Electricity Regulation Act, 1999

Interpretation.

2.—(1) In this Act, except where the context otherwise requires—

“authorisation” means an authorisation granted under section 16 ;

“authorised officer” means a person appointed under section 11 to be an authorised officer;

“Board” means the Electricity Supply Board;

“combined heat and power” means the simultaneous production of utilisable heat and electricity from an integrated thermo-dynamic process where the overall process operating efficiency, based on the gross calorific value of the fuel used and defined as the ratio of energy output usefully employed to the energy input, is greater than 70 per cent. and where the integrated thermo-dynamic process satisfies such technical, operational, economic and environmental criteria as may be specified by the Minister from time to time, following consultation with the Commission;

“Commission” means the Commission for Electricity Regulation;

“direct line”, in relation to electricity, means an electric line which is used or is to be used to carry electricity for the purpose of supply and the construction of which line is permitted under section 37 ;

“distribution”, in relation to electricity, means the transport of electricity by means of a distribution system, that is to say, a system which consists of electric lines, electric plant, transformers and switchgear and which is used for conveying electricity to final customers;

“distribution code” means a code in respect of all technical aspects relating to connection to and operation of the distribution system prepared by the Board under section 33 ;

“electric line” means any line which is used solely or among other things for carrying electricity for any purpose and includes—

(a) any support for any such line, that is to say, any structure, pole, or other thing in, on, by or from which any such line may be supported, carried or suspended,

(b) any apparatus connected to any such line for the purpose of carrying electricity or other services, and

(c) any wire, cable, tube, pipe or similar thing (including its casing or coating) which surrounds or supports or is surrounded or supported by, or is installed in close proximity to, or is supported, carried or suspended in association with, any such line;

“electric plant” means any plant, apparatus or appliance used for, or for purposes connected with, the generation, transmission, distribution or supply of electricity, other than—

(a) an electric line,

(b) a meter used for ascertaining the quantity of electricity supplied to any premises, or

(c) an electrical appliance under the control of a consumer;

“electricity undertaking” means any person engaged in generation, transmission, distribution or supply of electricity, including any holder of a licence or authorisation under this Act, or any person who has been granted a permit under section 37 of the Principal Act;

“establishment day” means the day appointed under section 8 ;

“final customer” means a person being supplied with electricity at a single premises for consumption on those premises;

“forecast statement” has the meaning assigned to it by section 38 ;

“functions” includes powers and duties;

“generate”, in relation to electricity, means to produce electricity;

“generating station” means a station for the generation of electricity;

“grid code” means a code in respect of all technical aspects relating to connection to and operation of the transmission system prepared by the Board under section 33 ;

“licence” means a licence issued under section 14 ;

“Minister” means the Minister for Public Enterprise;

“prescribe” means to prescribe by regulations made by the Minister or the Commission under this Act and cognate words shall be construed accordingly;

“Principal Act” means the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1927 ;

“record” means any book, document or any other written or printed material in any form including any information stored, maintained or preserved by means of any mechanical or electronic device, whether or not stored, maintained or preserved in a legible form;

“renewable, sustainable or alternative forms of energy” means energy used in the production of electricity which uses as its primary source one or a combination of more than one of the following—

(a) wind,

(b) hydro,

(c) biomass,

(d) waste, including waste heat,

(e) biofuel,

(f) geothermal,

(g) fuel cells,

(h) tidal,

(i) solar,

(j) wave;

“single premises” means one or more buildings or structures, occupied and used by a person, where each building or structure is adjacent to, or contiguous with, the other building or structure;

“supply”, in relation to electricity, means supply through electric lines to final customers for consumption;

“transmission”, in relation to electricity, means the transport of electricity by means of a transmission system, that is to say, a system which consists, wholly or mainly, of high voltage lines and electric plant and which is used for conveying electricity from a generating station to a substation, from one generating station to another, from one substation to another or to or from any interconnector or to final customers but shall not include any such lines which the Board may, from time to time, with the approval of the Commission, specify as being part of the distribution system but shall include any interconnector owned by the Board.

(2) In this Act—

(a) a reference to a section or Schedule is a reference to a section of or Schedule to this Act unless it is indicated that a reference to some other enactment is intended,

(b) a reference to a subsection, paragraph or subparagraph is a reference to a subsection, paragraph or subparagraph of the provision in which the reference occurs unless it is indicated that reference to some other provision is intended, and

(c) a reference to the performance of functions includes with respect to powers and duties, a reference to the exercise of powers and the carrying out of duties.

(3) A reference to any enactment shall be construed as a reference to that enactment as amended, adapted or extended by or under any subsequent enactment, including this Act.

(4) The Minister may from time to time by order amend the definition of renewable, sustainable or alternative sources of energy by the addition of further renewable, sustainable or alternative sources of energy.