The Secretary of State may appoint competent and impartial persons to be electrical inspectors under this Part.
The duties of an electrical inspector under this Part shall be as follows—
to inspect and test, periodically and in special cases, electric lines and electrical plant belonging to persons authorised by a licence or exemption to generate, distribute or participate in the transmission of electricity or to participate in the operation of electricity interconnectors;
to examine, periodically and in special cases, the generation, transmission, distribution or supply of electricity by such persons;
to inspect and test, if and when required by any consumer, any such lines and plant on the consumer's premises, for the purpose of determining whether any requirement imposed by or under this Part in respect of the lines or plant or the conveyance of electricity through them has been complied with; and
such other duties as may be imposed by regulations under this section or as the Secretary of State may determine.
The Secretary of State may by regulations—
prescribe the manner in which and the times at which any duties are to be performed by electrical inspectors;
require persons authorised by a licence or exemption to carry on licensable activities—
to furnish electrical inspectors with records or other information; and
to allow such inspectors access to premises and the use of electrical plant and other facilities;
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; and
prescribe the amount of the fees which are to be payable to such inspectors.
The regulations that may be made under this section include regulations—
imposing duties on electrical inspectors in relation to anything in the territorial sea adjacent to Great Britain or a Renewable Energy Zone; or
making any other provision authorised by this section in relation to activities carried on there.
Any fees received by electrical inspectors shall be paid to the Secretary of State; and any sums received by him under this subsection shall be paid into the Consolidated Fund.