Section 29: Regulations relating to supply and safety., Electricity Act 1989

The Secretary of State may make such regulations as he thinks fit for the purpose of—

securing that supplies of electricity are regular and efficient;

protecting the public from dangers arising from the generation, transmission, distribution or supply of electricity, from the use of electricity interconnectors, from the use of electricity supplied or from the installation, maintenance or use of any electric line or electrical plant; and

without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (b) above, eliminating or reducing the risks of personal injury, or damage to property or interference with its use, arising as mentioned in that paragraph.

Regulations under this section may include provision for securing the purposes mentioned in subsection (1) in relation to the territorial sea adjacent to Great Britain or any Renewable Energy Zone.

Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1) above, regulations under this section may—

prohibit the distribution or transmission of electricity except by means of a system approved by the Secretary of State;

make provision requiring notice in the prescribed form to be given to the Secretary of State, in such cases as may be specified in the regulations, of accidents and of failures in the distribution or transmission of electricity or in the use of electricity interconnectors;

make provision as to the keeping, by persons authorised by a licence or exemption to distribute or participate in the transmission of electricity or to participate in the operation of an electricity interconnector, of maps, plans and sections and as to their production (on payment, if so required, of a reasonable fee) for inspection or copying;

make provision for relieving electricity distributors from any duty under section 16 or authorising them to disconnect any premises or distribution system in such cases as may be prescribed;

make provision requiring compliance with notices given by the Secretary of State specifying action to be taken in relation to any electric line or electrical plant, or any electrical appliance under the control of a consumer, for the purpose of—

preventing or ending a breach of regulations under this section; or

eliminating or reducing a risk of personal injury or damage to property or interference with its use;

provide for particular requirements of the regulations to be deemed to be complied with in the case of any electric line or electrical plant complying with specified standards or requirements;

provide for the granting of exemptions from any requirement of the regulations for such periods as may be determined by or under the regulations.

Regulations under this section may provide that any person—

who contravenes any specified provision of the regulations; or

who does so in specified circumstances,

shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale; but nothing in this subsection shall affect any liability of any such person to pay compensation in respect of any damage or injury which may have been caused by the contravention.

No proceedings shall be instituted in England and Wales in respect of an offence under this section except by or on behalf of the Secretary of State or the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Section 29: Regulations relating to supply and safety.

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