Part 1 U.K.[F1 THE CONSUMER ADVOCACY BODIES]

Textual Amendments

F1 Pt. 1 heading substituted (1.4.2014) by The Public Bodies (Abolition of the National Consumer Council and Transfer of the Office of Fair Trading's Functions in relation to Estate Agents etc) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/631), art. 1(3), Sch. 1 para. 12(2) (with Sch. 1 para. 28, Sch. 2 paras. 13-15)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Pt. 1 power to apply (with modifications) conferred (26.10.2023) by Energy Act 2023 (c. 52), s. 334(2)(l), Sch. 18 para. 61(1)

C2 Pt. 1 power to extend (N.I.) conferred (26.10.2023) by Energy Act 2023 (c. 52), s. 334(2)(l), Sch. 18 para. 61(3)

“Consumer”, “consumer matters” and “designated consumers” U.K.

4 “Designated consumers” U.K.

(1) In this Part “designated consumers” means—

(a) consumers in relation to gas conveyed through pipes or electricity conveyed by distribution systems or transmission systems, and

(b) consumers in relation to [F2 postal services].

(2) The Secretary of State may, by order, amend subsection (1) so as—

(a) to make any description of consumers within subsection (3) “designated consumers” for the purposes of this Part;

(b) to provide for any description of consumers to cease to be “designated consumers” for those purposes.

(3) The consumers within this subsection are consumers in England and Wales in relation to services provided by a water undertaker, a sewerage undertaker [F3 , a water supply licensee or a sewerage licensee], in [F4 the undertaker's or licensee's capacity] as such.

(4) Before making an order under subsection (2), the Secretary of State must consult—

[F5 (a) except in the case of an order which relates only to consumers in Northern Ireland, Citizens Advice,

(aa) in the case of a relevant order other than one relating only to consumers in Northern Ireland or consumers within subsection (3), Citizens Advice Scotland [F6 and Consumer Scotland],

(ab) in the case of an order which relates to consumers in Northern Ireland in relation to postal services, the GCCNI,]

(b) in the case of a relevant order, the Scottish Ministers,

(c) the Welsh Ministers, and

(d) such other persons as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.

(5) For this purpose a “relevant order” is an order which relates to any description of—

(a) consumers in relation to gas conveyed through pipes or electricity conveyed by distribution systems or transmission systems, or

(b) consumers in relation to [F7 postal services].

Textual Amendments

F2 Words in s. 4(1)(b) substituted (1.10.2011) by Postal Services Act 2011 (c. 5) , s. 93(2) (3) , Sch. 12 para. 176 ; S.I. 2011/2329 , art. 3

F3 Words in s. 4(3) substituted (1.4.2017) by Water Act 2014 (c. 21), s. 94(3), Sch. 7 para. 137(a); S.I. 2017/462, art. 3(k)(xxv)

F4 Words in s. 4(3) substituted (1.4.2017) by Water Act 2014 (c. 21), s. 94(3), Sch. 7 para. 137(b); S.I. 2017/462, art. 3(k)(xxv)

F5 S. 4(4)(a)-(ab) substituted (1.4.2014) for s. 4(4)(a) by The Public Bodies (Abolition of the National Consumer Council and Transfer of the Office of Fair Trading's Functions in relation to Estate Agents etc) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/631) , art. 1(3) , Sch. 1 para. 12(6) (with Sch. 1 para. 28 , Sch. 2 paras. 13-15 )

F6 Words in s. 4(4)(aa) inserted (13.1.2022) by The Consumer Scotland Act 2020 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2022 (S.I. 2022/34), art. 1(1), Sch. para. 7(3) (with art. 5)

F7 Words in s. 4(5)(b) substituted (1.10.2011) by Postal Services Act 2011 (c. 5) , s. 93(2) (3) , Sch. 12 para. 176 ; S.I. 2011/2329 , art. 3

Commencement Information

I1 S. 4 in force at 21.12.2007 by S.I. 2007/3546 , art. 3 , Sch.