UK Act of Parliament 1992 Northern Ireland

Electricity (Northern Ireland) Order 1992

This Order— provides for the appointment and functions of a Director General of Electricity Supply for Northern Ireland and of a Consumer Committee for Electricity; makes new provision with respect to the supply of electricity through electric lines and the generation and transmission of electricity for such supply; abolishes the …

Read the Act on legislation.gov.uk (opens in a new tab)
Enforced by
UREGNI
Status
Amended (in force with amendments)
Penalty ceiling
Prosecution 6 of 35 obligations carry a fine up to £1,000. 3 carry different penalties and 26 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.

Does it bind you?

Business-side roles with duties under this instrument.

Any Person13 Distributor7 Licence Holder6 Applicant2 Director or Officer1 Occupier1 Trader1

Plus 4 duties on the regulator, Crown ministers and public bodies — folded into the section list below.

Other Acts binding the same actors

If a role above is yours, these are the other instruments that most often bind it.

Any Person — also bound by 2684 other Acts
Distributor — also bound by 201 other Acts
Licence Holder — also bound by 245 other Acts
Applicant — also bound by 325 other Acts
Director or Officer — also bound by 482 other Acts
Companies Act 2006 126 duties
Occupier — also bound by 246 other Acts
Highways Act 1980 23 duties
Trader — also bound by 864 other Acts
Companies Act 2006 244 duties
Companies Act 1985 85 duties

What it requires

Sections creating concrete business duties or carrying penalties, grouped as the instrument is structured. Titles link to the source text — blue means you’re leaving for legislation.gov.uk.

Part 1

INTRODUCTORY

0 of 2 sections shown
2 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional
s.art001 art.1
s.art002 art.2
Part 2

ELECTRICITY SUPPLY

1 of 93 sections shown
s.art010 Monitoring and review of certification Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • UREGNI must monitor and review electricity certification decisionsStatutory regulator
92 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional
s.art003 Interpretation of Part II
s.art008 Prohibition on unlicensed supply, etc.
s.art009 Exemptions from Article 8
s.art010 Licences authorising supply, etc.
s.art010 Transmission licences
s.art010 Distribution licences
s.art010 Electricity transmission: requirement for participants to be certified as independent
s.art010 Application for certification
s.art010 Report where applicant connected with a country outside the European Economic Area
s.art010 Certification
s.art010 Grounds for certification
s.art010 The ownership unbundling requirement
s.art010 Designation for the purposes of EU electricity legislation
s.art010 Report as to any connection of a certified person with a country outside the European Economic Area
s.art010 Continuation or withdrawal of certification
s.art010 Interpretation
s.art011 Conditions of licences
s.art011 Compliance with EU obligations
s.art011 Standard conditions of licences
s.art011 Conditions on transmission and distribution licences relating to priority dispatch
s.art011 Licensing and Energy Efficiency
s.art011 Provision of additional capacity or energy efficiency measures
s.art012 General duties of electricity distributors and transmission licence holders
s.art013 Powers, etc., of licence holders
s.art014 art.14
s.art014 Modification of conditions under Article 14: supplementary
s.art014 Appeal to the CMA
s.art014 Procedure on appeal to CMA
s.art014 Determination by CMA of appeal
s.art014 CMA's powers on allowing appeal
s.art014 Time limits for CMA to determine an appeal
s.art014 Determination of appeal by CMA: supplementary
s.art015 art.15
s.art015 References under Article 15: time limits
s.art015 References under Article 15: powers of investigation
s.art016 art.16
s.art017 art.17
s.art017 CMA's power to veto modifications following report
s.art018 Modification by order under other statutory provisions
s.art019 Duty to connect on request
s.art020 Procedure for requiring a connection
s.art021 Exceptions from duty to connect
s.art022 Power to recover expenditure
s.art023 Power to require security
s.art024 Additional terms of connection
s.art025 Special agreements with respect to connection
s.art026 Determination of disputes
s.art027 Electricity Supply Code
s.art031 art.31
s.art031 Dispute resolution
s.art032 art.32
s.art033 art.33
s.art034 art.34
s.art035 art.35
s.art036 art.36
s.art037 art.37
s.art038 art.38
s.art039 Consent required for construction, etc., of generating stations
s.art040 Consent required for overhead lines
s.art041 art.41
s.art042 Electricity supply and distribution: performance in individual cases.
s.art042 Standards of performance in individual cases: disputes
s.art043 Overall standards of performance: electricity supply
s.art043 Overall standards of performance: electricity distributors
s.art043 Procedures for prescribing or determining standards of performance
s.art044 art.44
s.art045 art.45
s.art045 Information to be given to customers about overall performance
s.art045 Procedures for dealing with complaints
s.art046 Functions with respect to competition
s.art047 art.47
s.art047 Billing disputes
s.art050 General functions
s.art052 Keeping of register
s.art053 Annual and other reports
s.art053 Regional coordination centres
s.art058 art.58
s.art059 art.59
s.art060 art.60
s.art062 art.62
s.art063 art.63
s.art064 art.64
s.art065 art.65
s.art066 art.66
s.art067 art.67
s.paragraph/p1 Arts.4‐7 rep. by 2003 NI 6
s.paragraph/p11 Arts. 54‐57 rep. by 2003 NI 6
s.paragraph/p12 Art. 61 rep. by 2003 NI 6
s.paragraph/p2 Art. 18A rep. by 2003 NI 6
s.paragraph/p3 Arts. 28‐30 rep. by 2003 NI 6
s.paragraph/p7 Arts. 48 and 49 rep. by 2003 NI 6
s.paragraph/p9 Art. 51 rep. by 2003 NI 6
Part 3

REORGANISATION OF THE INDUSTRY

0 of 24 sections shown
24 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional
s.art068 art.68
s.art069 art.69
s.art070 art.70
s.art071 art.71
s.art072 art.72
s.art073 art.73
s.art074 art.74
s.art075 art.75
s.art076 art.76
s.art077 art.77
s.art078 art.78
s.art079 art.79
s.art080 art.80
s.art081 art.81
s.art082 art.82
s.art083 art.83
s.art084 art.84
s.art086 art.86
s.art087 art.87
s.art088 art.88
s.art089 art.89
s.art090 art.90
s.art091 art.91
s.paragraph/p13 Art. 85 rep. by 2001 c. 14 (NI)
Part 4

SUPPLEMENTAL

0 of 4 sections shown
4 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional
s.art092 art.92
s.art093 art.93
s.art094 art.94
s.art095 art.95
Schedules

Schedules

34 of 141 shown
s.sch003 (1) Where a licence holder has acquired any land under paragraph 1, he shall not... Regulated
  • Get regulator consent before disposing of acquired landLicence Holder
s.sch004 (1) Subject to the following provisions of this paragraph, a necessary wayleave granted under paragraph... Regulated
  • Notify land occupier and owner when applying to assign an older necessary wayleaveLicence Holder
s.sch004 (1) Where a wayleave is granted to a licence holder under paragraph 10— (a) the... Regulated
  • Pay compensation for wayleave grants and property damageLicence Holder
s.sch004 (1) This paragraph applies where at any time such a wayleave as is mentioned in... Regulated
  • Remove electric lines when wayleave ends and landowner gives noticeLicence Holder
s.sch004 (1) This paragraph applies where— (a) under an agreement made before 1 April 1982, a... Regulated
  • Remove an old substation from your land after noticeOccupier
s.sch004 (1) Any person who intentionally obstructs a person acting in the exercise of any power... Prosecution
  • Intentionally obstruct electricity network workersAny Person

Fine up to £1,000

s.sch004 (1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), a licence holder may, subject to and in accordance with... Prosecution
  • Commence alteration works without giving required noticeAny Person

Fine up to £1,000

s.sch004 (1) A government department, electronic communications code operator , or other person (not being another... Prosecution
  • Alter electric lines without consentAny Person

Fine up to £1,000

s.sch005 Without prejudice to Schedule 6 to the Drainage (Northern Ireland) Order 1973 , a person... Regulated
  • Obtain authorisation before abstracting water for hydroelectric generationAny Person
s.sch005 On the application of such a licence holder the Department of the Environment may authorise... Regulated
  • Minimise damage and compensate for any damage caused when using water under authorisationLicence Holder
s.sch005 Not later than the date on which the said notice is first published, the applicant... Regulated
  • Serve copies of abstraction notice to specified bodies before publicationApplicant
s.sch005a (1) An application for permission to bring an appeal may be made only by sending... Regulated
  • Apply for permission to appeal licence modification decisionsAny Person
s.sch005a (1) If a person (“ the defaulter (a) fails to comply with a notice issued... Prosecution
  • Wilfully alter, suppress or destroy required documentAny Person

Unlimited fine

s.sch005a (1) A group that determines an appeal must make an order requiring the payment to... Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Pay CMA costs for electricity appeals within 28 daysTribunal / Court
s.sch006 An electricity supplier who, for the purpose of meeting the needs of a disabled person—... Regulated
  • Don't charge disabled customers for meter moves or adapted metersDistributor
s.sch006 (1) Where, under any powers conferred by this Schedule, entry is made on any premises... Regulated
  • Make good or pay compensation for damage caused during entry to premisesDistributor
s.sch006 Any person who intentionally obstructs a person authorised by an electricity supplier or electricity distributor... Prosecution
  • Obstruct an authorised power of entry for electricity workAny Person

Fine up to £1,000

s.sch006 (1) Where an electricity supplier supplies electricity to any premises otherwise than in pursuance of... Regulated
  • Create and publish a scheme for deemed electricity supply contractsDistributor
s.sch006 (1) Where any person takes a supply of electricity which is in the course of... Regulated
  • Electricity distributors must set up a scheme for measuring unauthorised electricity useDistributor
s.sch006 (1) Where, otherwise than in the exercise of a power conferred by regulations under Article... Prosecution
  • Reconnect electricity supply without supplier consentAny Person

Fine up to £1,000

s.sch006 (1) A person who intentionally or by culpable negligence damages or allows to be damaged—... Prosecution
  • Damage electricity distributor's equipment or supplier's meterAny Person

Fine up to £1,000

s.sch007 (1) A customer of an electricity supplier shall at all times, at his own expense,... Regulated
  • Keep your electricity meter in proper working orderDistributor
s.sch007 (1) If any person intentionally or by culpable negligence— (a) alters the register of any... Regulated
  • Do not tamper with electricity metersAny Person
s.sch007 (1) A customer of an electricity supplier who takes his supply through a pre-payment meter... Regulated
  • Take reasonable precautions to safeguard pre-payment meter money and tokensDistributor
s.sch007 (1) Where a customer of an electricity supplier is to be charged for his supply... Regulated
  • Provide and install appropriate electricity meters for customersDistributor
s.sch007 (1) If an electricity supplier supplies electricity through a meter which is used for ascertaining... Regulated
  • Supply electricity through unapproved or uncertified meterAny Person
s.sch007 (1) It shall be the duty of a person to whom this paragraph applies, that... Regulated
  • Provide and maintain meter testing, regulation and sealing equipmentDirector or Officer
s.sch007 (1) It shall be the duty of a meter examiner, on being required to do... Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Meter examiners must inspect and test meters when requestedStatutory regulator
s.sch007 (1) This paragraph applies where there is a genuine dispute as to the accuracy of... Prosecution
  • Remove or alter a disputed electricity meter without approvalAny Person

Fine up to £500

s.sch008 (1) Regulations shall make provision for securing— (a) that notice of any application for consent... Regulated
  • Publish and serve notice of application for electricity consentApplicant
s.sch009 (1) A licence holder shall within 12 months from the grant of his licence prepare,... Regulated
  • Prepare and publish a statement on how you will perform your licensed dutiesLicence Holder
s.sch010 (1) A transaction of any description which, under paragraph 3(2) or a direction under paragraph... Regulated
  • Notify affected parties when split rights and liabilities arise from transfer transactionsAny Person
s.sch013 (1) It shall be the duty of Northern Ireland Electricity and the appropriate successor company... Regulated
  • Ensure foreign assets and liabilities are properly vestedTrader
s.sch013 (1) Notwithstanding the repeal of Articles 23 and 24 of the Electricity Supply (Northern Ireland)... Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Prepare accounts and reports for pre‑transfer financial yearsCrown / Minister / Government department
107 other schedules
s.sch003 (1) Where a licence holder proposes to acquire, otherwise than by agreement, any land required...
s.sch003 (1) No application shall be made under paragraph 1 for a vesting order in respect...
s.sch003 (1) The power to make a vesting order under paragraph 1 in respect of land—...
s.sch003 (1) Nothing in this Schedule shall authorise the acquisition, without the consent of the Department...
s.sch003 Schedule 6 to the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 1972 shall apply for the purposes...
s.sch003 Where an application for a vesting order is made by a person with power to...
s.sch004 (1) In this Schedule— “controlled works” means any such works as are mentioned in paragraph...
s.sch004 (1) This paragraph applies where— (a) for any purpose connected with the carrying on of...
s.sch004 (1) This paragraph applies where any tree is or will be in such close proximity...
s.sch004 (1) Subject to the following provisions of this paragraph and without prejudice to any other...
s.sch004 The provisions of paragraphs 2 to 9 may be modified by regulations.
s.sch004 (1) Subject to the Street Works (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 and to the following provisions...
s.sch004 (1) The following provisions of this paragraph apply where a licence holder requires to carry...
s.sch004 (1) The following provisions of this paragraph apply where a government department, electronic communications code...
s.sch004 (1) Where any person would be required to serve any notice in respect of any...
s.sch004 (1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), a licence holder who installs or alters, or changes the...
s.sch005 If before the expiration of 28 days from the date of the first publication of...
s.sch005 The expenses incurred by the Department of the Environment in connection with an authorisation under...
s.sch005 In paragraphs 1 to 8 “waterway” has the same meaning as in the Water (Northern...
s.sch005 Where the abstraction, diversion and use will, in the opinion of the Department of the...
s.sch005 In this Schedule, “compensation water” means a flow of water, on such conditions and by...
s.sch005 In deciding whether to give the authorisation or in specifying the quantity of any compensation...
s.sch005 Any question of disputed compensation under paragraph 2 shall be referred to and determined by...
s.sch005 An applicant for authorisation under paragraph 2 shall supply to the Department of the Environment...
s.sch005 The applicant shall also publish in the Belfast Gazette a notice— (a) stating that he...
s.sch005a (1) The CMA Board may make rules of procedure regulating the conduct and disposal of...
s.sch005a (1) In this Schedule— appeal ” means an appeal under Article 14B; appeal rules ”...
s.sch005a (1) The CMA may direct that, pending the determination of an appeal against a decision...
s.sch005a (1) Sub-paragraph (2) applies where the Authority wishes to make representations or observations to the...
s.sch005a (1) A group constituted by the chair of the CMA under Schedule 4 to the...
s.sch005a (1) The CMA, if it thinks it necessary to do so for the purpose of...
s.sch005a (1) For the purposes of this Schedule, the CMA may, by notice, require— (a) a...
s.sch005a (1) For the purposes of this Schedule an oral hearing may be held, and evidence...
s.sch005a (1) The CMA may, by notice, require a person to produce a written statement with...
s.sch005a Where permission to bring an appeal is granted under paragraph 1 the CMA may commission expert...
s.sch006 (1) A power of entry conferred by this Schedule shall not be exercisable except— (a)...
s.sch006 (1) Where a justice of the peace is satisfied by complaint on oath— (a) that...
s.sch006 Any electrical plant, electric line or electricity meter owned by or let for hire or...
s.sch006 (1) Where a customer has not, within the requisite period, paid all charges due from...
s.sch006 (1) Any person authorised by an electricity distributor may at all reasonable times enter any...
s.sch006 (1) Where an electricity supplier or an electricity distributor is authorised by paragraph 6(2) or...
s.sch006 (1) Any person authorised by an electricity distributor may after five working days' notice to...
s.sch007 In this Schedule— “agreed margins of error” means any margins of error agreed between the...
s.sch007 (1) This paragraph applies to meters used for ascertaining the quantity of electricity supplied to...
s.sch007 (1) No meter shall be used for ascertaining the quantity of electricity supplied by an...
s.sch007 (1) The Director shall appoint competent and impartial persons as meter examiners for the purposes...
s.sch007 (1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), a meter may be certified— (a) by a meter examiner...
s.sch008 (1) An application for a consent under Article 39 or 40 shall be in writing...
s.sch008 (1) Where in accordance with paragraph 1A(4) an inquiry is to be held in respect...
s.sch008 (1) This paragraph applies in the case where a single individual (“the lead inspector”) is...
s.sch008 (1) Where an application for consent under Article 40 states that all wayleaves have not...
s.sch008 (1) On granting a consent under Article 39 or 40 in respect of any operation...
s.sch009 (1) In formulating any relevant proposals, a licence holder or a person authorised by exemption...
s.sch010 Any reference in this Schedule to a transfer effected under a transfer scheme is a...
s.sch010 (1) If in consequence of 2 or more transfers effected under a transfer scheme or...
s.sch010 (1) The provisions of this paragraph shall apply where the transfers effected under a transfer...
s.sch010 (1) The provisions of this paragraph shall apply where the transfers effected under a transfer...
s.sch010 (1) The provisions of this paragraph shall apply where— (a) the transfers effected under a...
s.sch010 (1) The provisions of this paragraph shall apply where the transfers effected under a transfer...
s.sch010 Where the transferee under a transfer effected under a transfer scheme ( “transferee A”) is...
s.sch010 (1) Where 2 or more transfers are effected under a transfer scheme, a certificate issued...
s.sch010 (1) Where 2 or more transfers are effected under a transfer scheme and the Department...
s.sch011 (1) In this Schedule— “employer”, in relation to a person employed by a company which...
s.sch011 (1) Regulations may make provision amending— (a) the trust deed of the scheme for the...
s.sch011 (1) Regulations may make provision, in respect of such persons, or class of persons, formerly...
s.sch011 (1) Regulations may make provision for the purpose of securing that— (a) no person to...
s.sch011 (1) Subject to sub-paragraph (3), this sub-paragraph applies to— (a) any existing employee who, immediately...
s.sch011 (1) So much of Schedule 1 to the Contracts of Employment and Redundancy Payments Act...
s.sch011 Regulations may make provision for requiring successor companies— (a) to make payments by way of...
s.sch011 Regulations under paragraphs 2, 3, 4 and 7 may contain such supplemental, consequential and transitional...
s.sch013 In this Part— “day appointed” means the day appointed under Article 1(2); “the 1972 Order”...
s.sch013 Any consent given under Article 38(4) and (6) of the 1972 Order which is effective...
s.sch013 Any order made under Article 40 of the 1972 Order which is effective on the...
s.sch013 (1) Paragraph 3(1)(a) and (b) of Schedule 7 shall not apply in relation to a...
s.sch013 (1) Where— (a) any sum was deposited with Northern Ireland Electricity by way of security...
s.sch013 (1) Where immediately before the day appointed for the coming into operation of any provision...
s.sch013 In this Part expressions which are used in Part III of this Order have the...
s.sch013 Any licence granted under Article 10 to Northern Ireland Electricity which is effective on the...
s.sch013 Any tariff fixed, or having effect as if fixed, under Article 21 by Northern Ireland...
s.sch013 Any consent given under Article 39 to Northern Ireland Electricity which is effective on the...
s.sch013 Any consent given under Article 40 to Northern Ireland Electricity which is effective on the...
s.sch013 In so far as any requisition made under paragraph 8 of Schedule 3 to the...
s.sch013 Any maximum price fixed, or having effect as if fixed, under Article 47 for the...
s.sch013 A direction given under Article 58 to Northern Ireland Electricity which is effective on the...
s.sch013 Any land compulsorily acquired by Northern Ireland Electricity before the transfer date which was so...
s.sch013 (1) Where immediately before the transfer date there is in force an agreement which— (a)...
s.sch013 (1) Any agreement made, transaction effected or other thing done by, to or in relation...
s.sch013 It is hereby declared for the avoidance of doubt that— (a) the effect of Part...
s.sch013 Any agreement made under paragraph 12 of Schedule 1 to the Electricity Supply (Northern Ireland)...
s.sch013 (1) Where by virtue of anything done before the transfer date, any statutory provision amended...
s.sch013 Any tariff fixed under Article 26 of the 1972 Order which is effective on the...
s.sch013 Without prejudice to the powers conferred by Article 95(2), every provision contained in subordinate legislation,...
s.sch013 (1) Anything which, immediately before the transfer date, is in process of being done under...
s.sch013 (1) An application or claim by Northern Ireland Electricity for hazardous substances consent which is...
s.sch013 (1) Where a distribution is proposed to be declared during the accounting reference period of...
s.sch013 An order by the Department of Finance and Personnel under paragraph 18(2) of Schedule 6...
s.sch013 The provisions of this Schedule shall have effect without prejudice to sections 28 and 29...
s.sch013 Any regulations made under Article 36 of the 1972 Order which are effective on the...
s.sch013 (1) Where any application made under Article 33 of the 1972 Order is effective on...
s.sch013 (1) Where any application made under Article 39 of the 1972 Order is effective on...
s.sch013 Any maximum charge fixed by Northern Ireland Electricity under paragraph 17 of Schedule 3 to...
s.sch013 Where any representation or reference made under, or in such circumstances as are mentioned in,...
s.sch013 (1) Any land which has been compulsorily acquired under Article 8 of the 1972 Order...
s.schedule/13/part/iii/paragraph/wrapper4n1 Para. 35 rep. by 1995 NI 19
s.schedule/4/part/6/paragraph/wrapper3n1 Para. 7 rep. by 1995 NI 19
s.schedule n1 para.wrapper1n2 Schedule 1 rep. by 2003 NI 6
s.schedule n1 para.wrapper2n2 Schedule 2 rep. by 2003 NI 6

Help complying

Guvnor’s practical routes through this instrument.

Starting a regulated business in Northern Ireland

A guided learning path for businesses in Northern Ireland that operate in regulated sectors. Covers the three key NI-specific regulators — HSENI, …

Apply for an electricity or gas licence in Northern Ireland

Generating, transmitting, distributing or supplying electricity, or supplying, conveying or storing gas, in Northern Ireland needs a licence from the Utility Regulator, …

Understand how UREGNI regulates energy and water in Northern Ireland

One regulator, the Utility Regulator (UREGNI), covers electricity, gas and water in Northern Ireland. You need its licence to generate, transmit, distribute …

Duty extraction and severity labels are Guvnor’s analysis of the instrument, not the instrument itself. Always verify against the linked source text.