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UK Statutory Instrument
2002
United Kingdom
Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002
At a glance
Who this Act binds
Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.
- Distributor 21
- Any Person 6
- Contractor 1
Step-by-step journeys using this legislation
Walkthroughs that take you from a real business situation to compliance.
Relevant guidance
Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.
Supporting — topic alignment
1 guidesOther Acts binding the same actors
For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.
Distributors also bound by 177 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- The Marketing of Fruit Plant and Propagating Material (England) Regulations 2017 2017 28 duties
- The Marketing of Fruit Plant and Propagating Material (Wales) Regulations 2017 2017 26 duties
- The Marketing of Fruit Plant and Propagating Material Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 2017 25 duties
- THE ELECTRICITY SAFETY, QUALITY AND CONTINUITY REGULATIONS (NORTHERN IRELAND) 2012 2012 19 duties
- UK REACH Regulation (retained EU law) 2006 18 duties
Any Person also bound by 2338 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 169 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 144 duties
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 101 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 95 duties
Contractors also bound by 178 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- The National Health Service (Personal Medical Services Agreements) Regulations 2015 2015 137 duties
- The National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts) Regulations 2015 2015 134 duties
- Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 2015 114 duties
- The National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts) (Wales) Regulations 2023 2023 93 duties
- The Health and Personal Social Services (General Medical Services Contracts) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004 2004 87 duties
What this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Part I — INTRODUCTORY
General adequacy of electrical equipment
Unlimited fine- Ensure electrical equipment is safe and risks are managed Distributor
Browse 4 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Citation, commencement and interpretation
Application of Regulations
Duty of co-operation
Inspection of networks
Part II — PROTECTION AND EARTHING
Electrical protection
Unlimited fine- Install electrical protection devices on your network Distributor
Continuity of the supply neutral conductor and earthing connections
- Maintain continuity of supply neutral and remove prohibited safety devices Distributor
General requirements for connection with earth
- Ensure electricity networks stay properly earthed to prevent danger Distributor
Protective multiple earthing
- Ensure safe earthing and ground connections for low voltage networks Distributor
Earthing of metalwork
- Ensure all metalwork in your electricity network is safely earthed Distributor
Part III — SUBSTATIONS
Substation safety
- Secure and signpost electricity substations Distributor
Part IV — UNDERGROUND CABLES AND EQUIPMENT
General restriction on the use of underground cables
- Do not use non-compliant underground cables Distributor
Protective screens
- Protect underground cables with mechanical covers or grounded screens Any Person
Excavations and depth of underground cables
- Ensure underground cables are safe, protected, and marked Any Person
Maps of underground networks
- Maintain and provide maps of underground electricity networks Distributor
Part V — OVERHEAD LINES
General restriction on the use of overhead lines
- Do not use non-compliant or excessive voltage overhead lines Distributor
Position, insulation and protection of overhead lines
Unlimited fine- Ensure overhead lines are safely positioned and insulated Distributor
Precautions against access and warnings of dangers
- Prevent unauthorised access and display warnings on overhead line supports Any Person
Fitting of insulators to stay wires
- Fit insulators to overhead line stay wires Any Person
Browse 1 other section in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part VA — AVOIDANCE OF INTERFERENCE WITH OR INTERRUPTION OF SUPPLY CAUSED BY TREES
AVOIDANCE OF INTERFERENCE WITH OR INTERRUPTION OF SUPPLY CAUSED BY TREES
- Prevent power interruptions caused by trees or vegetation Distributor
Part VI — GENERATION
Switched alternative sources of energy
- Ensure alternative energy sources do not run in parallel with the main grid Any Person
Browse 1 other section in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Parallel operation
Part VII — SUPPLIES TO INSTALLATIONS AND TO OTHER NETWORKS
Precautions against supply failure
- Prevent and restrict electricity supply failures Distributor
Equipment on a consumer’s premises
- Maintain safe electrical equipment and earthing on customer premises Distributor
Connections to installations or to other networks
- Obtain distributor consent before connecting to the electricity network Any Person
Disconnection of supply, refusal to connect and resolution of disagreements
- Follow proper procedure when disconnecting or refusing to connect electricity supply Distributor
Declaration of phases, frequency and voltage at supply terminals
- Declare electricity supply characteristics to consumers Distributor
Information to be provided on request
- Provide network technical specifications upon request Distributor
Browse 1 other section in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part VIII — MISCELLANEOUS
Inspections, etc. for the Secretary of State
- Provide facilities and information to electricity inspectors Distributor
Notification of specified events
- Notify the Secretary of State of serious electrical incidents and fatalities Distributor
Notification of certain interruptions of supply
- Notify the Secretary of State of major power supply interruptions Distributor
Networks, equipment or installations in breach of Regulations
- Comply with safety notices regarding electrical equipment and installations Distributor
Offences
Unlimited fine- Fail to comply with electricity safety regulations Contractor
Browse 2 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Exemption from requirements of Regulations
Revocation
Schedules
Browse 21 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
DESIGN, COLOURS AND PROPORTIONS OF THE SAFETY SIGN
MINIMUM HEIGHT ABOVE GROUND OF OVERHEAD LINES
NOTIFICATION OF CERTAIN INTERRUPTIONS OF SUPPLY
REVOCATIONS
A safety sign shall incorporate a design, and shall be...
The triangle, symbol and text shall be shown in black...
The symbol shall not occupy more than 50 per cent...
A safety sign may include additional text but any such...
Schedule 1 para.wrapper1n2
Whether there was evidence of amateur work.
Particulars relating to the person submitting the notification
Voltage of equipment involved.
Type of equipment involved.
Date on which the notification is submitted.
Particulars relating to the interruption of supply
Duration of the interruption.
Approximate load affected (in megawatts).
Number of consumers affected approximated to the nearest 100.
Geographical area affected.
Nature and cause of the interruption.
Nature of any deliberate damage involved.
Other sections — not classified into a Part
These sections sit outside the numbered Parts — usually provisions added or moved by later amendments.
Browse 6 other sections
sch. 3 para. 7
sch. 3 para. 9
Particulars relating to the person submitting the notice
Date on which the notice is submitted.
Particulars relating to the event
Date and time of event.
Official guidance
Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.
- NESO (National Energy System Operator) connections guidance (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- NESO (National Energy System Operator) connections guidance (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- When should I report? (opens in a new tab) from HSE Detailed Guidance
- What must be reported? (opens in a new tab) from HSE Detailed Guidance
- ESQCR - Incident reporting FAQs (opens in a new tab) from HSE Detailed Guidance
- Frequently asked questions (FAQs) (opens in a new tab) from HSE Detailed Guidance
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
HSE
PrimaryHealth and Safety Executive
Workplace health, safety, and welfare regulation across all industries. Enforces the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and related regulations. Investigates …
Office of Gas and Electricity Markets
Regulates gas and electricity markets in Great Britain. Issues licences for generation, transmission, distribution, and supply. Protects consumers and promotes competition. Also …
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Regulators
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