazardous material

 

Mr Secretary Hutton

 

NC7

 

To move the following Clause:—

 

‘(1)    

Where the Secretary of State enters an agreement for, or in connection with, the

 

disposal of relevant hazardous material by or on behalf of the Secretary of State,

 

the agreement may provide for a fee to be paid to the Secretary of State.

 

(2)    

The Secretary of State may not enter an agreement which provides for the

 

payment of a fee unless the consent of the Treasury has been obtained in relation

 

to the amount of the proposed fee.

 

(3)    

The fee for which such an agreement provides may include—

 

(a)    

such amount as the Secretary of State considers prudent by reason of any

 

uncertainty which exists about the relevant expenditure which will or

 

may be incurred in connection with the Secretary of State’s obligations

 

under the agreement in relation to the relevant hazardous material;

 

(b)    

an amount in respect of such proportion as the Secretary of State

 

considers appropriate of the aggregate of—

 

(i)    

the relevant expenditure which has been, will or may be, incurred

 

in connection with the design and construction of a repository in

 

which material (including any hazardous material to which the

 

agreement relates) is to be disposed of, and

 

(ii)    

such amount as the Secretary of State considers it prudent to

 

make allowance for by reason of any uncertainty which exists

 

about the relevant expenditure which will or may be incurred as

 

mentioned in sub-paragraph (i).

 

(4)    

In this section—

 

“hazardous material” has the meaning given by section 37 of the Energy Act

 

2004 (c. 20);

 

“relevant expenditure” means expenditure incurred by the Secretary of

 

State, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority or any other person;

 

“relevant hazardous material” means hazardous material which is, or is

 

required to be, the subject of a funded decommissioning programme.’.

 

Power to amend licence conditions: smart meters

 

Mr Secretary Hutton

 

NC8

 

To move the following Clause:—

 

‘(1)    

The Secretary of State may modify—

 

(a)    

a condition of a particular licence under section 6(1)(c) or (d) of the

 

Electricity Act 1989 (c. 29) (distribution and supply licences);

 

(b)    

the standard conditions incorporated in licences under those provisions

 

by virtue of section 8A of that Act;

 

(c)    

a condition of a particular licence under section 7 or 7A of the Gas Act

 

1986 (c. 44) (transporter, supply and shipping licences);

 

(d)    

the standard conditions incorporated in licences under those provisions

 

by virtue of section 8 of that Act;

 

(e)    

a document maintained in accordance with the conditions of licences

 

under section 6(1) of the Electricity Act 1989 or section 7 or 7A of the


 
 

Notices of Amendments: 23rd April 2008                  

1783

 

Energy Bill, continued

 
 

Gas Act 1986, or an agreement that gives effect to a document so

 

maintained.

 

(2)    

The Secretary of State may exercise the power in subsection (1) for the purpose

 

only of—

 

(a)    

requiring the holder of a licence to provide or install, or facilitate the

 

provision, installation or operation of, meters of a particular kind, or

 

(b)    

requiring the holder of a licence to make arrangements related to the

 

matters mentioned in paragraph (a).

 

(3)    

Modifications made by virtue of subsection (1) may include—

 

(a)    

technical specifications for meters (including specifications in respect of

 

matters relevant to the ability to obtain remote access to meters);

 

(b)    

a prohibition on the supply of gas or electricity through a meter other than

 

a meter which complies with a technical specification under paragraph

 

(a);

 

(c)    

provision about the installation of meters which comply with a technical

 

specification under paragraph (a) (including provision about the

 

replacement of existing meters);

 

(d)    

provision about electricity generated by a customer;

 

(e)    

provision about the circumstances in which any pre-payment facilities of

 

a meter may be utilised;

 

(f)    

provision about the use of a meter remotely to disconnect a customer’s

 

premises;

 

(g)    

provision about the protection of consumers;

 

(h)    

provision about access to, and the use of, an electricity distribution

 

system or part of an electricity distribution system for communication in

 

connection with a meter;

 

(i)    

provision about access to information from meters (including provision

 

enabling a customer, or a person acting on a customer’s behalf, to have

 

access to information about the customer’s consumption of gas or

 

electricity);

 

(j)    

provision about communication of information by or to meters (including

 

provision about its onward communication) and about the use of such

 

information;

 

(k)    

provision requiring the holder of the licence to enter (or refrain from

 

entering) into an agreement of a specified kind, or with a specified

 

person;

 

(l)    

provision specifying, or enabling the determination of, a date from which

 

a modified condition is to take effect.

 

(4)    

The power conferred by subsection (1)—

 

(a)    

may be exercised to make different provision in relation to different

 

classes of customer;

 

(b)    

may be exercised generally, only in relation to specified cases or subject

 

to exceptions (including provision for a case to be excepted only so long

 

as specified conditions are satisfied);

 

(c)    

may be exercised differently in different cases or circumstances;

 

(d)    

includes a power to make incidental, supplementary, consequential or

 

transitional modifications.

 

(5)    

The power conferred by subsection (1) may not be exercised after the end of the

 

period of 5 years beginning with the day on which that subsection comes into

 

force.

 

(6)    

Provision included in a licence by virtue of that power—

 

(a)    

need not relate to the activities authorised by the licence;


 
 

Notices of Amendments: 23rd April 2008                  

1784

 

Energy Bill, continued

 
 

(b)    

in the case of a licence under section 7 or 7A of the Gas Act 1986 (c. 44),

 

may do any of the things authorised by section 7B(5) of that Act (which

 

apply to the Gas and Electricity Market Authority’s power with respect

 

to licence conditions under section 7B(4)(a));

 

(c)    

in the case of a licence under section 6(1)(c) or (d) of the Electricity Act

 

1989 (c. 29), may do any of the things authorised by section 7(2) to (4)

 

of that Act (which apply to that Authority’s power with respect to licence

 

conditions under section 7(1)(a)).

 

(7)    

In this section a reference to a meter includes a reference to a visual display unit,

 

or any other device, associated with or ancillary to a meter.’.

 

Power to amend licence conditions: procedure

 

Mr Secretary Hutton

 

NC9

 

To move the following Clause:—

 

‘(1)    

Before making a modification, the Secretary of State must consult—

 

(a)    

the holder of any licence being modified,

 

(b)    

the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority, and

 

(c)    

such other persons as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.

 

(2)    

Subsection (1) may be satisfied by consultation before, as well as by consultation

 

after, the passing of this Act.

 

(3)    

Before making modifications, the Secretary of State must lay a draft of the

 

modifications before Parliament.

 

(4)    

If, within the 40-day period, either House of Parliament resolves not to approve

 

the draft, the Secretary of State may not take any further steps in relation to the

 

proposed modifications.

 

(5)    

If no such resolution is made within that period, the Secretary of State may make

 

the modifications in the form of the draft.

 

(6)    

Subsection (4) does not prevent a new draft of proposed modifications being laid

 

before Parliament.

 

(7)    

The Secretary of State must publish details of any modifications as soon as

 

reasonably practicable after they are made.

 

(8)    

In this section “40-day period”, in relation to a draft of proposed modifications,

 

means the period of 40 days beginning with the day on which the draft is laid

 

before Parliament (or, if it is not laid before each House of Parliament on the same

 

day, the later of the two days on which it is laid).

 

(9)    

For the purposes of calculating the 40-day period, no account is to be taken of any

 

period during which Parliament is dissolved or prorogued or during which both

 

Houses are adjourned for more than 4 days.

 

(10)    

In this section “modification” means a modification under section [Power to

 

amend licence conditions: smart meters].’.

 

Smart meters: supplemental

 

Mr Secretary Hutton

 

NC10

 

To move the following Clause:—

 

‘(1)    

A modification under section [Power to amend licence conditions: smart meters]

 

of part of a standard condition of a licence does not prevent any other part of the


 
 

Notices of Amendments: 23rd April 2008                  

1785

 

Energy Bill, continued

 
 

condition from continuing to be regarded as a standard condition for the purposes

 

of Part 1 of the Gas Act 1986 (c. 44) or Part 1 of the Electricity Act 1989 (c. 29).

 

(2)    

Where the Secretary of State makes modifications under section [Power to amend

 

licence conditions: smart meters](1)(b) or (d) of the standard conditions of a

 

licence of any type, the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority must—

 

(a)    

make the same modification of those standard conditions for the purposes

 

of their incorporation in licences of that type granted after that time, and

 

(b)    

publish the modification.

 

(3)    

The Secretary of State may by order make such modifications of provision made

 

by or under an Act or an Act of the Scottish Parliament (whenever passed or

 

made) as the Secretary of State considers appropriate in consequence of provision

 

made under section [Power to amend licence conditions: smart meters].’.

 

Mr Secretary Hutton

 

2

 

Page  2,  line  28  [Clause  2],  at end insert—

 

‘( )    

But subsection (1) is subject to section [Exception for activities carried on partly

 

on land etc].’.

 

Mr Secretary Hutton

 

3

 

Page  4,  line  33  [Clause  7],  at end insert—

 

‘( )    

But subsections (1) and (2) are subject to section [Exception for activities carried

 

on partly on land etc].’.

 

Mr Secretary Hutton

 

4

 

Page  8,  line  39  [Clause  16],  leave out ‘other than’ and insert ‘except’.

 

Mr Secretary Hutton

 

5

 

Page  9,  line  13  [Clause  16],  leave out ‘other than the territorial sea adjacent to

 

Scotland’.

 

Mr Secretary Hutton

 

6

 

Page  9,  line  17  [Clause  17],  for ‘Secretary of State’ substitute ‘licensing authority’.

 

Mr Secretary Hutton

 

7

 

Page  9,  line  18  [Clause  17],  at end insert—

 

‘(1A)    

The licensing authority is—

 

(a)    

in the case of a licence in respect of activities within section 16(2)(a) to

 

(c) and a controlled place which is not in, under or over the territorial sea

 

adjacent to Scotland, the Secretary of State,

 

(b)    

in the case of a licence in respect of such activities and a controlled place

 

which is in, under or over that territorial sea, the Scottish Ministers,

 

(c)    

in the case of a licence in respect of such activities and a controlled place

 

only part of which is in, under or over that territorial sea, either the

 

Secretary of State or the Scottish Ministers, and

 

(d)    

in the case of a licence in respect of activities within section 16(2)(d),

 

whichever of the Secretary of State or the Scottish Ministers licenses the


 
 

Notices of Amendments: 23rd April 2008                  

1786

 

Energy Bill, continued

 
 

activities for the purposes of which the installation is established or

 

maintained;

 

    

and in this Chapter references to the licensing authority in relation to a licence

 

falling within paragraph (c) are references to the person who grants the licence or,

 

if the licence has not yet been granted, to whom the application for the licence was

 

made.’.

 

Mr Secretary Hutton

 

8

 

Page  9,  line  26  [Clause  18],  leave out ‘The Secretary of State’ and insert ‘Each

 

licensing authority’.

 

Mr Secretary Hutton

 

9

 

Page  9,  line  27  [Clause  18],  leave out ‘licences may be granted’ and insert ‘it may

 

grant licences’.

 

Mr Secretary Hutton

 

10

 

Page  10,  line  3  [Clause  19],  leave out ‘Secretary of State’ and insert ‘licensing

 

authority’.

 

Mr Secretary Hutton

 

11

 

Page  10,  line  15  [Clause  19],  leave out ‘Secretary of State’ and insert ‘licensing

 

authority’.

 

Mr Secretary Hutton

 

12

 

Page  10,  line  17  [Clause  19],  leave out ‘Secretary of State’ and insert ‘licensing

 

authority’.

 

Mr Secretary Hutton

 

13

 

Page  10,  line  20  [Clause  19],  leave out ‘Secretary of State’ and insert ‘licensing

 

authority’.

 

Mr Secretary Hutton

 

14

 

Page  10,  line  41  [Clause  19],  leave out ‘Secretary of State’ and insert ‘licensing

 

authority’.

 

Mr Secretary Hutton

 

15

 

Page  10,  line  47  [Clause  19],  leave out ‘Secretary of State’ and insert ‘licensing

 

authority’.

 

Mr Secretary Hutton

 

16

 

Page  11,  line  5  [Clause  19],  leave out ‘Secretary of State’ and insert ‘licensing

 

authority’.


 
 

Notices of Amendments: 23rd April 2008                  

1787

 

Energy Bill, continued

 
 

Mr Secretary Hutton

 

17

 

Page  11,  line  11  [Clause  20],  leave out ‘The Secretary of State’ and insert ‘Each

 

licensing authority’.

 

Mr Secretary Hutton

 

18

 

Page  11,  line  12  [Clause  20],  after ‘licences’, insert ‘granted by it’.

 

Mr Secretary Hutton

 

19

 

Page  11,  line  36  [Clause  22],  leave out ‘Secretary of State’ and insert ‘licensing

 

authority’.

 

Mr Secretary Hutton

 

20

 

Page  12,  line  3  [Clause  22],  leave out ‘Secretary of State’ and insert ‘licensing

 

authority’.

 

Mr Secretary Hutton

 

21

 

Page  12,  line  20  [Clause  22],  leave out ‘Secretary of State’ and insert ‘licensing

 

authority’.

 

Mr Secretary Hutton

 

22

 

Page  12,  line  25  [Clause  22],  leave out ‘Secretary of State’ and insert ‘licensing

 

authority’.

 

Mr Secretary Hutton

 

23

 

Page  12,  line  34  [Clause  23],  leave out ‘Secretary of State’ and insert ‘licensing

 

authority’.

 

Mr Secretary Hutton

 

24

 

Page  12,  line  35  [Clause  23],  leave out ‘Secretary of State’ and insert ‘licensing

 

authority’.

 

Mr Secretary Hutton

 

25

 

Page  12,  line  37  [Clause  23],  leave out ‘Secretary of State’ and insert ‘licensing

 

authority’.

 

Mr Secretary Hutton

 

26

 

Page  12,  line  40  [Clause  23],  leave out ‘Secretary of State’ and insert ‘licensing

 

authority’.

 

Mr Secretary Hutton

 

27

 

Page  13,  line  8  [Clause  23],  leave out ‘Secretary of State’ and insert ‘licensing

 

authority’.


 
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